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| MoneenAre We Really Happy with Who We Are Right Now?2003 Vagrant 
 Review by: greg0rb See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on June 17th 2003 They should be happy, with a record like this. I’ll admit, I had only heard a few tracks of their previous album “The Theory of Harmonial Value” and hadn’t heard any of their first EP when I got a copy of this new disc. So I will break down their sound for all of you just getting acquainted with the band-like me- and if this is the first you’re hearing of them, I’m sure it won’t be the last. With the team up of Vagrant and Smallman Records to push this album and a three week US tour in July, I’m sure these Canadians will garner up quite a buzz. Right from the get-go, it’s hard not to like these guys. During the first song, the title track, a surface observation would be that the singer sounds a lot like Matt Pryor from the Get Up Kids, not a bad thing. As the song goes on, the spastic, fast guitars and intricate rhythms remind me of the Casket Lottery, and the great melodies of Jimmy Eat World. The bridge sections fades to a heavy-reverb spacey guitar, and then unpredictable hits come in, bringing the rest of the band back for a strong ending, bringing thoughts of the intensity of Cursive. “Start Angry…End Mad” is another great track, and I especially dig the back and forth screaming, showcasing another aspect used well by the mostly melodic band. The track pounds ahead with a sweet high guitar harmony and in the middle it settles down with an arpeggiated riff… only to take off with a jam on one chord in a syncopated rhythm over heavy drums. These guys can really rock it, but also know when to back it down, taking you somewhere during the songs instead of just blasting through the entire way. However, these Canadians aren’t all smiles und sunshine for me. The album seems to drag a bit in the middle, and it runs a little long at over 50 minutes. These guys enjoy long songs and they make it work because each one is well written and explores many levels of dynamics and moods, but somehow when thinking back on the album, the middle tracks run together in my mind. Yeah, I guess my attention span has been ruined by punk, for I just seem to doze mentally in the middle. I am perked up again by “How to Live with the thought that Sometimes Life Ends” but it reminds me of “Start Angry…” from before, with its high guitar line. But the song is great, and I guess there is no harm in having a style. The album does end well, closed by the 9 minute “The Last Song I will Ever Want to Sing” which again hints at their influence of Jimmy Eat World, with their ability to write a great ballad that builds and makes the time fly by.
This album is solid, just a little lengthy. Any fan of the above-mentioned bands will likely appreciate these rising stars from Canada. Are they really happy with who they are right now? At least musically I should hope - they are doing something worth hearing.
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this record is awesome.smart ass lyrics and even better written songs. definatly into this more than the red tree. Pretty insane. Best moneen album. I just found this CD again recently. I love this fucking disc. Every track is really catchy and beautiful, and done in a really smart way. This band is so aggressive, without losing their melodic sensibilities. This is not like John Q Emo, this album is philosophical, examining relationships with life and death. This is a 5 star album in my book. well done moneen. fantastic Live show last november. Hope the record is also cool, I ordered it, but I'm waiting... :-) I am a huge MONEEN fan and have been for the last 5-6 years. This release, while at the same time being very good, was still a bit of a let down compared to the group's previous releases. And compared to their earlier efforts, "Are We Really Happy..." is very Vagrant-ish; a little more poppy, a little less loud, and the lyricism isn't half as beautiful or as fun as old material like "Tonight, I'm Gone" or "Wrath of the Donkey". I don't know how to explain it: I really want to love this album, but for some reason, can't bring myself to it. the only thing keeping them, right now, on my all time favorite bands list is the fact that "Smaller Chairs EP" and "Theory of Harmonial Value" are so perfect and gorgeous, and they kick fucking ass live. Moneen Rocks! I thought "The Theory of Harmonial Value" was a wicked album to begin with. "Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now" just adds to the band's greatness. great band just good solid punk music I bought this cd and because of the packaging, it was broken. But I got a new one and it was pretty good. tour with COUNTERFIT AND SELFMADEMAN?!?!?!?!! AWWWSHIT... COUNTERFIT and SELFMADEMAN are good friends of mine... more so with SMM, but I've seen COunterfit zillions of times. Is it coming to MI? I have talked to the members of .moneen. many times. And they are the nicest guys ever. They deserve all of the good things that are happening to them. and for the guy who said how to be VAGRANT 101. It should be more like how to be an INCONSIDERATE PRICK 101. GO FUCK YOURSELF, AND EAT YOUR ASS WITH THIS SPOON --o. these guys remind me a bit of the Casket Lottery which is a good thing (although sounding too much like ANY band can get boring). one of the best Vagrant bands, for sure. i agree with dude, counterfit selfmademan and these guys... best show ever... all good live, real good Go see the tour, Selfmademan and Counterfeit,and Moneen. Best 8 bucks I ever spent in my life. How to be a fucking retard 101 below, they barely sound like any Vagrant bands but Smallman yes Moneen: how to be a vagrant band 101... As a PS to the last post - check out the live MP3's at emoneen.com of their performance at CBC. "Tonight I'm Gone" sounds UNBELIEVABLE