[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="460" caption="Mines (Menomena, July 17, 2010)"]
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I hope you enjoy this album as much as I do. Mines is a really unique and interesting rock album that combines some really fantastic instrumentation with some Kings of Leon-esque vocals, and the result is something a bit more underground and grungy sounding, with enough of a smooth edge to really catch your interest. I was introduced to Menomena and this album by Jack Quin (thanks Jack) one night at the pottery studio - he came down from his painting studio upstairs (possibly a bit tipsy, I'm not quite sure) and started raving about this incredible song he wanted to play. That song is "TAOS", which, as Jack recommended, is pretty epic. I think you'll like it.
Track Listing
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I hope you enjoy this album as much as I do. Mines is a really unique and interesting rock album that combines some really fantastic instrumentation with some Kings of Leon-esque vocals, and the result is something a bit more underground and grungy sounding, with enough of a smooth edge to really catch your interest. I was introduced to Menomena and this album by Jack Quin (thanks Jack) one night at the pottery studio - he came down from his painting studio upstairs (possibly a bit tipsy, I'm not quite sure) and started raving about this incredible song he wanted to play. That song is "TAOS", which, as Jack recommended, is pretty epic. I think you'll like it.
Track Listing
- Queen Black Acid
- TAOS
- Killemall
- Dirty Cartoons
- Tithe
- BOTE
- Lunchmeat
- Oh Pretty Boy, You're Such A Big Boy
- Five Little Rooms
- Sleeping Beauty
- INTIL
As I mentioned "TAOS" is a beautifully epic song with some grungy, garage-style vocals and some great orchestration to match it. The seamless integration of repetitive, energetic, driving piano arpeggios with the ringing and screaming electric guitars is incredibly cohesive, especially considering how much is going on in the orchestration of this song. But the result isn't chaotic, its an energy-driven, exciting track and its a blast to listen to.
"TAOS" leads into an even more epic opening of "Killemall". There is no consistent lead vocalist on every track of the album. Instead, all of the band members sing lead vocals and all of the band members switch off instruments in the recording phase, which I think probably contributes to the unique togetherness of the sound created by this band. They are very much about working together. In fact, I read that their recording process using a looping machine and they pass a mic around the studio, taking turns playing instruments into the mike and adding on to each layer, resulting in a very "democratic" creative process. Very cool!
My first listen to "TAOS" definitely reminded me of Kings of Leon, but its cool that the lead vocalist changes, not only because it distinguishes Menomena from the Followill brothers, but it also matches the distinct differences in the sound from track to track on the album. "TAOS", "Killemall" and "Tithe" all have very different sounds that evoke different emotions.
Menomena is fresh, its exciting, and its got a bit more of an edge than other bands out there right now. Unfortunately, one of the band members just decided to leave the band in January, but they do have a replacement (phew)!
Check it out and let me know what you think! I really do think you'll enjoy it!
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