Customer Reviews

Red Tree (Dig)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A band warranting underground success with their stunning live performances, Moneen are now defining themselves as more than a band whose live act is beyond exemplary. Their last album, "Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now?" defined the band as outside of the status-quo, with often off-the-wall song dynamics and structure; but with "The Red Tree," the band's extraordinary live energy is transcribed and documented by an intense studio recording.

The 11 songs on "The Red Tree" were, in fact, so intensely transcribed, that pedals and amplifiers literally went up in smoke during the many months in which it was recorded. The instant the album kicks off, a shockwave of sonic guitar energy immediately aims to redefine the band's sound, and as the songs progress, more and more of these sonic guitar sounds are revealed.

And despite all the noise and chaos, another thing that really strikes the listener is the often brilliant harmonies the singer pulls off. The vocal melodies are, by themselves, catchy and vibrant, and often backed up by one or more voices, adding yet another layer to the complex sound on "The Red Tree." Vocally, the album is just as infectious as it is melodious, and the soaring vocal melodies on songs like "Don't Ever Tell Locke What He Can't Do" or the powerful, brooding chorus of "The Politics Of Living And The Shame In Dying" do nothing but encapsulate the listener with an experience previously unheard of.

Technically, the album is as complex and detailed and is some of the most spirited, noisy guitar work I have heard since The Receiving End Of Sirens' latest. "The Frightening Reality Of The Fact That We Will All Have To Grow Up And Settle Down One Day" unveils some of the most vigorous guitar work on the album-and the intense riffing is literally stunning. Shoegazed, shimmering guitar structures remind one of bands from the mid-90's My Bloody Valentine epidemic, even.

And even when the record isn't blasting off its sonic, animated guitar techniques (which isn't too often) the slower ballads (namely "There Are A Million Reasons For Why This May Not Work... And Just One Good One For Why It Will" or "The Song I Swore To Never Sing") bring out pianos and a sort of epic display of the band's capacity to write soft, lovely pop hooks.

Moneen might not be your favorite band yet-or a band you have even listened to. If you've seen them live, you know what I'm talking about when I say they have an extreme energy in their live performance. "The Red Tree" further continues the band's ability to write songs that are outside of the box, yet accessible to anyone who enjoys a pleasant pop-sensibility-all the while better documenting their live energy. And yet, the experimental, avant-garde, and utterly shocking guitar renditions and sounds on this album are alone enough to compel even the choosiest of music fans.

(This review originally appeared on EmotionalPunk.com)

Better than their newest album "the world I want to leave behind." But a different sound than their previous work. Still a good album just a little different than "Are we really happy...."

The best band of Ontario strikes back again with their third album "The Red Tree". In this album, Moneen has managed to create what every other band strives to do, they managed to make each song truly epic, and if you don't believe that, go check out "The day No One Needed To Know" which actually is kinda epic at 6 minutes. This album gives a true feeling of happiness to anyone who can recognize good music. In this album, there is a song for everyone, there are splendid epic songs such as "The Day No One Needed To Know", there are some slower relaxing songs "This is All Bigger Than Me", and "The Song I Swore To Never sing", some more techniqual songs "Don't Ever Tell Locke What He Can't Do" or "If Tragedy's Appealing, Disaster's An Addiction" (listen to the bass at the start of that song!). They put in the third version of "Bleed And Blister" and it is truly amazing, the singer manages to get his voice high like the guy from coldplay sometimes, I'm not saying that is a good thing, but it fits the song. They have some more fast songs such as "The Frightening Reality Of The Fact That We Will All Have To Setlle And Settle Down One Day" (yes that is a very long title). And all of the other songs on the album are beautiful with superb choruses, amazing musicianship and splendid lyrics, check out once again "the day no one needed to know", that song is nearly perfect and is Moneen's best ever, and probably any band's best song ever, seriously that is the best song ever, and everyone should know it, if you want proof download it, or better yet, buy this album.
To all the ones who will have the pleasure of getting this album, once you get it, make sure to enjoy it's splendor

Have been a fan since Small Chairs (Smallman Records) and have seen a number of times over the last 5 years. This album is beautiful. I love it. Shorter songs and bigger hooks don't make them anyless of an amazing band. Having seen them live and had the chance to talk to the band members on several occasions leaves me with the impression that this IS Moneen! buy it.

This is a review I did of this CD for my high school newspaper. My editor really dislikes when I spend a review raving about how amazing a CD is, so I had to kind of stretch to make up something for 'The Cons' part. This CD is absolutely stunning and you should go buy it right now.

