Moneen

Moneen: The Theory of Harmonial ValueThe Theory of Harmonial Value (2001)
Smallman Records

Reviewer Rating: 5

User Rating:

Contributed by: thefirstfivethefirstfive
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on February 28th 2003With all the news about Vagrant signing Moneen recently I thought it was high time someone reviewed their first album. I first heard this disk about a year ago now after my friend picked it up at one of their shows. The first time I listened to it I liked it but didn't feel it was anything to write .

With all the news about Vagrant signing Moneen recently I thought it was high time someone reviewed their first album. I first heard this disk about a year ago now after my friend picked it up at one of their shows. The first time I listened to it I liked it but didn't feel it was anything to write home about. Anyway the same friend asked me this past summer if I wanted to road trip to Knoxville TN to check out the band live. Wow. These guys completely tear up the stage live. Their whole set I was noticing little things about the songs I had never heard before. And Kenny, their lead singer is the embodiment of passion. So I gave in. I bought the disk.

The Theory of Harmonial Value was released on Smallman records and was recently redistributed by Hopeless. The band's songs sound like the hyperactive child of Promise Ring and Bad Brains. Every single one of the albums 10 songs ripples with amazing energy and jumps into places you'd never expect punk or rock to go. (Note there are 11 songs if you count the hidden track 11 that cant be found unless you fast forward through 10, watch the number skip to eleven and let it play. Just going to eleven wont work.) For example the first track The start to this my be the end to another starts with a build of feed back laced with mumbling, jumps to a zigzagging guitar line, moves to soft strumming and singing, then spaced freak-outs, then stops and changes so completely that at first I had thought a new song had started. There is a beautiful build up and then it all crashes down again. These 6:08 of music are forever in my memory as one of the best opening tracks to a punk album. Period.

This album is full of moments where you find yourself wondering, "Did they just do that?" One of the things that hit me the hardest about this album is the lack of production. I saw these guys play in a shitty coffee house and they sounded exactly like the album except for a few little changes in tempo or some jamming every now and then. Unlike a lot of bands on the scene now in days every three part harmony or scream you hear on the album is present live. No studio tricks to raise the vocalists voice three octaves (drive thru I'm looking at you….) and no over dubs to make it sound like the guitarists sing too (drive thru I'm looking at you…. Again). Personal stand out tracks in my opinion are "What did you say? My eyes were on fire." "A realization of how it's always been" and "Half empty half full, I never got a glass to began with."

Vagrant has just released a new track on their website so check that out. It should dispel any fan worry's that they will start sounding like Saves the Day now that they're on the home of Dashboard. All in all this is one of my favorite records. It really grows on you with each listen and doesnt get old.

The Passing of America
What did you say? Sorry My eyes where on fire MP3

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

tick16 (December 2, 2008)

its a very good album..
its pretty mellow gloomy sad though,its emotional in there riffs and harmonics they use...
i hope they dnt go big though

Anonymous (January 19, 2005)

my new favourites

moneenerd (March 14, 2004)

A beautiful album by a beautiful bunch of people.

'nuff said.

at_the_drive_in_21 (March 9, 2003)

This CD is awesome. Its very dynamic and has great depth. The tempo shifts are perfect and the dabbling in synths are perfectly subtle. Can't wait for their new full length. Best song is hands down "Tonight I'm Gone" but there are no real disappointments. I've seen them open with that song a couple times and its perfect.
I get to see them twice this month - once in good old Guelph, and again opening for the Get Up Kids in Toronto. A travesty it isn't the other way around... Poor Get Up Kids, they're going to get blown off the stage.
If you haven't gotten a chance to see them live, for the love of god, next time they're around get on it.

Anonymous (March 8, 2003)

He just wants to make you think he's in the know and better than you.

Anonymous (March 7, 2003)

"breaking pangaea do it better."

I hope youre just A. retarded, B. retarded... C. joking, D. retarded.

Breaking Pangea, as much as I do like them cant do half the things that moneen can do. not even in the same ballpark buddy.

Anonymous (March 7, 2003)

i love that new song on the vagrant site. its really well written, and never gets boring.

newjackshit (March 6, 2003)

breaking pangaea do it better.

Anonymous (March 5, 2003)

off the cuff? off the cuff is normally synonymous with witty..when you have time to type something it is not witty...nor was it "funny"

waste_elite (March 5, 2003)

"condoms are not totally safe. they take the place of caution and cause more people to get into sex earlier since there is no attached responsibilites

i don't see why you think the possibility of aids and pregnancy is the fun part"

way to take off the cuff comments too seriously

Anonymous (March 4, 2003)

dude that made the condom music comment...you sound like an ignorant person (one who uses the word "twat") who dislikes creativity in music and would rather hear the exact same three chords played constantly while having someone force their political views on you...you strike me as the type of "punk rock" white trash that probably feels the need to use the "F" word between every syllable when you speak...i hope that you (assuming you have had sex) would use a condom so as to avoid reproduction and bringing a being into this world that furthers your gene pool...

you are right on muffingirl

hungryjoe (March 4, 2003)

because somebody asked, here's the tracklisting for smaller chairs fir the early 1900's:

1 - how many other girls are there in the world anyway?
2 - wrath of the donkey remix (my personal favourite)
3 - the passing of america (yes, the same song, but different version)
4 - this year i've had enough

Anonymous (March 4, 2003)

condoms are not totally safe. they take the place of caution and cause more people to get into sex earlier since there is no attached responsibilites

i don't see why you think the possibility of aids and pregnancy is the fun part

-themuffingirl

Anonymous (March 4, 2003)

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZZZ. This shit I like to call condom music. It's safe and no fun at all. Fuck this shit. twat

Anonymous (March 3, 2003)

this cd is great, i got it after i heard the track on the plea for peace: take action vol. 2 compilation. the next week, i heard they were signed to vagrant and i was like "hey! i just got that cd last week!"

yeah. oh, and i was wondering, what songs are on the smaller chairs e.p.?

Anonymous (March 3, 2003)

dreadlocks are hot

evildeadalive (March 2, 2003)

Dreadlocks suck.

Anonymous (March 2, 2003)

This band is bomb, check them out live and you'll never be dissapointed.They fucking rock, jumping around like kids with add. Kenny is one of the nicest people in the world to, you never see the guy unhappy.

Anonymous (March 2, 2003)

anybody going to the show tomorrow at chain reaction?

Anonymous (March 1, 2003)

I love moneen. If its possible to love a band, this is the band. Amazing live performance, amazing human beings. 905!