Land Of Talk

Some Are Lakes

[2.5/5]

Land of Talk’s debut EP, Applause Cheer Boo Hiss, stood out from the Canuck-pop pack because of its urgency (from its snarled riffs and Pixies inflections, right on down to Elizabeth Powell’s apprehensive vocals). The Montreal group’s full-length debut, Some Are Lakes, frustratingly lacks that energy, as well as Boo’s memorable afterglow. Echoing Denali’s plush ambience, guitars wend and weave, sometimes with pointed angst (the Sleater-Kinney-esque “Corner Phone”) and other times mirroring the minor-chord creases of Sonic Youth (“Yuppy Flu”). The production work of Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon is flawless, but the intimate sheen robs Lakes of its rougher edges. There’s not enough variation in tempo or texture to make songs distinctive. Only on the aptly named kick-up “Dark Shuffle” or when Powell yowls like a distressed Chan Marshall atop calculus-rock rhythms on “Give Me Back My Heart Attack” does Lakes bare its teeth. (SADDLE CREEK) Annie Zaleski