Albums to watch

Moms

Menomena

Moms

Fifth album and first as a duo from the Portland, Oregon experimental indie rock outfit

ADM rating[?]

7.8

Label
Barsuk
UK Release date
17/09/2012
US Release date
18/09/2012
  1. 9.0 |   Sputnik Music (staff)

    Moms is cinematic and serious, concerned with its own drama rather than the place it had to fill
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  2. 8.5 |   Under The Radar

    An album that's just as musically twisted and thematically perverse as their previous outings...and a whole lotta fun to sing along to
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  3. 8.3 |   A.V. Club

    Moms finds Menomena at its most direct and aggressive, concerned with making its point loud, clear, and immediate
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  4. 8.0 |   Beats Per Minute

    In a nutshell Moms is a charming ode to Seim and Justin’s mothers
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  5. 8.0 |   Prefix

    Taken as a whole, Moms outreaches and outpaces any of Menomena's previous works. So as far as quasi-debuts and faux-first impressions go, this one is itching for a follow-up
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  6. 8.0 |   Pitchfork

    Without doubt the most aggressive record Menomena have ever made
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  7. 8.0 |   NME

    Cheaper than a session with a therapist, and a much better listen
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  8. 8.0 |   Mojo

    Remarkable, kaleidoscopic offering. Print edition only

  9. 8.0 |   All Music

    Depth like this almost demands repeated listening, and makes Moms an album that will reward anyone who appreciates the thoroughly impressive songwriting of this newly minted duo
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  10. 8.0 |   DIY

    It seems to perfectly capture the calm and storms of family life; both the understanding and misunderstanding; the appreciation, and the engrained resentment. Heavy and heavenly, 'Moms' is, dare I say it, a phe-menomena-l return
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  11. 8.0 |   Consequence Of Sound

    These are refreshingly fluid, unencumbered compositions — well paired with the most personal lyrics Menomena have written
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  12. 8.0 |   Paste Magazine

    The personal nature of the lyrics shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s what makes Moms feel less like an exercise in sonic exploration, and more like a flesh-and-blood rock record… that happens to also be an exercise in sonic exploration
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  13. 8.0 |   The Digital Fix

    Where many seek to recycle the sounds of the past, Menomena have an evident artistic sincerity; there is real emotion on show here and that’s something never to take for granted
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  14. 8.0 |   Uncut

    A mighty exhilarating record. Print edition only

  15. 8.0 |   Slant Magazine

    Whereas Mines was cold and littered with songs that seemed to bear the weight of the band's communication problems, Moms comes off as downright soulful, almost tender, a fluid and unruffled affair
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  16. 8.0 |   The Skinny

    A hopeful new chapter for one of modern indie rock's more absorbing propositions
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  17. 8.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    Menomena still sound fresh and uncontrived and, well, endearingly innocent
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  18. 8.0 |   PopMatters

    Moms is an album that you will probably end up liking, and liking a lot, though it is also conversely an album that is hard to enjoy with its heart-on-its-sleeve sentiment
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  19. 8.0 |   The Guardian

    Tales of inner demons and illusory loves firm up dark but euphoric sonic adventures, and it's hard not to share in the band's audible sense of exhilaration and excitement as each odyssey unfolds
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  20. 8.0 |   The Fly

    The Portland duo’s latest collection seems to be an exercise in proving that they’re able to stick together
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  21. 7.5 |   The Line Of Best Fit

    Whilst clearly aiming for clarity, the classic Menomena sense of playfulness is in abundance on Moms, coursing chord progressions and burrowing melodic phrases never impressing at the expense of lucidity or instant impact
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  22. 6.9 |   Bowlegs

    Moms may carry a few weaker tunes than previous Menomena records, and the focus may stray on occasion. Yet it still stands as a fine achievement working with some gutsy moves lyrically and instrumentally
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  23. 6.0 |   The Irish Times

    You could safely accuse Harris and Seim of a marked lack of cohesion, but when the constituent parts are so good it’s difficult to complain
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  24. 6.0 |   Q

    Experimental blues-rock with a kinky twist. Print edition only


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