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MENOMENA – ROTTEN HELL

For Fans of: Arcade Fire, Yeasayer, Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear, Miike Snow,

These three Portland boys who form the indie band Menomena have been releasing albums since 2003. However, for some reason or another, they haven’t caught the attention of many beyond the realms of Pitchfork-addicted audiophiles. That is unfortunate, because they have all the playfulness and whimsy of better-known indie bands like Arcade Fire and Animal Collective. It may be because, at times, their quirkiness often sacrificed song structure and emotional buy-in. But for all of those who loved the aforementioned bands, and all of the names up there beside “For Fans of”, I would highly recommend you give their wildly fun 2007 album Friend and Foe a spin. Especially the highlight Rotten Hell, which boasts well-executed structure and earnestness to compliment its bizarre nature. It shows the band’s full potential, with its memorable piano notes and infinitely singable verses and chorus. Full of the creativity and passion that the best of the mid-2000s indie darlings donned, it explodes in a satisfying release for the final minute, where layered chants compete against a now fervent piano and spastically beaten drum kit. It creates an altogether brilliant and astounding piece, and a significant highlight of that era of music. At least that is my opinion, all those opposed can rot in hell.