Posts Tagged ‘Menomena’
Second Look: Menomena – “Tithe”
Too often non-single tracks get overlooked in the process of reviewing or highlighting an album. In a new feature, we will be taking a closer look at some of these tracks that deserve a little more appreciation.
First up is “Tithe” by Menomena, off their just-released fourth LP, Mines. On an album full of oddball antics, time changes, and experimental production, “Tithe” sticks out due to its straight-forward nature. Childlike bells give way to veritable rock riffs, while lyrics concerning the pretense of mass spirituality give the song a particularly weighty feel. The slow reveal stands in direct contrast with that of “Dance Yrself Clean,” but is almost as thrilling as the This Is Happening opener.
Mines is out now on Barsuk.
Menomena – “Tithe”
Best Coast – Crazy For You
Easily one of our most anticipated records of the year, after several listens Crazy For You lives up to the hype. Bethany Cosentino and Bobb Bruno make it sound so easy on their debut LP, blending 60′s girl-group harmonies with 90′s alt-rock riffs. Cosentino’s simple lyrics, which occasionally border on silly, offer an earnest yet self-assured perspective on yearning and heartache.
Best Coast – “When I’m With You”
Buy at Mexican Summer
Menomena – Mines
The exact opposite of the Best Coast record. A challenging but ultimately rewarding listen, Mines finds the Portland experimental-rockers at their most ambitious. The record is littered with inventive production and masterful musicianship, particularly on the sprawling, Weekend Mixed “TAOS” and the slow burning “Tithe.”
Buy at Barsuk
Futurebirds – Hampton’s Lullaby
This is what alt-country in 2010 should sound like, an eclectic mix of pedal steel, indie pop melodies, and four-part harmonies.
Buy at Amazon via Autumn Tone
Seu Jorge and Almaz – S/T
No Bowie covers, but this time around we get the Brazilian singer/actor’s take on classics from Michael Jackson and Kraftwerk, among others. This is Jorge’s first album with his newly formed band, Almaz.
Seu Jorge and Almaz – “Everybody Loves The Sunshine”
Buy at Now Again
Jaill – That’s How We Burn
Genuine rock n’ rollers from Milwaukee release their sure-to-be-breakout LP, their first on Sub Pop.
Buy at Sub Pop
Miniature Tigers – Fortress
This Arizona/Brooklyn quartet’s second album features production from Chris Chu of The Morning Benders and Neon Indian, who produced the XMU favorite and lead single, “Gold Skull.”
Miniature Tigers – “Gold Skull”
Miniature Tigers – “Bullfighter Jacket”
Buy at Modern Art Records
These are the ten best tracks we heard this week. Right Click-Save As to Download. Don’t forget you can get the entire mix as a single track at the bottom. That way you can take it with you when you are doing fun things this weekend. Or if you’re just sitting around the house. We don’t care.
Singles:
From The Orchard out 8/24 via Barsuk
From Halycon Digest out 9/28 via 4AD
From The Swelly Express mixtape out now
From Melted out now via Goner Records
From Mines out 7/27 via Barsuk
Freddie Gibbs (ft. Dan Auerbach, Bun B., Chuck Inglish) – “Oil Money”
From Str8 Killa out 8/3 via Decon Records
The Young Sinclairs – “Girl, I’m For Real”
From We Spoke Our Minds EP out now via Planting Seeds Records
From “Baltimore” 7″ out 7/31 via Underwater Peoples
From upcoming LP
From self-released Guards EP out now
The Mix: For Extended Listening
Another album high on our watch list is Mines from Portland weirdo-rockers Menomena, which will be released July 27th via Barsuk. The band will be supporting the follow up to 2007′s Friend and Foe with a huge US tour in the fall, the dates of which you can find below. While you’re at it, check out the first single, “Five Little Rooms.”
Download:
Menomena – “Five Little Rooms”
Jun 09 Amsterdam, Netherlands – Studio 80
Jun 12 Lucerne, Switzerland – B-Sides Festival
Sep 10 Seattle, WA – Showbox at the Market
Sep 11 Portland, OR – Crystal Ballroom (Musicfest Northwest)
Sep 14 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
Sep 16 Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theater
Sep 17 San Diego, CA – Casbah
Sep 18 Tempe, AZ – Clubhouse
Sep 21 Boulder, CO – Fox Theatre
Sep 22 Omaha, NE – Waiting Room
Sep 23 Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater
Sep 24 Madison, WI – High Noon Saloon
Sep 25 Chicago, IL – The Metro
Sep 27 Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom
Sep 28 Toronto, Ontario – Mod Club
Sep 29 Montreal, Quebec – La Sala Rossa
Sep 30 Boston, MA – Royale
Oct 01 New York, NY – Webster Hall
Oct 05 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
Oct 06 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
Oct 07 Carrboro, NC – Cat’s Cradle
Oct 08 Atlanta, GA – Variety Playhouse
Oct 09 Nashville, TN – Mercy Lounge
Oct 11 St. Louis, MO – Luminary Arts
Oct 12 Lawrence, KS – Bottleneck
Oct 14 Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater
Oct 15 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
Oct 16 Boise, ID – Neurolux
Weekend Mix 5.21.10
Ten of the best tracks from the past week….
Singles–
Guilty Simpson and Bumps – “Drums”
The Drums – “It Will All End in Tears”
Foxes in Fiction – “Flashing Lights Have Ended Now”
Menomena – “Five Little Rooms”
Matt Sweeney and Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – “Love in the Hot Afternoon”
Toro Y Moi – “Leave Everywhere”
The Mix: For Extended Listening–
Weekend Mix (all tracks)
(via: Adult Swim, Austin Town Hall, Ba Da Bing Records, The Fader, Gorilla Vs Bear, My Old Kentucky Blog, Pitchfork, Stereogum)
