Moneen - Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now?

Moneen
Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now?
Vagrant Records
Grade: A-

Here is Moneen, this four-piece from north of the border, embarking on another musical journey and first offering on the ever-amazing Vagrant Records. This is Moneen's third release as a band; the first an EP called Smaller Chairs For Early 1900s and a full-length named The Theory Of Harmonial Value, both released on Smallman Records. The latter is an exceptional piece of work and set up Moneen for a rough time in trying to improve on that. Yet, two years later Moneen have done just that with Are We Really Happy…. Where Harmonial Value meandered without direction at some points, Are We takes that quality but places it in a more structured and focused construction. Moneen play their characteristic powerpunk and emo rock and "jam" on songs, with some spacing out to ten minutes as on "The Last Song I Will Ever Want to Sing," but all of it is very well thought out and massaged. While maintaining a light harmony, Moneen take emo and move it into more intense punk. This separation from more traditional emo does well to enhance Moneen's live show, so you are not just standing around blank-faced. In reality, it's hard to nail Moneen's sound down in words. Comparisons can be made to a better and more artistic Jimmy Eat World or a more emo old Hot Water Music. In addition, lead singer Kenny Bridges' vocals sound as if you plucked Chris Brenner from Digger and put him in an indie rock band. From the opening title track to the final opus mentioned above, each of the ten songs is a journey with a complete and clearly noticeable beginning, middle and end. That is one reason why the record clocks in at over fifty minutes. In general, the record's content is a bit more serious and less school boy-ish then previous releases. But it is not like moving from the Mr. T Experience to Shai Hulud or something. Though each song is its each expedition, a few may be deemed as noteworthy. Among these include the title track, "Start Angry…End Mad," "How To Live With the Thought That Sometimes Life Ends," "Life Just Too Short Little Ndugu," "Thoughts Weight Heavy…Don't Get Drowned in the Weight of it All" and "With This Song I will Destroy Myself." There is little doubt that Are We Really Happy will propel Moneen up the college radio charts and produce some sweet success.