A Failed Attempt to Reinvent Themselves in Crazy Times - A Review of Les Trois Accords' Live dans le plaisir

Les Trois Accords is essentially a French-Canadian version of Weezer intertwining alternative rock, punk rock and even country music with quirky tongue-in-cheek lyrics. Since its debut record Gros mammouth album back in 2003, the band has released a new output every three years. The band has always been known for its entertaining, humorous and sympathetic live shows but had only released one single live album so far with the experimental En Beau Country all the way back in 2008 where the band reintrepreted its early hits, a few new songs and some cover tunes in an authentic country rock style. Instead of offering a new studio album this year, the quartet from Drummondville has opted to release a new live record entitled Live dans le plaisir. This release is offered as a documentary of seventy-for minutes but also as a live album of fifty-nine minutes. Since there was no audience due to the ongoing pandemic, the band played in front of gigantic screens showing some clips and pictures going along with the lyrics of the different songs. Another idea was to adapt the songs from the band's early years to its contemporary playing style with only one vocalist and less country and punk influences.

Sadly, this concept doesn't work very well at all. The energy the band transports throughout its live shows is completely missing without a noisy crowd in front of them. The gigantic screens only distract from the musicianship and quickly become a bothering bore. Adapting the beloved material from the early years to streamlined alternative rock while denying its country roots or punk rock stylistics doesn't suit the songs at all. Masterpieces like ''Hawaïenne'' are missing warmth, spirit and creativity. Country ballad ''Saskatchewan'' sounds like an odd studio outtake played by some drunk tourists in a surf pub in Hawaii. The monotonous rhythm section of ''Lucille'' makes a formerly energetic and passionate song sound lifeless and vapid.

To be fair, the current alternative rock style suits the more recent material a little bit better. The danceable ''Ouvre tes yeux, Simon'' becomes an even better party anthem with its playful rhythm section. Ballad ''Les dauphins et les licornes'' develops into an extended jam session stretching to almost eight passionate minutes that would work even better with a crowd in front of the stage.

One has to give the quartet credit for reinventing its material but the final result has more misses than hits to be honest. The original versions of the songs have more atmosphere, energy and identity. The band has missed the opportunity to release an actual live album recorded before the pandemic. I had the chance to attend several of the band's concerts already and can confirm that the quartet is excellent on stage. Live dans le plaisir however is a failed experiment that is only interesting for the most dedicated die-hard fans who own all the band's records. Occasional or even new fans should ignore this album. Let's hope that a record with actual new material will make us forget that disappointing misstep next year.

Final Rating: 40%