Damn, am I the only one that thought the packaging - although very orginal - is very cumbersome and annoying when taking the CD out and replacing it? I don't like shit touching the CD's surface and you have to scrape it across the cardboard whenever you take it out. Once you do get it out and put it in the player though... man, maybe I won't have a problem after all, it will just permanently stay in the player, its that good. Hmmm... i had no idea what these guys sounded like, but i bought the cd based on mostly positive comments and this review. its fucking great. very very good. and the cd book smells weird/good like the new alk3. i must say i liked it better than the new brand new based on one listen "Good live, but nothing original or special. Canadians just sweat them cause they need a decent band to pop up every ten years." "Good live, but nothing original or special. Canadians just sweat them cause they need a decent band to pop up every ten years." First Rich, Now Jimmy.....Who is next to go.....FLOYD???!!!....Please god NO!!!! Good live, but nothing original or special. Canadians just sweat them cause they need a decent band to pop up every ten years. the album cover is something you cannot say sucks unless you actually have a copy. Those of you who are judging this album by the cover... "who is stupid enough to say shit like scott, an editor of punknews.org, like the shit he said below. just plain unprofessional and not needed. i don't like the cover art that much. The CD-ROM features nice videos... This album is just meh, it's not anything great but it's not horrible. only heard a few songs from this cd waiting to buy it when i see them on saturday. i'm kinda iffy on it but when i saw them the first time they blew me away and i never really got into their recordings a whole lot 'til about 3 months later it just didn't do enough for them than their live show did. i probably won't be able to put this cd down after a month or 2 just got the album today and wow it is amazing from start to finish just amazing. and a extra kick for those who already have the album the back highlights in gray letters "we are who we are" After reading this review I'm thrilled with all the positive comments that have been written. I thought it was going to be totally negative because they signed to Vagrant, but that isn't the case. Moneen is unbelievable and this is better then the last album. Man, while I was out buying CDs I found another little gem released today...the Statistics. That EP is a really good listen. Uhm ... you've seen them live, and call them cunts? I think they're the nicest band I've ever met. moneen are nice to see live they put on a good show, too bad the guys are cunts, and sound real bad recorded. There is a lot of good music coming out today. this is deffinately good. I really hate Tuesday like today. As of this point I have only picked up the Suicide Machines, but unfortunately by the night's end I will probably have to get this album as well. This will be a few hours of minimum wage I will never see again, though its usually quite worth it. who is stupid enough to say shit like scott, an editor of punknews.org, like the shit he said below. just plain unprofessional and not needed. Well is this better than "Theory.." or "Smaller Chairs.."? Hard to compare. The afore mentoined albums have a totally different feel to them. This album is amazing. I thought Vagrant would ruin them, but for once I think theyve made a band better. Buy this cd if youre a fan of good music. i must say, i've been listening to the theory of harmonial value since i got it and i haven't stopped yet. I've wanted this cd so much for the past couple of months. Moneen is one of the best bands i've heard in a while. I love them. I agree with hungryjoe about Ghosts of Modern Man, they should be on Smallman. i think i saw these guys once at long & mcquade's in brampton singing karaoke to britney spears. good stuff I don't know why everyone has such a hard on for these guys? I've seen 'em about 5 times up here in Canada and while they seem to be improving a lot, when they play live, it seems like each member is playing a completely different song (very active stage presence though). It sounds really chaotic and hard to enjoy. Their CDs are a little better but I'm still finding it hard to get into these guys. not to play Indie Rock Pete here ("I like their older stuff better"), but they seem to lost some of the quieter segments that made their first EP so appealing. they've packed this album with as much rock as possible...which isn't a bad thing. they've written some great songs here. this album is amazing. my band has played with these guys twice during their trips to the states and they've always been good, but this new album is mindblowing. from what I hear this should blow both of them away. I think you are the only person. It comes out in the US tomorrow so I will be picking this up first thing in the morning. Personally, I liked their EP better than the full length, but both are great. Am I the only person that doesn't think Moneen is great? Is this better than harmonial value? 'Cause that album owned me and kept me tied down in its basement for a month or so. Whee! Anyone that says the cover art sucks doesn't own this cd. It's has a really nice design to it. Great album all around. Moneen owns your fucking soul. just saw these guys play live last night. be sure to check them out if you get a chance. Moneen fuckin rule. Hey Scott, stop bragging about your free cds. The last free cd i got was by some cover band in fredericton called shayde, and it was burned. fuck, i need a job like you guys. I"m looking forward to getting this cd, the cover art isn't very cool though. Oh fuck, I forgot about the new Suicide Machines! Although I haven't gotten that for free yet, so I might actually have to go buy a CD. "Screw you and die, I hope you burn." |
