Menomena

capt. scotty · Apr 22, 2011, 09:46 PM

Anybody else listen to this band?!

I searched the forum, and basically found nothing. Heard about them bc of a "best of 2010" album draft a few months ago, and Ive been pretty hooked since. Few 2011 albums have grabbed me, so Ive probably listened to Menomena's last 2 albums - Friend & Foe and Mines - more than anything this year. The Pelican was the song that got me hooked at first, and Muscle 'N Flo is the song that has made me want to listen to Menomena pretty much daily the last few months. The last vid is from a NYC show last yr, a few songs from their last album that are all great as well. I cant believe this band doesnt have more fanfare.

Menomena - Muscle'n Flo

The Pelican - Menomena in Juan's Basement

Menomena - TAOS / BOTE / Evil Bee (Live in NYC)

slimsloslider · Apr 23, 2011, 04:26 AM

love the hell outta this band. i've only seen them twice, but both times were incredible. my wife and i really connected over them when we first started dating and we saw them on our honeymoon. here's a video i love of a choir that backed them up at bumbershoot 4 years ago.

Rehearsing Our Choir

kotchishm · Mar 22, 2012, 01:42 PM

Should be a new album this year! They apparently finished it in February. Without Brent though

Devil Ledbetter · Mar 22, 2012, 03:57 PM

I absolutely adore them. I can even play Rotten Hell on my guitar.

You haven't lived until you run to Twenty-one Cell Revolt.

MrWhippy · Mar 22, 2012, 05:10 PM

I've been meaning to check these guys out given that I might get the chance to see them at Coachella next month. Given the videos and these recommendations, I'll definitely make an effort to catch their set.

kotchishm · Mar 23, 2012, 12:24 PM

Quote from: MrWhippy on Mar 22, 2012, 05:10 PM
I've been meaning to check these guys out given that I might get the chance to see them at Coachella next month. Given the videos and these recommendations, I'll definitely make an effort to catch their set.

If you only buy one album you gotta choose between "Mines" and "Friend & Foe"...I give the slight edge to Mines

Devil Ledbetter · Mar 23, 2012, 04:39 PM

Quote from: kotchishm on Mar 23, 2012, 12:24 PM
Quote from: MrWhippy on Mar 22, 2012, 05:10 PM
I've been meaning to check these guys out given that I might get the chance to see them at Coachella next month. Given the videos and these recommendations, I'll definitely make an effort to catch their set.

If you only buy one album you gotta choose between "Mines" and "Friend & Foe"...I give the slight edge to Mines

Mines is a hair more accessible than Friend & Foe, but if I could only take one to a desert island, it would be Friend & Foe. And then I'd cry because I had to leave Mines and I am the Fun Blame Monster behind.

capt. scotty · Oct 08, 2012, 06:04 AM

New album is phemenomenal...Im way behind this year, but this is the first time in a long time a band Ive already liked surpassed my expectations by a long shot. Lately (the last few years), it has felt like a ton of my favorite bands have severely disappointed with their last album (Dr Dog is the only exception I can think of, although Circuital was a nice comeback for MMJ).

Moms has the hooks of Friend & Foe, yet more layered like their last album Mines, making this IMO their most interesting album musically to date. They knocked it out the park with lyrics and an album about difficult relationships, family ties, and just emotional struggle. Dare I call it a concept album?! With the departure of 1 of the 3 founding members, hard to believe this album only comes from a duo. I figured they got at least one new band member, but after hearing this album, Im so glad they didnt. Certainly their most personal album to date.

Yeah, actually this is just their best album period so far

Menomena - Plumage

Menomena - Skintercourse

kotchishm · Oct 08, 2012, 09:36 AM

I agree this is probably their strongest album. I love it. Pique is just fantastic

Northern Neighbour · Oct 08, 2012, 10:13 AM

Their last two albums have been very strong. They've gone away from the quirky indie pop sound to an indie pop sound with trip-hop textures. It's really working for them.

exist10z · Oct 08, 2012, 06:43 PM

Agree with everyone here, the new album is great. Pique is just amazing, but really all the tracks are pretty strong. Was worried about the loss of a founding member of the band, but that fear appears to have been unfounded. Like others have said, not only don't I feel like they are 'missing' anything from the sound, it feels like a small step forward while remaining truly Menomena.

As for the older albums, if I had to choose it would be Friend and Foe, but Mines is really good too, and if you haven't heard I Am The Fun Blame Monster you're really missing out.

My one complaint, I just saw them at The El Rey in Los Angeles, and they didn't play Wet and Rusting, which is probably my favorite song of theirs. I had looked at past setlists and they don't normally play it, so I was expecting not to heard it, but it was still disappointing. Otherwise an amazing show, lots of energy live, lots of fun, and great musicianship.

"It's hard to take risks, with a pessimist..."

