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.
Dirty Cartoons
Menomena Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stumble to bed and lay beside you
Until we're even or romantically bored,
Whichever comes first
Go home, I'm trying
But I've been misled by dirty cartoons
You'll keep me honest for old time's sake
(I'd like to) go home
I've mined the graveyard of unpublished poems
You should be so lucky
Considers the meaning and shrug it right off
You'll only encourage me
(I'd like to) go home
I like to go home
The song "Dirty Cartoons" by Menomena is a melancholy meditation on loneliness and self-deception. The verses are addressed to an unnamed listener, whom the singer implores to leave so he can finally go home and be alone with his thoughts. He admits to being "misled by dirty cartoons," perhaps a metaphor for the way our obsessions and temptations distract us from achieving our goals. Yet he also acknowledges the comfort and intimacy of having someone beside him: "Until we're even or romantically bored, / Whichever comes first."
The chorus ("Go home, go home") can be read in several different ways: as a command to the listener, as a message to himself, or as a plea for both parties to escape their sense of futility and start fresh. The refrain "I'd like to go home" takes on a haunting quality, repeating over and over like a mantra or a desperate wish. The bridge hints at a creative frustration, with the singer admitting to having "mined the graveyard of unpublished poems." He craves validation but also wishes to be left alone to pursue his ideas. Overall, "Dirty Cartoons" is a poignant and introspective song about the complexities of human connection and creativity.
Line by Line Meaning
Go home, I'd like to
I want to go home and be with you
Stumble to bed and lay beside you
I want to crawl into bed beside you
Until we're even or romantically bored,
Until we're both satisfied or feel like it's enough
Whichever comes first
Whatever happens first
Go home, I'm trying
I'm trying to go home
But I've been misled by dirty cartoons
But I got distracted by watching pornographic cartoons
You'll keep me honest for old time's sake
To keep me truthful like you always have done
I'm begging of you, go home, go home
I'm pleading with you to leave so I can go home
(I'd like to) go home
I want to go home
I've mined the graveyard of unpublished poems
I've looked through all my old unpublished writings
You should be so lucky
You should count yourself fortunate
Considers the meaning and shrug it right off
I acknowledge the significance but dismiss it quickly
You'll only encourage me
You will inspire and support me
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brent Knopf, Daniel Frederic Seim, Justin Andrew Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind