I Am the Fun Blame Monster!:Menomena

Title: I am the Fun Blame Monster

Label: FILMguerrero

Genre: Loop-based indie rock

Rating: 7.5 of 7

Almost always, the best albums you will here are from some band you have never heard of and accidentally came across. Menomena is just that band. I am the Fun Blame Monster could easily be one of the best albums of 2004, but probably fits better in the “best album by a band you have never heard of” category (though it was released in 2003, but only online). In fact, I bet if you play #2 right now (and you are into indie rock), that you will play it every week until it goes out of rotation. Ok, enough hype… Menomena is a trio from Portland, OR that creates it’s sound by using a computer program designed by frontman Brent Knopf. Dubbed Deeler, the program takes short improvised snippets and uses them as building blocks to compose the song. The result is a unique sound that is heavily influenced by hip-hop and glitch, but remains innately indie rock. Most of the sound is a combination of amazing drum patterns, catchy bass lines, a lingering piano, vocals and an occasional sax or glockenspiel. The result is 9 tracks that remain amazingly original and creative while still remaining accessible to almost anyone, a feat not easily accomplished. Not to mention the amazing flip book artwork that also includes the transformation from the words “I am the Fun Blame Monster” to “the First Menomena Album” (it’s called an anagram).

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