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If you like your power pop with an edge, then check out Dany Laj and The Looks. Hailing from Totonto, Canada, Dany Laj and The Looks deliver a rather tasty slice of power pop here and I am not sure if it is Dany's looks (I watched the Chamberlain Sessions video before listening to the tracks on bandcamp) but I immediately thought of Elvis Costello when I saw him and listening to the mans music, I wouldn't be surprised if there is a fair amount of Mister Costellos music in his collection. The tracks here remind me of a mix of early Elvis Costello and The Replacements and let's face it, they are two excellent reference points, but this isn't saying that this is all you get, it isn't, these tracks are pleasently raw, energetic, bouncy and seem to have a little punk ethos about them, I like that. In fact there is nothing here not to like, but, as always, take a listen to the tunes and judge for yourself, me, I am going to spend the rest of today playing this EP and the band previous EP "The Match." Enjoy.
- Ice Cream Man Power Pop Blog
Dany Laj And The Looks are a three-piece power pop band from Canada, and this is their latest EP Telepathic Voices. These guys bring a lot of energy and excitement into their sound and after checking out the Chamberlain Sessions video I’m pleased to see that the band carries it into their studio material too.
Telepathic Voices is a fantastic EP full of four extremely entertaining songs. Dany Laj And The Looks use their loud power pop and bluesy style to create a very accessible and catchy sound, using it to introduce themselves to the listener in the best way possible with opening track Take It Away.
It’s impossible not to enjoy the material shown on this EP especially when your feet have to contend with the ridiculously jangly guitars in 799 Queen St West, the instant classic Mr Rebound and the slightly slower paced but still amazing What’s Wrong With You? I’ve not enjoyed listening to a record as much as I’ve enjoyed Telepathic Voices, and I seriously hope Dany Laj And The Looks bring out more material this year.
- Elusive Little Comments
Dany Laj and The Looks, "Telepathic Voices"
Independent
Reviewed by Cheryl Thompson
Dany Laj and The Looks aren't just another indie band from Montreal. Sure, they're an indie band currently making waves in Montreal but they are they are doing their own thing. I first came across this band when I checked out their video "Chamberlain Sessions" on youtube, and well, don't take our word for it, get a sense for yourself what's so fresh about this band and their four-track EP Telepathic Voices. On "Mr. Rebound" you get a good taste of Dany Laj's vocals but what also stands out is the simplicity of the track. It's the kind of track that would serve as the perfect backdrop to a teenage angst film. "Take It Away" and "799 Queen St West" are quintessential Canadian rock songs with hard guitar riffs, defined back beat, and cheeky lyrics. And finally, "What's Wrong with You" is an indie rock song through and through. With its forlorn lyrics and background vocals, if you don't like this tune, it begs the exact same question, what's wrong with you?4/5 - Soulmattersmag.com
With Spring in the air the records on my player get poppier and Dany Laj & The Looks are pop, straight up. Laj, whose sound conjures up early Elvis Costello, left his small mining community in Northern Ontario for the big city lights (picking up a couple band members on the way) where he struck musical gold. Dany’s (rare and limited) EP, ‘The Match’ is nothing short of power-pop goodness so keep reading to give it a listen.
G33KPRON: Describe your musical style in 140 characters or less.
Dany Laj: Peanut butter and banana hotdogs sprinkled with cinnamon on a stick.
If your band could have any superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it?
DJ: Teleportation would probably be the best. I mean we love our van, it’s unstoppable. Though, at times, 7 Eleven doesn’t have pink cream soda and they don’t usually let us know, so we end up driving everywhere looking for the stuff. It would definitely help us save a wee bit on gas.
Who would be on the bill of your dream tour; dead, alive or fictional?
DJ: Our dream tour would be with B.A. Johnston five years ago, and B.A. Johnston five years from now. But that’s just a dream.
Star Trek or Star Wars?
DJ: Star Wars since my bed sheets as a kid were Star Wars bed sheets.
What have you been up to lately and what can we look forward to coming up from Dany Laj & The Looks?
DJ: We’ve been taking road trips in the great white north, Southern Ontario and Quebec. We’ve been at Magnetic Studios in Guelph ON. cutting our full length record under the working title of “Making Exceptions.”
Band members are Jeanette Dowling on bass/vox, Sean Dignan on drums and of course Dany Laj (Lajeunesse) on guitar/vox. You can catch Dany Laj & The Looks as they take their trusty van through Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal next month or find them online at www.danylaj.com
Getting a copy of ‘The Match’ may require some homework in order to hunt down the rare Boppa Do Down Records release (hint: in Toronto try record stores, Hits & Misses or Frantic City), but you can also stream the EP on CBC Music. - G33KPRON
With Spring in the air the records on my player get poppier and Dany Laj & The Looks are pop, straight up. Laj, whose sound conjures up early Elvis Costello, left his small mining community in Northern Ontario for the big city lights (picking up a couple band members on the way) where he struck musical gold. Dany’s (rare and limited) EP, ‘The Match’ is nothing short of power-pop goodness so keep reading to give it a listen.
G33KPRON: Describe your musical style in 140 characters or less.
Dany Laj: Peanut butter and banana hotdogs sprinkled with cinnamon on a stick.
If your band could have any superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it?