Ob1jacobe · Oct 09, 2012, 03:01 PM

I am loving the new album. I will have to update my top album of '12 list soon. They are amazing. Going back and listening to "mines" & "friends and foe" and this could be a new favorite band for me.

I love discovering a band that just resinates with you. Last year it was White Denim. Now i need to figure out how to pronounce their name :)

exist10z · Oct 09, 2012, 04:34 PM

It is awesome when you find a band that resonates, it's like finding a priceless treasure, even if it only gives you that feeling for a few months or years. I think a discussion about this effect is going on in another thread...

At first I thought it was: Men-O-Meen-Ah

Then I thought: Men-O-me-Nah

But I am pretty sure it's actually: meh-na-meh-na

Whatever, the music speaks for itself - creative, unique, and original...

capt. scotty · Oct 09, 2012, 05:12 PM

Was at school all day, got back a little bit ago. Gotta work overnight at the hospital at 11, so I only have a couple hours to relax before a much needed nap before work tonight. Pretty much had to just throw on Moms. I think Im going to be listening to this daily for awhile. So much still to digest.

Exist10z did a good explanation of the pronounciation, I didnt know how to say it at first either. Listen to I think the first vid I posted in the OP, they say it in there. Its like "phenomenal", except sub an M for the Ph and chop off the L.

As for Wet and Rusting, pretty sure its a Brent Knopf song, so thats probably why they arent playing it live. Id guess they are doing that with most if not all of his songs, not like they really have a hit. Like everyone else, I was worried about how his loss would affect the band, but if there was 1 member to lose, Id pick him. Justin Harris is the most obvious integral part of the band, but I dont think Danny Seim's robot-like driving rhythms can be overlooked. With how tight their music and style is, he even stands out sometimes. I might be wrong, but I got the feeling Harris and Knopf wrote pretty much everything prior to this album. I read that Harris and Seim each wrote 5 songs for Moms though. Maybe he was writing more than I realize, but its hard to tell who wrote which songs here - a positive for me. Based on things I read around when Knopf left last year, the band just wasnt getting along. They didnt even record Mines together, they just sent updated recordings to one another and kept progressing, so not surprising they only released 2 albums between 2005-2011, a period when they should have been trying to get out there as much as possible. After hearing this album, hard to say it wasnt a good thing that Knopf left. The band sounds re-invigorated with a feeling that theyre out to prove something.

Didnt realize they were playing in Philly tomorrow until last night. Really want to hit that up!

Jon T. · Oct 09, 2012, 05:17 PM

duh

The Muppet Show, Mahna Mahna and the Snowths

EverythingChanges · Oct 20, 2012, 01:30 PM

Nice find guys, these guys rock! Musle n' Flow and Taos are epic! I love how different they sound.

EverythingChanges · Oct 20, 2012, 01:33 PM

Btw, is it pronounced (men-O-men_A) or (mean-O-mean-A) or (men-nom-men-A)?

smhoffmann02 · Oct 21, 2012, 09:45 PM

I checked them out online based on Forum recommendations and just couldn't get into them. Will have to give these guys another listen.

EverythingChanges · Oct 21, 2012, 11:01 PM

Quote from: smhoffmann02 on Oct 21, 2012, 09:45 PM
I checked them out online based on Forum recommendations and just couldn't get into them. Will have to give these guys another listen.

They were first recommended to me by fellow forum goers, but I couldn't get into their sound either. It seemed like it was lacking melody or a fluidity of sorts. However, I just recently decided to give these guys another listen.

I discovered Five Little Rooms, One Horse, Dirty Cartoons, Taos, Plumage and so on. I love these guys now and my journey is just starting. I now have purchased Friend and Foe, Mines, and Moms! Can't wait to really listen to these guys. It is a band that takes getting used to and a a collection of songs that you will discover new things about upon every listen.

They created a computer program that builds their rhythm and bass sounds. They take that and form it into a song. They are completely unique, which is something I am always looking for. Hence why I love MMJ soooooo damn much.

exist10z · Oct 21, 2012, 11:17 PM

The music is pretty non-standard. I am not a musician, but maybe it's the time signatures? I don't know, but the songs don't exactly progress as you'd expect and sounds aren't exactly where you'd think they'd be. At least that's the best way I can describe it, though I would say that's more for the first two albums than the past two, but true for all to some extent. Also of course there's the use of both horns and electronics, which is a strange combination some might find off putting. But not me.

My two favorite songs, also the first two I heard, are 'Muscle n' Flow' and 'Wet and Rusting', which frankly feature many of the stranger aspects of the music. It might not have hit me immediately, but once it did - wow. It all made sense.

Anyone I guess I would say it's an acquired taste, but you'll probably only acquire it if you're pretty open to different music. It rocks though too, can't dismiss that aspect. Seeing them live for the first time few weeks ago was great too, they are truly musicians and can play the music as proficiently live, and with as much energy and emotion, as recorded. I think they're making some of the most interesting and rewarding music today.