#5 on the 2010 Musical Bacon Calendar

Mines by Menomena

What can I say — I’m a sucker for horns and strings. And Menomena regularly employs a bass saxaphone to fill out the low end of their songs. And that’s really just the tip of the iceberg of the talent of the three main guys in the band. Any one of the three could sing lead on a song at any given time. And if they aren’t singing lead, they’re singing backup, all the while playing their myriad of instruments.

The song structures found on the wonderful Mines are quite unique. Their last full-length, 2007’s Friend and Foe, was also a fantastic album, but thankfully with the new record the band has grown away from the sound they share with bands like TV on the Radio.

Every song on Mines is insanely great. However, I’ve just spent three hours shoveling 18” of snow out of the driveway of the house I’m staying at here in Boston, and just cannot think or move my fingers any more. Just buy the damn album already.

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6. Contra by Vampire Weekend
7. Go by Jónsi
8. The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
9. Gorilla Manor by the Local Natives
10. The Head and the Heart by the Head and the Heart
11. Special Affections by Diamond Rings
12. Treats by Sleigh Bells
13. Write About Love by Belle & Sebastian
14. Wild Smile by Suckers
15. Learning by Perfume Genius
16. Forgiveness Rock Record by Broken Social Scene
17. Expo 86 by Wolf Parade
18. One Life Stand by Hot Chip
19. Big Echo by The Morning Benders
20. Here’s To Taking It Easy by Phosphorescent
21. This is Happening by LCD Soundsystem
22. The Mistress by Yellow Ostrich
23. Halcyon Digest by Deerhunter
24. Been Listening by Johnny Flynn
25. The Wild Hunt by The Tallest Man on Earth
26. Lisbon by The Walkmen
27. Scratch My Back by Peter Gabriel
28. All Day by Girl Talk
29. A Storm – A Tree – My Mother’s Head by Bobby Bare Jr.
30. 03 to TEN by Knathan Ryan
31. In This Light On This Evening by Editors