Though Menomena often peg themselves as an experimental band, and to some extent very much are an experimental band -- they create most of their songs using a homemade computer program that loops their instrumental riffs until they come up with something whole -- especially in the rhythm section, where the bass and drums play off one another intricately, blending punk- and funk-inspired beats with more straightforward ock emphases, they also have a delicate sense of melody and composition that balances these heavier underpinnings and makes the band rather poppy at times. It's a nice contrast, the lighter keyboards and almost nasally indie rock vocals (which all three members share) against the pounding drums and ominous saxophone. Musically, there's a lot happening on Friend and Foe, their first release with Barsuk -- different bits entering and exiting -- but it's not overwhelming or pretentious, because the band knows what it takes to create a song, and so they can then deconstruct its more typical notions and rebuild it into something that, while it may have recognizable and approachable parts, is more unconventional. "Air Aid" begins with a "Kashmir"-inspired bassline, accented by xylophones and electric guitars and programmed percussion, but it's headed by softer, introspective vocals that, strangely enough, closely resemble Trey Anastasio's. By the end of the piece, there's a kind of intentional and practiced chaos in the interplay between the voices and the instruments, but it's never loud or out-of-control. Instead, it's exciting and complex but still absolutely accessible, still catchy and poppy. The opener, "Muscle 'N Flo," almost sounds like Modest Mouse playing an Ashley Parker Angel song, while "Rotten Hell" uses majestic vocal harmonies and clean piano chords that swirl in and out of each other as if in a kind of syncopated, truncated round, the kind of thing that sounds simple enough at first but gets more and more captivating with each listen. Friend and Foe may be part unbridled energy, part thoughtful arrangement, part innovative experimentation, but it's the synthesis of these that makes it so fantastic, and makes Menomena one of the most alluring bands to come along in a while.
From Menomena, easily the best album I've heard in sometime. Fantastic variety, ideas and abilities on display.Just picked up their first album to check out that as well. If its half as good as FOF, then I'll be very pleased.
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As some of you know I'm from (near) Portland and in my younger days I'd see many a show downtown and had about a B- in Hipster Studies based on the amount of time I spent in record stores and how many one inch buttons I had on my messenger bag. I wasn't totally suburban but yet I also didn't weigh 81lbs and have a fashionable alternative hairstyle and fashionable punk-inspired thrift-store clot...
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I hereby declare Menomena's Friend and Foe the first masterpiece of 2007. The album itself is hard to describe. The only thing I can think to say is that each song feels like it's neatly contained in its own well-crafted package while simultaneously spilling outside the lines. In other words, you can appreciate the songs as polished pop gems or you can let your ear wander and try to peel away the
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If "Katamari Damacy":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katamari_Damacy could be played with musical instruments, Menomena would have high score.(Since I can't upload any mp3s right now, just go to "their MySpace page":http://www.myspace.com/menomena and listen if you aren't already a fan.)
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MENOMENA – FRIEND AND FOE (2007)Portland Oregon is the rainy home for a thriving group of Indie Rock bands who are critically making their mark Stateside, and three piece Prog. Popsters Menomena have been widely touted as the next thing. They’ve signed to a bigger label (Barsuk) for this, their third original LP, which will ensure greater exposure to their experimental music, challenging rhyth
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If your Valentine's Day was shitty, Menomena is here to make it all better. A friend of mine got a message from the band in her email yesterday that I thought was pretty entertaining. Speaking of pretty, check out the guys themselves. More like Sexy Men-omena. Oh, and if you didn't know, or forgot, Friend or Foe is pretty hot, and is out now. You can even listen to the whole thing here!If you'r...
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I discovered Menomena from Jenny Tatone in a post she wrote last week. These guys are just INCREDIBLE! They are from Portland, OR(my hometown) where so much cool rock is being made these days from the like of bands like The Gossip, The Decemberists, The Dandy Warhols, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks(of Pavement fame), Everclear & now Menomena. This is their 2nd cd release & it is just an amazing pa...
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I just picked up Menomena - Friend and Foe and have instantly fallen in love with this album. Each song is unique in its own way. This is an excellent start to 2007 after what I thought was a disappointing year (2006) in music.
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Hot damn my friends!!!I just received my sweet new Menomena CD/T-shirt package...as Ice Cube once said - "Today was a good day." I didn't even use my AK either...I suppose it's double good then, isn't it?At any rate - the best thing I've heard in quite a while. Dare I say since I am the fun blame monster came out??? I'd feel pretty narrow minded if'n I did, so I won't - but it's tempting.Eve...
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Menomena put on a sort of secret show at The Doug Fir last night (not so secret if you subscribed to the email that said "the show billed as Amen Omen or Meen Moan is actually Menomena".) And from the looks of the crowd, a few hundred people got that email.I, unfortunately, have yet to hear the new album so I cant name specific songs - (tho they did sneak Cough Coughing in there) - but it was q...
