Menomena are an experimental rock band from Portland, Oregon, made up of Da… Read Full Bio ↴Menomena are an experimental rock band from Portland, Oregon, made up of Danny Seim on percussion; and Justin Harris on bass, guitar, and saxophone. Both members of the band share singing duties and swap instruments frequently while recording.

The band formed in late 2000, when ex-member Brent Knopf graduated from Dartmouth College and returned to Portland to collaborate with Harris and Seim. They played their first show in July 2001, at The Meow Meow, a now-defunct all ages venue in Portland.

Menomena self-released their debut album, I Am the Fun Blame Monster!, on May 20, 2003. The album was elaborately packaged in an 80-page flipbook that Seim designed and individually hand-assembled. It later received nationwide distribution through FILMguerrero in 2004. The title is an anagram for The First Menomena Album.

In 2005, Under an Hour was released as a three-track album of instrumental music written for and performed with Monster Squad, an experimental dance company based in Portland.

In August of 2006, Menomena signed with Barsuk Records although the band still maintains a relationship with their old label, FILMguerrero. It was stated that FILMguerrero would still be involved in their old catalog and future vinyl releases.

Menomena released their next album in 2007, titled Friend and Foe. It received relative critical acclaim -- while some websites like Pitchfork Media praised the album for its effective modular pop, others like PopMatters criticized it for presenting a sense of feigned maturity. Their record release show was held in their home town of Portland, Oregon. The packaging features artwork by graphic novelist/cartoonist Craig Thompson, consisting of die-cut shapes, decoder rings, and hidden messages. It was nominated for "Best Recording Package" at The Grammy Awards.

The band's following album, Mines, was released in July 2010.

In January 2011, Brent Knopf's departure was announced. He left the band under good terms in order to focus on his other project Ramona Falls.

Without Knopf, Menomena released their most recent album, Moms in September of 2012.

The band's name was chosen for "the way it rolls off the tongue, sexually, or something" and has no specific meaning, although it is often assumed to refer to the Piero Umiliani song "Mah Nà Mah Nà", a staple of The Muppet Show.

Danny Seim also has a side project began in the late 90's titled Lackthereof.

Boyscout'n
Menomena Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

So stop and take it all in slowly
'Cause this short glimpse is not the only
Chance that you will have to
See all the ways that I
Can prove myself as worthy
To be the one and only true sure thing
Sure thing

I can't believe I lent my hand
To help destroy a helpless man
Maybe it's a long shot now
But still I say
You should not, sir, survive this fall
Then I pray, if I pray at all,
I can catch my breath and
come away unscathed,
away unscathed.

I once believed you were my savior
But now you're nothing but a traitor.
But still, I wait for you return.
I get the feeling I have waited out a lifetime
For a lot to lose but nothing to gain,
nothing to gain.

I can't believe I lent my hand
To help destroy a helpless man
Maybe it's a long shot now
But still I say
You should not, sir, survive this fall
Then I pray, if I pray at all,
I can catch my breath and
come away unscathed,

away unscathed
away unscathed.

Overall Meaning

The song "Boyscout'n" by Menomena discusses the idea of worthiness and betrayal. The opening lines of the song imply that the listener should take their time to truly appreciate everything that is happening around them right now because this moment may not come again. The singer is confident in their own worthiness, and they want others to see it too. They want to be considered the only true thing that is guaranteed. However, there is a clear sense of doubt that appears throughout the song. The singer admits that they once believed in someone who was supposed to save them, but that person turned out to be a traitor. Despite this, the singer seems to be waiting for them to return.

The two stanzas that repeat throughout the song describe the guilt that the singer feels for participating in the destruction of a helpless man, while also implying that he deserved what happened to him. The song uses a mix of confessional and accusatory language. The singer feels guilty for their participation, yet they also condemn the man as being undeserving of survival. They pray that they can come away unscathed from the situation. The song reveals a complexity of character within the singer, who has both a desire for worthiness and a guilty conscience. The song overall implies that no one is entirely pure, and everyone makes mistakes.

Line by Line Meaning

So stop and take it all in slowly
Pause for a moment and fully absorb your surroundings

'Cause this short glimpse is not the only
This brief view is not the only opportunity

Chance that you will have to
Time to engage with and learn from me

See all the ways that I
Notice every skill and attribute I have

Can prove myself as worthy
Show that I am capable and deserving

To be the one and only true sure thing
To earn the position of being the only secure option

Sure thing
The one reliable and dependable choice

I can't believe I lent my hand
I regret that I assisted

To help destroy a helpless man
In causing harm to someone vulnerable

Maybe it's a long shot now
Perhaps it is unlikely at this point

But still I say
However, I maintain my belief