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.
Wet And Rusting
Menomena Lyrics
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And when you unravel the secret will travel
It's hard to take risks with a pessimist
I hope that this shaking will help us awaken
Separated by skin 'til we let ourselves in
It's hard to take risks with a pessimist
It's hard to take risks
I hope one will burn me, I know you'll desert me
The hope can be painful, I'll try to be faithful
(It's hard to take risks)
In Menomena's song Wet and Rusting, the singer seems to be speaking directly to their partner, presenting them with a gift that the partner would never expect. This gift holds a secret that will travel once it is revealed. The singer reveals that they find it difficult to take risks with a pessimist, and they hope that shaking things up will help the couple awaken to one another. The song suggests that the couple has been separated by their own skin, and that they have not allowed themselves to truly let one another in.
The singer then declares a hope that one day they will be burned by their partner, and that they will be deserted in some capacity. It is as if they are acknowledging the pain that comes with love, and hoping that they will remain faithful through the trials. The singer concludes by admitting how difficult it is to take risks, but they express optimism that they will push through their fears. The lyrics are full of paradoxes and contradictions, suggesting that relationships can be difficult to navigate.
Interestingly, the title of the song, “Wet and Rusting,” could suggest that the relationship in question is not new, and may have been left to decay over time. This would explain the need for the singer to “shake things up” and take risks to reignite the spark between them. The overall message seems to be that relationships can be painful, but there is hope for those who are willing to take risks and work at them.
Line by Line Meaning
I made you a present, you'll never expect it
I have created a gift for you that will surprise you.
And when you unravel the secret will travel
When you reveal what the gift is, it will create a ripple effect.
It's hard to take risks with a pessimist
Taking risks with someone who only sees the negative outcome is difficult.
I hope that this shaking will help us awaken
I hope that going through a difficult time can help us realize something important.
Separated by skin 'til we let ourselves in
Our physical appearance keeps us apart until we open up to each other.
It's hard to take risks with a pessimist
Taking risks with someone who only sees the negative outcome is difficult.
It's hard to take risks
Taking risks is a challenge in general.
I hope one will burn me, I know you'll desert me
I understand that taking risks may hurt me, and you may leave me.
(This is the closest I'll come to touching you the way I want)
(This gift is the closest I can come to expressing my true feelings for you.)
The hope can be painful, I'll try to be faithful
Having hope can be painful, but I will remain loyal to this relationship.
(It's hard to take risks)
(Taking risks is never easy.)
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Brent Knopf, Daniel Frederic Seim, Justin Andrew Harris
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind