Menomena

VIMTV Episode #529: Menomena – Moms

Jake: 84/100

Tom: 86/100

Verdict: Another terrific release from one of music’s most underrated groups.

Overview: Menomena return after parting ways with founding band member Brent Knopf with Moms.  Whereas 2010’s Mines focused on darker, moodier compositions, Moms is a stark return to form for the band.  The songs are more sprawling in structure and instrumental composition, the production is tighter and the songwriting is aggressively top-notch.  This album is drenched with classic rock influences; each track is constantly expanding on the band’s sound.  Overall this is an incredibly focused effort with consistently solid songs throughout.  Get a hold of this album as soon as possible.

Jake’s Track Picks:

  • 1. Plumage
  • 3. Pique
  • 9. Don’t Mess With Latexas
  • 10. One Horse

Tom’s Track Picks: 

  • 3. Pique
  • 4. Baton
  • 5. Heavy Is As Heavy Does
  • 10. One Horse

VIMTV Episode #159: Menomena – Mines

Jake: Highly Recommended, 95/100

Tom: Highly Recommended, 97/100

Overview: For fans of their album Friend and Foe, Mines should be the logical next step. These songs are arguably just as good as Menomena’s previous release, with enough changing that it isn’t a regurgitation of past works and enough staying the same that the transition won’t be jarring. Basically, Menomena has taken their process to the extreme: even more cryptic lyrics, creepier moods, and raw production, with emphasis on bass and piano. Other than that, there isn’t much to say other than “THIS IS A TERRIFIC ALBUM.” Listen to it– we think Menomena is going to be a band to keep tabs on.

Recommended Similar Artists: TV on the Radio, Dredg, The Flaming Lips

Jake’s Track Picks:

  • 2. TAOS
  • 4. Dirty Cartoons
  • 11. INTIL

Tom’s Track Picks: 

  • 1. Queen Black Acid
  • 2. TAOS
  • 3. Killemall
  • 10. Sleeping Beauty

VIMTV Research Links:

“Dirty Cartoons” played acoustic by the band on a walk…

“Killemall” Live

VIMTV Episode #74: Menomena – Friend And Foe

Jake: Highly Recommended, 100/100

Tom: Highly Recommended, 100/100

Overview: As one of Jake and Tom’s favorite albums, VIMTV thinks Menomena’s Friend and Foe is exemplary in songwriting, production and originality; to name a few.  Special guest Pat Hummer aptly points out that there really isn’t anything out there like Friend and Foe and that this is such a high quality album that it becomes very hard to judge or compare against other music.  Don’t worry, VIMTV still rated it; a perfect 100! This is a must listen.

Recommended Similar Artists: TV on the Radio, Dredg, The Flaming Lips

Jake’s Track Picks:

  • 3. Wet and Rusting
  • 6. Rotten Hell
  • 8. My My

Tom’s Track Picks: 

  • 3. Wet and Rusting
  • 6. Rotten Hell
  • 10. Evil Bee

VIMTV Research Links:

 

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  • Widipia
    #1 written by Widipia  6 months ago

    Moms is arguably one of the best albums of the year, it rocks out like Friend Or Foe, and is sometimes mellow & melancholic like Mines, it’s like the perfect Menomena album.
    You didn’t put the review on the site, but I wanted to make my point on Muse’s The 2nd Law.
    You really didn’t like it, and I understand why, but I think it’s a lot better than The Resistance, which I hated. I agree that the dubstep is pointless, and awful. Follow Me is probably one of the most terrible tracks I have ever heard. Unsustainable is not a lot better. Tracks like Madness, Survival, Explorers & Big Freeze are kind of cheesy, and not really good. But there are tracks that I love : Animals is great & powerful, Supremacy, kind of a sequel to my favourite song from them, Knights of Cydonia, Panic Station, really catchy, funky track, Save Me, creative & Liquid State, good rock song. The final track is beautiful. It’s not a great album, but I don’t think it’s as bad as fun.’s Some Nights for example. But you are right when you say these songs are over-dramatic. However, I would give it a 65/100.
    I’m looking forward to your next reviews.

    Reply Quote
    • VIMTV
      #2 written by VIMTV  6 months ago

      Thanks for the comment– glad you liked Moms so much, and it’s also nice to hear some different views on the new Muse album. I know it’s not up here yet (we have some catch up work to do!). I suppose we also thought it was better than The Resistance overall, but for us, that’s not saying too much. I guess improvement is improvement though!

      Reply Quote
  • Steve G
    #3 written by Steve G  4 months ago

    Just checking out your Mines review here. I don’t know if you figured it out, and honestly I’m not sure if I’m seeing all the comments here related to this review, but one thing I can tell you is that INTIL stands for I Never Thought I’d Lie, which as you know is an oft-repeated line in the song. What’s weird is that I can’t come up with any such explanation for the track titles TAOS or BOTE. BOTE has a nautical theme, so maybe it’s just “boat” misspelled for fun and in all caps to confuse us. As for TAOS, I can’t come up with anything better than The Art Of Smiling, which kinda fits with the lyrics about “I think I know what you’d like”, i.e. what would make you smile. That’s too much of a stretch for me to think that is their actual intention, but it’s the best I’ve been able to do. Maybe there’s nothing to find there at all.

    I am with you that Menomena is under-discussed and (implicitly) under-appreciated. I am a recent convert to the band, and I’ve been catching up in reverse. I love Moms, and Mines is sneaking up on it, though I think Mines doesn’t have the standout tracks that Moms does. You make that comment with respect to Friend And Foe, which I am still working on. I’m used to it, but not well enough to compare it to the “M” albums. I have the first album, but I’ve only listened to it once. I am looking forward to getting to know more of their songs well, and I’ve gobbled up every b-side and extra I can find. Of those I think my highest recommendation so far would be “Bomb Me Back” (also referred to as “Side D”), from a vinyl-only release of Mines I believe. A 16-minute track that doesn’t feel too long. Good stuff.

    Reply Quote
    • VIMTV
      #4 written by VIMTV  4 months ago

      Glad to hear you’re liking this band so much, and thank you very much for the insight regarding those song titles. It’s always fun to speculate what things might mean, and sometimes it’s nice to know for sure– still, you have to love it when bands give you a bit of mystery. It always makes things more exciting!

      Reply Quote
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