Blog → Weekly Album Appreciation Club: Menomena – Friend and Foe

I got this idea for what could be a great group here on last.fm. Sort of a weekly themed discussion on good music out there. Kind of the idea behind book clubs, but applied to music. I’ve already created that group, but I need to people to join, get the word out, maybe it’d reached someone who would be willing to participate.

Since I can’t impose my own personal liking to the entire group, I haven’t created any music connections since no music has been discussed yet. So, I decided that the best way possible to get the word out was for me to do something like it with my favorite albums of this past year. If you think this is interesting please consider joining the group :)

So let’s start off with Menomena’s Friend and Foe!

I don’t think I’ve ever felt so excited about an album as I felt when I first heard this record. So much richness into every one of the songs, you can feel the passion these guys have for making music, making something worthwhile.

There seems to be something special happening in every song. Sometimes it sounds like a miniature orchestra has made its way into your ear, it’s wonderful to realize it’s just three amazingly talented guys who just happen to play like a gazillion music instruments, and they top it up with singing. That adds even more depth and variety to the songs; their voices are nothing alike yet they don’t fear to showcase themselves singing side by side in one song. Sometimes it’s overwhelming how well they can pull it all off.

I think the concept behind this album is well expressed in the title. Some of the songs seem to revolve around how people seem to struggle to either accept or deny religion into their lives. At times, they feel ready to embrace Jesus and others they feel like it’s all a charade, a useless crusade not worth fighting. Hence the title “Friend and Foe”, sometimes he’s your friend, others not so much. That idea seems to fit perfectly into a lot of the songs, others could be argue, as they seem to fit a more universal theme – like love, friendship, loneliness, the need to belong. At one point one may notice a sort of theme in the way the tracks were arranged one portraits a friend, the next one a foe… keep up with me, will you?

Feel free to lash at me afterwards.

01 Muscle'n Flo

Lyrically, I think this song it’s pretty staight foward. We all feel overwhelmed by what the world ask of us. We all wonder what’s the point of it all. Sometimes it feels like a race without an end, no prize in sight. A lot of people try to find these answers, or some relief, in some form of religion. He’s had enough, he needs strenght to carry on, to face the coming day. He needs Jesus to accept him, don’t ask for more. He’s a friend.

The melody is cheerful and full of hope at this point. I gotta say I love how the piano is the star in this song. The organ is dead on as well, very churchy – couldn’t possibly be anymore straight foward. How it rises as he decides to “get on his knees”, to surrender himself.

Muscle’n Flo (Live at Juan’s Basement)


02 The Pelican

The music completely shifts to dramatic, angry vocals. Those first 50 seconds could be the simplest way of showing anger ever achieved in a song. That almost yelling vocals is exasperating! TAKE IT! You emo-yelling-loving bands! And the song is only beginning.

Then the music surges, the guitar and the drums kick in – in a spectacular fashion. It reaches an early climax “don’t you feel it?!”. After the guitar solo, it all comes back up in a soaring set of “ohhhsss”. Amazing.

As far as the lyrics go, it still suits the “is Jesus a friend or a foe?” theme. One thing about religion is that it asks for a personal sacrifice. You have to surrender a lot of the vain pleasures we all seem to rely on. For some, this is asking too much, they realize they’re not ready to give it up just yet. Oh don’t get me wrong, they still want the good/easy parts of it: the comfort, he’s made them feel strong again, given them a purpose. This kind of dependancy can scare anyone. He’s turned into a foe. So they decide to set free, leave him behind.

“Don't you feel it when I start pulling back?… Don't you feel it when I start throwing stones? I guess some birds never learn” I base this whole theory on the fact that in christianity, the pelican is a symbol of atonement and the redeemer – the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

If you want to watch them perfom this song live, then follow this link to Virb, because Last.fm only supports You Tube. It’s nicer quality so pffft to Last.fm

03 Wet And Rusting

I don’t think words could ever express how amazing this song really is. For the purpose of this journal, I’ll try to do my best.

The first couple of seconds you could say it’s just your regular Menomena song. Yeah, right. It’s a true battle, the almost eerie sounding background vs Brent’s sweet voice. After a couple of seconds, the piano and the guitar peak in there to say “hey there, how you doing today?”. Then the acoustic guitar kicks in while the xylophone glockenspiel tries to take the piano place and set the melody. ”I hope that this shake in will help us awaken”. After you have set your mind to this chemistry, drums kick in and the song takes down a different road. ”it’s hard to take risks” But not for long. Then it turns to piano, then to the acoustic guitar, hey there xylophone glockenspiel. Then it all comes back in there… Sorry, I can’t do it. You have to listen for yourself. It takes like 10 consecutive plays to fully capture the magic behind it. :)

I don’t really see this song fitting into “the theme”. I think it’s more personal. About finding that one person that seems perfect for us, but feeling unsure as to whether they feel the same. Is it really worth the risk to let outselves be actually known by someone else? I think people invest so much of their energy protecting themselves – expecting the worse of people ”I know you’ll desert me“ - that we kind of build a fortress around us, so strong that not even ourselves can tear it down.