Moneen - The Red Tree - Vagrant Records
Grade: A

The Overview: Moneen are a rock quartet imported straight from Canada. The Red Tree is their third release, after The Theory Of Harmonial Value and Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now? They're unique brand of driving rock has been earning them a strong fan base and good critical reviews over the last few years.

The Pros: This album, as a whole, is outstanding. Looking back on each track and the way it is placed after the previous one and before the next one and the way they all combine to form Moneen's greatest musical achievement is amazing. Almost as amazing as someone actually understanding what I just said without reading it twice over. The album has abandoned the space-y six to ten minute jams of their previous works in favor of a whole album of straightforward rock songs. This band has always been spectacular lyrically by somehow conveying simple ideas in a beautiful manner without using abstract metaphors and unidentafiable language. They continue the tradition to new heights on The Red Tree, and it's every bit as impressive as ever.

The Cons: As a result of being so well put together, the CD can sometimes feel like one long song. However, listening to a Moneen song in a mix or on shuffle on your iPod is just as satisfying, and the only problem may be getting to the end of CD before thinking you've already listened to it twice. Still, all but a few songs stand on their own merit and most deserve a spot on your daily playlist at least once or twice a week.

The Summary: Moneen have produced a unique, honest, and brilliant approach at music that is somehow familiar yet undeniably distinct from anything else out there. Besides, it's 11 tracks long and only $5.99 at Best Buy. How can you turn that down?

For Fans Of: Brand New, Saves The Day, Circa Survive

In 2003 i saw Moneen play live and they were pretty crazy. A few weeks later I went and got their CD(Are We Really Happy..?) and it wasnt very good. I gave it so many chances and it just never caught onto me. THE RED TREE on the other hand caught my attention immediately. It is catchy and every song contains talent. The second half of the album in my opinion is actually better than the first, but the first half is still amazing. My favorite tracks have to be 4, 6, 9, and 10. Check this album out.

Moneen has yet again delivered another masterpiece by way of vagrant records.I saw it at Best Buy for 5.99! come on people, you have to pick this up!

When this album came out I heard a lot of people saying that "The Red Tree" was the worst work of Moneen, because after the Alexisonfire split, they stole a lot of traces of Alexis' music...i can't say they don't.

But!

This album is awesome, i didn't like Moneen before i heard this album, i thought that their music was kind of crazy and boring, i didn't had what it needed to like their sound.

When i heard "The Red Tree" this all changed, the whole idea that i had made of them changed. They can take Alexisonfire's musical weight and mix it with a lot of catchy refrains and lines. And Moneen's lyrics are the most beautiful things i've ever read in the subject of music, songs like "The Day No One Needed To Know" and "There Are A Million Reasons For Why This May Not Work... And Just One Good One For Why It Will" could suck musically, but just with those lyrics they would be great.

Moneen rocks!

I suggest you buy this CD, you won't regret it. I don't own it yet because i live in Brazil and one cd comes out very expensive, but i'm gathering some money to buy me one!

In my opinion: "the best cd in 2006 so far"

I was filled with excitement when I heard moneen was FINALLY releasing another CD.
As the songs slowly got released as teasers, I started getting nervous. These songs no longer sounded like the moneen of past, the melodic, "stop go", climatic moneen.
I still had hope though.

The Red Tree isn't bad or disappointing, just different.
It seems like they decided to cut down song lengths to appeal to a more commercial audience, which is good and bad.
The songs are more raw and fast paced, skipping the instrumental breakdowns and climaxes, and sometimes easily forgotten.

There are the gems in there though (This is All Bigger Than Me, There Are a Million Reasons... and The Song I Swore to Never Sing). I'm not one to complain, since a new CD means more touring and more live shows, which are always amazing.
I still recommend purchasing this CD at its incredible cheap price ($7.99 at HMV).

I like when guitars sound like guitars. Moneen used to like that too. Now they want to bury their organic distorted guitar timbre under echo-effect processing. Why? I guess it's because they're stupid. Maybe the guitarists both suffered some injury to the head recently. I'm listening to this record and I really don't hear Moneen at all. I just hear The Used and Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance. I hear a bunch of safe, conservative, overproduced riffs and melodies that don't pack any punch, either rhythmically or melodically. Even the singing is just like please play us on the radio. Moneen was one of the few higher profile emo bands that still reminded an increasingly insipid scene of a time when rock bands sounded like rock bands. R.I.P. Moneen.