DJ: Teleportation would probably be the best. I mean we love our van, it’s unstoppable. Though, at times, 7 Eleven doesn’t have pink cream soda and they don’t usually let us know, so we end up driving everywhere looking for the stuff. It would definitely help us save a wee bit on gas.
Who would be on the bill of your dream tour; dead, alive or fictional?
DJ: Our dream tour would be with B.A. Johnston five years ago, and B.A. Johnston five years from now. But that’s just a dream.
Star Trek or Star Wars?
DJ: Star Wars since my bed sheets as a kid were Star Wars bed sheets.
What have you been up to lately and what can we look forward to coming up from Dany Laj & The Looks?
DJ: We’ve been taking road trips in the great white north, Southern Ontario and Quebec. We’ve been at Magnetic Studios in Guelph ON. cutting our full length record under the working title of “Making Exceptions.”
Band members are Jeanette Dowling on bass/vox, Sean Dignan on drums and of course Dany Laj (Lajeunesse) on guitar/vox. You can catch Dany Laj & The Looks as they take their trusty van through Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal next month or find them online at www.danylaj.com
Getting a copy of ‘The Match’ may require some homework in order to hunt down the rare Boppa Do Down Records release (hint: in Toronto try record stores, Hits & Misses or Frantic City), but you can also stream the EP on CBC Music. - G33KPRON
After finding themselves in a precarious living situation, Dany Laj and the Looks were offered the chance to take over a 2 month sublet in Le Plateau. They set out to escape the Ontarian landscape for a tick, while playing as many shows as possible.
Laj, who looks like Elvis Costello’s nerdy cousin is the leader of the pack, but he relies heavily on his crack team rhythm section; drummer Vassil Mester and bassist Jeanette Dowling. The Looks play a variety of styles, sometimes veering into serious Westerberg territory, but always keeping it a little Power Pop. - The Main (MTL)
Dany Laj & The Looks-The Match EP. Staying north of the border, Laj & Co. hail from Ontario and have released an impressive EP that brings to mind Nick Lowe, Dave Edmunds, and The Plimsouls. The title track is classic roots-based pub rock, and despite its silly title "Alien Ate Some People" is another enjoyable track in the same vein.
- Absolute Powerpop
A little birdy passed this one along to me an what a pleasant "tweet" it turned out to be. Dany Laj (abbreviated for Lajeunesse) is a chap from a small Ontario town who set off to Toronto to create the great American pop album. Well, come to think of it, The Match isn't actually an American proposition at all, since he's still a Canadian resident, and furthermore this six-song release technically qualifies as an ep, so forget all that "album" nonsense. What was I thinking? So yeah, we have the great Canadian ep called The Match, which showcases a budding troubadour who has "raw talent" written all over him. Laj possesses the same visceral moxie that forebearers Ted Leo, Elvis Costello, and Joel Plaskett made their respective calling cards, and just like that trifecta he makes it sound so damn effortless. Beyond quality material if you ask me, but listen for yourself. The Match apparently hasn't hit stores yet, and in fact, a record release party is slated for November 27 at The Piston on Bloor St. in Toronto. Was so impressed with I heard I thought I'd share the ep in it's entirety (at least for a little while). Per Laj's corner of Facebook, he recently toured under Dany Laj and The Look, though I'm not certain if The Look are backing him up on these half dozen tracks. - Wilfuly Obscure
Discography
Dany Laj - The Match - 2011 (Boppa Do Down)
Dany Laj and The Looks - Telepathic Voices (Boppa Do Down) 2013
Photos
Bio
Someone once said that any band is only as good as their record collection. Even if that maxim was only half-true (and it is), then Dany Laj is probably one of the best cats you haven’t heard yet (and he is).
He sounds like Paul McCartney and Patti Smith’s bastard love child that grew up listening to too much Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello and the Replacements.
Springsteen sang once about being ‘a rich man singing in a poor man’s shirt’. Growing up in northern Ontario, in a French-Canadian hockey playing family, Laj is the furthest thing from a poseur you’ll ever meet. He’s real, and so is his music, and he works, playing over a hundred shows a year and putting the hard miles on cracked Canadian highways, north, south, east and west.
So when you see Dany Laj & Looks on a marquee in your neck of the woods, do yourself a favour and check it out. You’ll thank me.
-Nathan Hunter, July 2012
” If you dig the vintage power pop of labels like Bomp and Stiff… true songcraftsmen…” - Johnson Cummings (Cult #Mtl)
“… a budding troubadour who has “raw talent” written all over him. Laj possesses the same visceral moxie that forebearers Ted Leo, Elvis Costello, and Joel Plaskett made their respective calling cards, and just like that trifecta he makes it sound so damn effortless. Beyond quality material if you ask me, but listen for yourself.” – Wilfully Obscure
“..Laj, who looks like Elvis Costello’s nerdy cousin is the leader of the pack, but he relies heavily on his crack team rhythm section; drummer Vassil Mester and bassist Jeanette Dowling. The Looks play a variety of styles, sometimes veering into serious Westerberg territory, but always keeping it a little Power Pop.” – The Main MTL
“.. Dany is a blast and someone who has toured extensively, crafting out his honest, authentic self. What you see is what you get. He has drawn comparisons to Ted Leo, Elvis Costello and Joel Plaskett. I’d go with Nick Lowe myself (but who wouldn’t?).” – Will Mcquirk (durhamregion.com)
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