It’s been a long three years since our boys in Menomena released Friend & Foe, but our wait is over…well, it’ll be over July 27th. This date marks the release of the trio’s newest musical creation on Barsuk, Mines.
The image above is the new record’s front-and-back cover art, and like all other Menomena album art, it is more than meets the eye. I am the Fun Blame Monster came equipped with a flipbook and Friend & Foe with an intricate die-cut puzzle; this one is a stereograph. The front and back images appear to look identical but are actually slightly different stereographic photos that are visible as a single three-dimensional image if the viewer crosses his/her eyes just right (you know, like the “Oh look, it’s a sailboat!” Magic Eye optical illusions). Unfortunately, I’ve never been good at those and more than likely will forever see this artwork in its primitive, two-dimensional form, but at least the broken siren is nice to look at!
Along with announcing the album art, the threesome was kind enough to share the record’s first single, “FIVE ROOMS,” (no, the caps lock was not a typo, check out the tracklisting below) with its fans. The dark, minor-chord (and, of course, saxophone) laden track can be all yours if you go to Menomena’s site and supply the band with your email address.
Here’s what drummer/vocalist Danny Seim posted on the band’s website about the single:
Here are five little facts about "Five Little Rooms"
1. It’s the ninth track on our new album
2. It started out as one song a few years ago and ended up an entirely different song a few months ago
3. It prominently features the words "prostitute", "children", "hung", "bridegroom", "suburban" and "mcdonalds" (we’re edgy now, haven’t you heard?)
4. It was the last song to be chosen for the new record, which, in our perverted world, somehow makes it the most appropriate choice for the first single
5. It’s either the best or the worst song we’ve ever written; you decide!
Our friendly label folks wanted me to rewrite the following info in a more personal way, but I’m having a hard time outdoing their informative enthusiasm. I’ll just cut and paste instead:
"Get a download of "Five Little Rooms" now! In a few weeks, you’ll get exclusive information on the upcoming Mines pre-order including a limited-edition double 7-inch with non-album tracks, exclusive t-shirts, screen-printed posters and more!"
Thank you for caring.
love, Danny / Menomena
Mines Tracklisting:
1.QUEEN BLACK ACID
2.TAOS
3.KILLEMALL
4.DIRTY CARTOONS
5.TITHE
6.BOTE
7.LUNCHMEAT
8.OH PRETTY BOY, YOU’RE SUCH A BIG BOY
9.FIVE LITTLE ROOMS
10.SLEEPING BEAUTY
11.INTIL
-Katrina Nattress