Punknews.org | Moneen - Saying Something You Have Already Said Before [EP/DVD]

Review Navigator

Features

Reviews

Moneen

Saying Something You Have Already Said Before [EP/DVD]
2006
self-released

Moneen - Saying Something You Have Already Said Before [EP/DVD] (Cover Artwork)

Review by: Brian
See others by this writer

Moneen (link)

Only registered users
can post comments

Published on January 26th 2007

Stuffed inside the mighty, emotional rock power of Moneen's 2006 powerhouse The Red Tree are actually some equally sincere, heart-wrenching and beautiful, atmospheric moments. Granted, a single full listen of the album will reveal that, but when all these moments are concentrated into one linear offering, the experience is not only somber and a little only emotionally draining but also impressive and breathtaking due to the band's complex arrangements.

Saying Something You Have Already Said Before bills itself as one B-side, acoustic takes on four songs off The Red Tree, and a DVD on the other side of its DualDisc with four live songs. In reality, the new takes are anything but sparse; I think by "acoustic" they mean "with some acoustic guitar and lots more piano and beautiful, plugged-in guitars twinkling, ringing and filling the soundscape." "There Are a Million Reasons for Why This May Not Work...And Just One for Why It Will" seems to benefit the most from those touches -- Kenny Bridges' voice sounds magnificent here, soaring above a string section with perfectly punctuated lines by Chris Hughes. Moneen has been complimentarily and occasionally handed Explosions in the Sky comparisons since the release of 2003's Are We Really Happy with Who We Are Right Now?, but here's where they really match that level of beauty and orchestration. However, this type of adaptation definitely works for the other songs on the EP, which sound just as good here if not better than their original versions. "The Song I Swore Never to Sing" spills guts moist to the touch, ending the five-song disc much the same way it ends the full-length -- lines carefully sung with an alarming articulation and unsettling honesty ("kill yourself / surprise your friends").

Appropriately, the sole exclusive song, "Prepare Yourself...The Worst Is Yet to Come" is a slower, more reflective track in the vein of "This Is All Bigger Than Me" and "The Song I Swore To Never Sing." It wouldn't necessarily stand out on The Red Tree, but it's solid and attention-grabbing all the same.

My only complaint regarding the DVD portion would probably lie directly with the band; despite the arrival of their best album and most well-written songs yet I'm sort of convinced now that a compromise had to be drawn with the energy they exhibit live. I'd probably just attribute it to the heightened intricacy of their songs, which now command greater attention and focus to the performance at hand. However, a commendable job should be acknowledged on how dead on all four songs are played (three from The Red Tree plus the title track off Happy?) in front of a sizeable crowd at Toronto's Opera House, displayed by crisp camera work and flawless, pro video. It's slightly obnoxious to have the credits start rolling during the epic finish of "This Is All Bigger Than Me," but at least it doesn't completely ruin the song.

Saying Something You Have Already Said Before's title might ring with a bit of self-effacing truth, but rest assured Moneen constantly find wholly new and always refreshing ways to say those somethings, this being no exception.

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

Please login or register to post comments.

What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

Posted by D00M3D on 2007-02-08 21:57:20

they're pretty much close to amazing.

Posted by wentz_equals_death on 2007-02-02 13:48:04

almostpunkenough: you most certainly did not score this

Posted by almostpunkenough on 2007-01-28 20:30:15

god i love this band... gonna have to score this.

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 28, 2007 at 1:12 PM (EST)

I saw them live once and they put on one of the worst shows I've ever seen. They came across as pretentious and bored.

Posted by wentz_equals_death on 2007-01-28 04:29:17

i've heard they're nice

Posted by Kursk on 2007-01-28 02:01:23
My Score:

I still don't know what the big deal is about this band. Long pretentious song titles and pretty generic sounding poppy punk, sort of like a canadian fall out boy. I have heard they put on a good live show though, so if I actually saw them play my opinion on them might change. As of right now, still generic and nothing attention grabbing whatsoever.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 27, 2007 at 12:46 PM (EST)

i've seen them live multiple times in various ohio venues and i think i'm only one of about 10 people in ohio who actually know who moneen are and know how amazing they are.

there are a lot more of us in ohio who know who moneen is... but there probably are only about 10 of you that think this crap is "amazing."

Posted by Trauma16 on 2007-01-26 21:59:09

I got this cd the day after it came out while they were touring ontario. Just so well done, its amazing.
As well, i have to agree that they are possibly the nicest bunch of guys on the planet. I remember back when they helped my friend and I look for a lost camera.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 26, 2007 at 6:17 PM (EST)
My Score:

It's really hard to get my head around how anyone can dislike this band. They're fucking amazing! And some of the best human beings alive.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 26, 2007 at 5:18 PM (EST)
My Score:

great disc...

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 26, 2007 at 5:09 PM (EST)

Seriously, nicest dudes in music.
Sorry its not FFTL and Chiodos and their underage fuckfests.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 26, 2007 at 5:07 PM (EST)

"People like to throw words like "amazing" around with this band and others of the like...personally, I'd rather jack off with a sandpaper mitten then ever hear them again."

Thats why youre a homo faggot.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 26, 2007 at 1:35 PM (EST)

And Happy 6000th Review!
-feeeding5000

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 26, 2007 at 1:34 PM (EST)

You do the sandpaper thing too? Oh, and Moneen is really bad.
-feeeding5000

Posted by PetroBPettson on 2007-01-26 12:52:00

People like to throw words like "amazing" around with this band and others of the like...personally, I'd rather jack off with a sandpaper mitten then ever hear them again.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 26, 2007 at 10:14 AM (EST)

"pretentious assholes"? you have obviously never met this band before, and are clearly talking out of your ass. i've had the chance to share the road with these fine canucks numerous times. i can say, with the unmost certainty and sincerity, that they are the finest group of human beings i have ever been around. if the rest human race had the modesty, humbleness and politeness of these four gents, the world would be a much better place.

Posted by thedude on 2007-01-26 09:47:53

i will never understand why this band does not garner more attention in the underground music scene.

i've seen them live multiple times in various ohio venues and i think i'm only one of about 10 people in ohio who actually know who moneen are and know how amazing they are.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 26, 2007 at 9:36 AM (EST)

what movie will you see first in July, Transformers or Die Hard 4? Die Hard for me.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 26, 2007 at 9:09 AM (EST)

There's two words that sum up this band Pretentious assholes.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 26, 2007 at 1:52 AM (EST)

"What does this have to do with NBA Jam TE?"

WTF

Posted by ryanbolger on 2007-01-26 00:49:13

i was at that show. they played wrath of the donkey by request and it absolutely slayed.

definitely miss seeing this band in the church basement in brampton.

Posted by tenwestchaser on 2007-01-26 00:34:07

"moneen rooolz"

Hmm...they are pretty damn boring to me. What really shot the band in the head for me was their complete and utter mangeling of the two Alexisonfire songs. On the flip side, Alexis made Moneens songs 10 times more kick ass than they ever could. Buuuuut I keep hearing good things about the Red Tree so what the hell I should give it a listen. It is on my iPod after all....

Posted by kirbypuckett on 2007-01-26 00:31:45

What does this have to do with NBA Jam TE?

- Kirby

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 26, 2007 at 12:29 AM (EST)

moneen rooolz