Monument - A 3 Song 7"

Monument is a band. They play music very well. Their enthusiasm for a propulsive and dynamic melody is evident in every note. They seem like the kind of guys who would get pumped if you enjoyed their music. They seem like the kind of guys that would want to share the keg with you, cuz it would be more fun if everyone was partying. They still might pee on your front lawn though.

"What does this add up to?", you might be asking. "Does this mean they are going to crash my house and drink all my beer and pee on my lawn?" No, you missed the point. They will crash your party and make sure that everyone is having a great time and then you will all pee on your lawn together. The real grass is inside anyways.

Okay, maybe another way. Monument seems like the kind of band that wants to generate a good positive mood, something all inclusive; no one too geeky, no one too tough to enjoy their harmonious indie/emo hybrid. The songs speak to this idea by being accessible on the surface; offering group sing alongs, poppy, sunny melodies with just the right amount of introspection, and riffs, riffs to nod your head too, riff to drive a point home. But they offer just the right amount of complexity to widen their draw. Mathy, quickly plucked guitar runs shoot and scatter all over while skittering drums alternately tighten then loosen their grip on the track, keeping things tied up when they call for it and allowing the songs to breathe when necessary, veering it away from something too formulaic.

What it really comes down to is these guys really have a handle on songwriting, and if these songs are any indication than we have a band that is going to be the next step in the evolution of such like minded bands as Kickball, Algernon Cadwallader and Castevet. In fact, the band, on their myspace page, describes their sound as a combination of American Football, Braid and Monument. Being that they have a very whimsical sound bolstered by a more direct sound yet still wholly their own I think that it is very fitting.

Monument really do seem like the kind of guys you want to have play a house party and I can picture everyone smiling in the crowd at a Monument show.. especially when they play "Memory and Location" and everyone yells "Get Rad!". This is really good stuff. The 7" is $5 bucks direct from the band. It can be purchased elsewhere as well. You can see their Myspace for the various ordering options. Also, the 7" comes with a hand made lyric sheet which is actually kind of cool. Be the first on your block to rock Monument this spring, cuz once the word is fully out there these guys are going to catch on big.

Monument on Myspace

You can also download their demos from myspace and they are totally worth it. Get on this shit!