Indie rockers Plants and Animals claimed Canada's music capital Montreal as their own when they released their debut album Parc Avenue in 2008.

Now, with La La Land, they're heading south. To that state of mind called Hollywood, California and the American Dream.

The addictive album begins with a song called Tom Cruz which has very little to do with the famous actor Tom Cruise. It sets the tone for the record, which seems to become more intoxicated with celebrity and the good life on American Idol, Game Shows, Fake It and Future from The 80s among other musical oddities.

"We recorded the album just before Christmas. We were drinking rum-and-Cokes called 'Tom Cruzs' because it gave us that killer smirk. That set the tone for the rest of the record," says the band's drummer Matthew 'Woody' Woodley.

"It's louder and tougher than Parc Avenue. Less Beatles and more Stones. Parc Avenue was a conceptual party. This time around was just a party, having fun with pop culture," the 32-year-old native of Halifax adds.

Regardless of their state of intoxication, or perhaps because of it, La La Land is a terrific record, full of catchy rock hooks, flourishing production and a snappy lyrical edge reminiscent of Talking Heads.

"This time around we brought up the rock energy, and the album has more bite," Woodley says. "We decided to go somewhere big with this record. La La Land is as much a state of mind, a bizarre fantasy, a fun place to visit but I sure wouldn't want to live there."

Produced in Montreal and Paris on analogue technology, La La Land is a giant step forward for Woodley, vocalist Warren Spicer and guitarist Nicolas Basque, a hardworking, dedicated band that already seemed to be a step ahead of every other indie band in Montreal, after they released Parc Avenue.

That album made Plants and Animals the darlings of the Canadian music festival circuit that summer and by year's end, it was nominated for the 2009 Juno Prize for alternative album of the year and the best new band. They were also shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize.

"The funny thing is we're not really a part of that world," Woodley confesses, laughing when he recalls how uncomfortably Hollywood it was just sitting behind Nickelback at the Junos in Vancouver last year.

But two years of constant touring later and the band feels more comfortable about their place in the Canadian rock hierarchy.

"It's easier this time because we're making a record that's anticipated.

"People are asking about it now. We don't have to prove ourselves anymore."