Very few people nowdays believe in true love “It's hard to take risks with a pessimist”. But in the end, we have to take the risk, it’s just part of life. ”The hope can be painful, I’ll try to be faithful”

Wet and Rusting (official video)
On a side note, this video gave me a great idea. After I die, I want to get cremated, then my ashes to be placed in a miniature casket and sent to outer space as well. Then, with a remote controlled bomb, make it explode so all the particles that were once my body can wander off into the universe for all eternity. Therefore accomplishing immortality. :)



04 Air Aid

This song sounds so calming, yet the lyrics are so alarming, in a way. A new friend is introduced here, little old saxophone. He just makes a guest appearance, he’s getting ready for later on. :)

I think this song has something to do with 911, war and the apocalypse.

”People of the future will remember her fate is something she brought upon herself” This female figured could be perceived as the United States(?). So frivolous, couldn’t really care less for what was happening outside of her mainland. Being up to date on the latest celebrity gossip seemed more important. ”Everyone will think back to what they were wearing or who they were dating when the bones were found” It wasn’t until it came knocking on their doorstep that people seemed to realize what has actually been happening. Even then, when people were faced with these truly overwhelming issues, it’s easier to just believe everything we are told to be truth.

”Cover your ears, cover your eyes, cover your mouth. Silence, blindness, tasteless violence. Air aid”

I wonder do people really believe that if there’s an end of the world it will be accompanied by dark horses? I mean if such thing happens, it’ll be because of our own hands. It’ll be “brought upon ourselves”. It won’t be because of a deluge or anything like it.

I’m in love with Danny’s voice, by the way. :)

05 Weird

Even jingle bells are welcome! Oh Menomena! I’ll tell you one thing, when that saxophone kicks in, oh my! You realize the song has steadily been building up to that high point. This song just grabs you and it won’t let you go.

As for the lyrics: Haven’t we all been here? Two-faced people, pretending to be on your side when what they actually want it’s to overshadow you in any possible way. He actually wants their relationship to be something else, but somehow it seems hopeless. ”Maybe that's the way you and I will always relate“… as long as you feel superior to me.

Weird (Live at Juan’s Basement)
Watching this video for the first time was mesmerizing. It’s such a feat to perform this songs live. Well, if you can play with your feet then switch to the saxophone and then sing; you can do pretty much anything!



06 Rotten Hell

I don’t know which part is better the music, the lyrics or the vocals. All nicely done here. At one point it feels like the piano is the one doing the singing, am I going crazy here? This could easily be the most conventional of all the songs in this album. I’m not saying it’s inferior in any way, not a chance, on the contrary they played it the way it worked best. With the constant piano, choir-like pieces, the clapping… you truly get lost in here. Beautiful melody. Kind of epic in a way.

I love how Brent carries on half of the song and then passes it up to Justin. It kind of reinforces what I think this song is about: two friends that have come to a misunderstanding after one of them decides to leave church – something he’s been gathering up strength to do and has made up his mind about. ”I've got a stranglehold on this decision. All those opposed can rot in hell”

The other realizes it’s only natural for this to happen; some people will loose faith along the way. ”Some may stumble, some may fall behind” He realizes his friend’s point of view has just changed, maybe some things he believed to be truth are not so clear now. Maybe he still believes in God, but doesn’t agree with his church’s position anymore.

He may have felt betrayed, let down by this decision – the friend turned into a foe. Then he understands that just because their opinions about this have changed, doesn’t mean they can’t be friends.

”We might not fight but we won't walk away”

Rotten Hell (official video)
The best use of slow motion since Reservoir Dogs! I just love the face in the kid with the afro when he looks at the fallen girl, like she’s truly been lost in the battle. Awesome video. Every kid fantasy.

[video artist=Menomena]Rotten Hell[/video]

07 Running

The energy picks up once again, just like in Weird, that base line is carrying you somewhere. It’s a shame it’s so short!

I’m still wondering what the ”before the cows come home” is all about, any ideas? But I do get a giggle with the cow mooing, yupe they’re home!

I also wonder what’s the connection with the recent Walking b-side.

Maybe this song it’s just catching up with the friend that fell out on the previous song. Maybe things haven’t been so great, he’s having doubts. He’s been looking for answers he can’t seem to find. It’s building up in him.

