'Rebel' Rod Ames 2008-10-16

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

REBEL ROD'S - FROM UNDER THE BASEMENT


I want to help provide you with some new information on artists. Some new and some old. Some established, some up and comers. In my constant search for new and exciting music, I've run across some incredible bands. Bands such as Menomena, an experimental rock band from Portland, Oregon, made up of BrentKnopf on guitar, keyboards, glockenspiel; Justin Harris on bass, guitar, baritone sax and alto sax; and Danny Seim on percussion. Everyone in the band shares in the vocals. I was actually quite amazed there were only three members of the band. They create the illusion there are many more musicians in the studio.

I watched them perform on "Juan's Basement", a "You Tube" venue (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jvMdFql18U), and there were, in fact, three performers. Their performance was something special. In the video they performed a very tight version Of `Muscle and Flo' from their, January 2007 release `Friend and Foe'. Give that I try if you'd like a sample of this bands ability to perform live.

To me, the album is reminiscent of Supertramp of the 70's. Only I like Menomena a lot more. More innovative. The use of the baritone sax, for instance, in lieu of, and in addition to the bass guitar on some cuts renders a sound of their own. To those who say there's no good music out there anymore. You haven't given Menomena a listen

`Friend and Foe' is, in my opinion, an instant classic. It starts out with the fore mentioned tune, `Muscle and Flo'. The song starts out with crashing drums that drop out after a few seconds in favor of a rythmic bass-line and the poetically delivered line, "In the morning I stumble towards the mirror." It's full of deep lyrics such as in the chorus:

"Well here I stand
a broken man
If I could I would raise my hands
I come before you humbly
If I could I'd be on my knees
Come lay down your head upon my chest
feel my heart beat feel my unrest"

`Evil Bee' wraps around the chorus, "O, to be a machine-O, to be wanted-O, to be useful," and it supports the idea with a wide array of sounds such as an insane bass line, mechanical sounds created via synthesizer, along with the ingeniously clever use of the baritone sax. The percussion is impeccable. All of this takes us to a wonderful crescendo of nearly all of the fore mentioned components.

I wish there was space enough to review every track on the album. It's that good! But there's not and I want to talk about the album cover just a bit. It was actually nominated for a Grammy! It was created by Craig Thompson and it's extremely difficult to describe. It's a great representation of the music inside.

Good stuff! The problem? They don't get any airplay. I wouldn't even know about them if it weren't for the internet! The internet is where I listen to most of my music today. There are all kinds of venues for music. You Tube - to LastFM.com. There's no excuse. If you're a true music lover you need to get out there and search.

Believe me! Menomena is very difficult to describe because they encompass so much. The comparison in the front of this review to Supertramp may not be fair to either band, but it's the best I can come up with. My recommendation is to go out and by this record. You won't be sorry! Just go to Amazon.com or, if your still living in the 80's and are not online, go to your local record store. If they do not have it, I am sure they will order it for you.

Andrejs Nolle 2008-03-20

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

As a lover of musical innovation and interesting technology this seemed a beautiful integration of software (similar to 'automix' but apparently much more complex & designed by them) and too many ideas. A beauty in the physical sense too... the CD packaging is very intricate and impressive... cut-outs and colors in secret windows that intrigue.
Musically for fans of The Flaming Lips, Mercury Rev or perhaps The Earlies. Big clattering (sometimes startling!) drum sound, perfect piano parts, unexpected saxophones, strange group singing (think 'Clap your Hands say Yeah' or 'TV on the Radio') a million ideas, many stylistic / tempo changes within each song (has the song finished?) - but it all flows and makes sense on repeated plays - must admit I wasn't sure after the first listen... but aren't they sometimes eventually the best?

N. Switzer 2008-03-19

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

I heard this Band on Sirius Left of Center. The song Wet and Rusting was as close to perfect as I can imagine. I checked out their site at Barsuk records and it had a sample of the CD. It was all pretty good so I picked it up to check out the rest. I wasn't dissapointed. I'd recommend it to anyone that is in to experimental, indie music.

J. Yutzler 2008-02-05

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

I've listened to this CD at least five times now and it just isn't sticking. I understand what they are trying to do, but it did not work for me. It just feels awkward. I am fine with music being somewhat experimental, but there still needs to be some sort of flow to the end product and if anything, this feels artificial, forced, and choppy. It doesn't have to be this way. Albums like All Hour Cymbals and Person Pitch demonstrate that modern music can be experimental, unique, and have a fantastic flow to them. I recommend that they spend less time on the computer and more time jamming.

It isn't like I hate the album, but there isn't anything that brings me back to it either. The lyrics are inconsequential and I don't recall anything memorable about the tunes. That leaves the sonics and, well, it just isn't enough.

One cool thing about this CD is the cover artwork, the best I have seen in a few years. There are physical holes in the paper, allowing you to rotate or fold the insert differently revealing changes in the visual. For that itself, I am glad I purchased the physical CD, even though the music disappointed.

Brooks Twain 2008-01-27

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

This is actually the first Menomena record I'd ever heard, when I first listened to it. The music is absolutely very good music, indeed! I've purchased two other of their records since hearing this.