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Check out Jenny's post here (hint, she digs the new album):http://mog.com/Jenny_Tatone/blog_post/29046
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I discovered Menomena from Jenny Tatone in a post she wrote last week. These guys are just INCREDIBLE! They are from Portland, OR(my hometown) where so much cool rock is being made these days from the like of bands like The Gossip, The Decemberists, The Dandy Warhols, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks(of Pavement fame), Everclear & now Menomena. This is their 2nd cd release & it is just an amazing pa...
More >
Early this year I posted my "Top Eleven" list of what I considered the best of 2007. A couple of months later I ran into two CDs that escaped my attention... both would have found themselves firmly lodged among the best five albums of the year had I heard them a bit earlier... such is the flimsy nature of the "Best of" list...The first of the magical two (I'll post about the other one within t...
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As some of you know I'm from (near) Portland and in my younger days I'd see many a show downtown and had about a B- in Hipster Studies based on the amount of time I spent in record stores and how many one inch buttons I had on my messenger bag. I wasn't totally suburban but yet I also didn't weigh 81lbs and have a fashionable alternative hairstyle and fashionable punk-inspired thrift-store clot...
More >
Check out Jenny's post here (hint, she digs the new album):http://mog.com/Jenny_Tatone/blog_post/29046
More >
MENOMENA – FRIEND AND FOE (2007)Portland Oregon is the rainy home for a thriving group of Indie Rock bands who are critically making their mark Stateside, and three piece Prog. Popsters Menomena have been widely touted as the next thing. They’ve signed to a bigger label (Barsuk) for this, their third original LP, which will ensure greater exposure to their experimental music, challenging rhyth
More >
to give a shout out to the wicked beats of menomena. this three-piece experimental outfit from portland (yep, oregon) makes it seem easy to match insane noise and a crazy sense of humor with some seriously thought-provoking lyrics. their february release, friend and foe, is one of those that can easily get caught in your head and then cause you to search for meaning. i can easily recommend the ...
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From Menomena, easily the best album I've heard in sometime. Fantastic variety, ideas and abilities on display.Just picked up their first album to check out that as well. If its half as good as FOF, then I'll be very pleased.
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Here's another video from this great great band, Menomena, enjoy!
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Menomena put on a sort of secret show at The Doug Fir last night (not so secret if you subscribed to the email that said "the show billed as Amen Omen or Meen Moan is actually Menomena".) And from the looks of the crowd, a few hundred people got that email.I, unfortunately, have yet to hear the new album so I cant name specific songs - (tho they did sneak Cough Coughing in there) - but it was q...
More >
I hereby declare Menomena's Friend and Foe the first masterpiece of 2007. The album itself is hard to describe. The only thing I can think to say is that each song feels like it's neatly contained in its own well-crafted package while simultaneously spilling outside the lines. In other words, you can appreciate the songs as polished pop gems or you can let your ear wander and try to peel away the
More >
If "Katamari Damacy":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katamari_Damacy could be played with musical instruments, Menomena would have high score.(Since I can't upload any mp3s right now, just go to "their MySpace page":http://www.myspace.com/menomena and listen if you aren't already a fan.)
More >
If your Valentine's Day was shitty, Menomena is here to make it all better. A friend of mine got a message from the band in her email yesterday that I thought was pretty entertaining. Speaking of pretty, check out the guys themselves. More like Sexy Men-omena. Oh, and if you didn't know, or forgot, Friend or Foe is pretty hot, and is out now. You can even listen to the whole thing here!If you'r...
More >
Hot damn my friends!!!I just received my sweet new Menomena CD/T-shirt package...as Ice Cube once said - "Today was a good day." I didn't even use my AK either...I suppose it's double good then, isn't it?At any rate - the best thing I've heard in quite a while. Dare I say since I am the fun blame monster came out??? I'd feel pretty narrow minded if'n I did, so I won't - but it's tempting.Eve...
More >
TSRE has moved apartments! Chris and I are currently figuring out our new digs in cozy Beacon Hill and as such posts might be a little short for a couple of days.Menomena for a long time has been a personal favorite of mine. Both Friend & Foe and the criminally underrated I Am the Fun Blame Monster are massive albums that masterfully combine soft and forceful through a variety of instrumentatio...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Muscle 'N Flow |
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| 2 The Pelican |
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| 3 Wet & Rusty |
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| 4 Air Aid |
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| 5 Weird |
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| 6 Rotten Hell |
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| 7 Running |
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| 8 My My |
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| 9 Boyscout'N |
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| 10 Evil Bee |
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| 11 Ghostship |
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| 12 West |
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Click to purchase…
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 "Friend and Foe")