”I'm walking, I'm running, I'm picking up steam, I'm threatening to explode”

This song has a kind of suspense feeling in the music. It’s building up, it’s picking up steam, it explodes. Awesome.

08 My My

This song is so melancholic. So beautiful. I recently rediscovered the beauty of it.

We are still with the same guy as in the past two tracks. He’s really confused at this point. Things have not been well. He’s thinking about whether he made the right choice, but he’s so determine about it he can’t go back. He feels that maybe if he could start over in a different place, with different people, no one to say the “you’re wrong, we are right, I told you so”. Maybe a clean slate, it’s what he needs to clear up his mind, understand how he truly feels. I think this song speaks to anyone who’s made a decision that is not well received by people around them.

”What if everyone is right? Should've taken their advice. But I can't change my mind”

09 Boyscout'n

The whistling in this song is amazing! I really have tried to keep up with it, rarely succeeded. I dare anyone post a video on YouTube of them doing this! I made a small recording in my cell phone, one of the very few times I seemed to reach the end with breath!

The relentless energy is amazing, it’s like the whole album has gathered up in one single song. You have a small The Pelican piano reenactment, the saxophone reminds you of the Weird days. Nice!

So lyrically, I think this song returns to the other friend on Rotten Hell. He, in a way, deserted his friend to stand by his beliefs. This did not turn out very well for the other friend, as we’ve seen on Running and My My. Now he feels he has betrayed the friendship they once had by turning his back on him. ”I can't believe I lent my hand to help destroy a helpless man”

Now he’s questioning whether that was a right thing to do, what kind of people would ask to leave behind the ones that think different from us? A lot of churches have this kind of “you will only be saved if you are with us” doctrine. He believes this to be wrong. So Jesus has turned into a foe for him. Still, he waits for his return. It’s like he hasn’t gathered up the strength to pull away. He’s still doing what everyone thinks it’s right. He’s being the good boyscout.

Boyscout'n (Live at Bumbershoot 2007)
With a sort of backing band, oh and a whistling choir! Worked great.



10 Evil Bee

The only way to sum up this song is to say this is all of Menomena’s greatness express in one single song. Everything is just perfect. The simple lyrics, the textured sound. Just like with Wet and Rusting. I can’t express it, you have to listen and listen and listen.

The mood shifts so much, from a sort of hopeful feeling – with the acoustic guitar, the slow drums; to menacing – with the bass and the first hints of the saxophone; to threatening – with piano and full-blown drums and saxophone; to liberating – by the end of the song. AMAZING. I know, I know I throw that word a lot around on this journal, but hey! :) You thought I was joking when I said I hadn’t felt so excited about an album in my life?

The lyrics seem straightforward here. I don’t know which one of the friends this is about, but he definitely has decided to accept Jesus once again in his life. ”I took a walk with an invisible friend, and on that walk, I gave my hand” You know what people say married to the job, married to the church ”With this ring that I wear today, my whole world is your property”

He has the need to belong to a cause, that in the end gives more meaning to his life.

”O, to be a machine. O, to be wanted, to be useful”

Evil Bee (official video)
This video kind of deserves its own journal. I feel sad for the little worker bee, couldn’t fulfill his dream of breaking free from the evil machine, get “turned on” by another bee and make honey the way it’s supposed to be. Sad little life the bee lead.

I stalked out this video for almost a week before it finally got released on the PF Flyers site, worth the wait. :)



11 Ghostship

This song almost sounds like a lullabye. So calming in contrast with Evil Bee. The piano is so sweet and low key.

The lyrics are somehow about how ambiguous the bible is, anyone can turn it into what they want it to be. As long as you don’t question it, or turn it against them.

”This analogy only fits when I bow and call you majesty”

Maybe I’m missing something with the ship analogy here, hehe.

12 West

Oh, have I mentioned how much I love Danny’s voice? This track may give an answer to you why, in case there’s one.

The music is so dark, with that devilish laugh toward the end. The first part of the song I’m pretty much clueless as to where he “would never have gone”. But the last part seems to be about marriage.

”Honey, this will be your future you should care enough to carve your heart into a tree. Initial it with someone special”

”Between the skin and bone is where the west was won” Does this have anything to do with the movie ”How the West Was Won”? Anyone has seen the movie, care to give in their two cents? Perfect track to end the album.

Whoooaaa, you still there? Loves to you! :)

I noticed how long this thing has turn out, 9 pages in Word. :S

I’ve been working on pieces of it for the last couple of days, and now in the last few tracks I see how much I have ranted in a couple of song, but I’m not deleting any of it! I’ve put a lot of repeated plays to “inspire” me, so I guess Menomena will end up with like 150 plays this week, as for Friend and Foe, it probably won’t show up on my album charts. Argggh, I know I can’t give it a rest…