Portland-based duo Menomena released their eagerly awaited fifth album, Moms, yesterday. If you need any convincing to head down to the record store to pick up your copy, stream the album in its entirety below.
Following 2010′s Mines, band co-founder Brent Knopf set out to work on his own solo project. Remaining Menomena members Justin Harris and Danny Seim continued on as a duo, and the catchy, adventurous Moms is the result of their efforts. It’s an entertaining, engaging album that continues the Menomena tradition of packing unshakable pop melodies in the middle of dynamic songs characterized by sharp, twisting turns. Early acclaim includes Pitchfork announcing Moms to be “without doubt the most aggressive record Menomena has ever made,” and Alarm proclaimed it to be “arguably Menomena’s best effort to date.”
As a duo, Harris and Seim are sticking to the jagged, punchy power-pop Menomena has always excelled at, and they venture out to add flute, cello, and a heavier focus on Seim’s synthesizer. Each man contributes five songs on Moms, and they come together for a playful album of smart pop songcraft colored by constantly shifting layers.
Moms is out now via Barsuk Records. Hear it for yourself below, and be sure to let us know what you think.
Menomena – Moms
Menomena Tour Dates:
9/25 – Catalyst – Santa Cruz, CA %
9/26 – Bimbo’s 365 Club – San Francisco, CA %
9/27 – El Rey – Los Angeles, CA %
9/28 – Casbah – San Diego, CA %
9/29 – Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ %
10/2 – Granada Theater – Dallas, TX %
10/3 – Parish – Austin, TX %
10/4 – Fitzgerald’s – Houston, TX %
10/5 – One Eyed Jacks – New Orleans, LA %
10/6 – Masquerade – Atlanta, GA %
10/9 – Black Cat – Washington, DC %
10/10 – Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA %
10/11 – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY %
10/12 – Music Hall of Williamsburg – Brooklyn, NY %
10/13 – Brighton Music Hall – Allston, MA %
10/16 – La Sala Rossa – Montreal, QC %
10/17 – Horseshoe Tavern – Toronto, ON %
10/18 – Beachland Ballroom – Cleveland, OH %
10/19 – Metro – Chicago, IL %
10/20 – Triple Rock – Minneapolis, MN %
10/23 – Neurolux – Boise, ID %
10/25 – Biltmore – Vancouver, BC %
10/26 – Showbox at the Market – Seattle, WA %
11/2 – Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR
11/23 – Captain’s Rest – Glasgow, UK
11/24 – Brudenell Social Club – Leeds, UK
11/26 – Cargo – London, UK
11/28 – Point Ephemere – Paris, France &
11/29 – Laiterie – Strasbourg, France &
11/30 – Atomic Cafe – Munchen, Germany &
12/1 – Postbahnhof – Berlin, Germany &
12/3 – Ubel & Gefahrlich – Hamburg, Germany &
12/4 – Gebaude 9 – Cologne, Germany &
12/5 – Paradiso – Amsterdam, Netherlands &
12/6 – Botanique Orangerie – Brussels, Belgium &
12/7-9 – All Tomorrow’s Parties – Minehead, UK
% – with PVT
& – with Stacks
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