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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Conflict of Interest / Band of the Week / Video RE: The Men Announce New Album

Posted by Jackson Hathorn on Tue, Dec 27, 2011 at 11:59 AM

I'm on an airplane right now (That's flying in the sky—this is some crazy shit!) and decided to splurge on inflight WiFi and check out Line Out for the first time during my extended vacation, since I've largely been off the grid.

Plenty of critically lauded indie albums were released in 2011, many of which I never listened to, like Destroyer's Chinatown (why bother when there's an entire discography of Steely Dan and Michael McDonald?) or the new one from Bon Iver (when I moved to Seattle and matriculated at U.W., the only person from my small town who had gone to school there told me to prepare for "incredible excitement and fun, soul-crushing despair, self-loathing, huge amounts of arrogance and ego-inflation, life-doldrums, death-of-self, and a lot of beer." For Emma, Forever Ago soundtracked the first winter of all that, and I'm a little scared to listen to Bon Iver again.

But the one that tops of my list of albums I refuse to listen to, is Leave Home by the Men, and I might skip over their new one in 2012 too. Why? Because they stole their name from my mom's band in the early 90s. Seriously, here's the video to their Polydor single "Church of Logic, Sin & Love." My mom is the blonde-haired lady bassist wearing sunglasses who doesn't smile (and NOT the blonde-haired lady guitarist wearing sunglasses who doesn't smile). Her star turn is at around the minute and a half mark in the video, when she refuses to laugh at the lead singer/songwriter wearing a ridiculous hat in a diner.

So tell me Line Out readers who have now (hopefully) listened to both of the Mens, which one is better? I won't be mad if you choose young Brooklyn upstarts over my mom, and maybe once I'm on the ground, (did I mention that I'm flying in an airplane right now, on the Internet, and drinking scotch? Yes, I've had a few Glenlivets.) I'll check out these dudes who chose the same dumb name as my mom's old band.

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very brave of you. leaving this open to trolls talking all kinds of shit about your mom. unfortunately i am not at work, and therefore cannot watch this video. also, i've never listened to this new "the men" either.

Posted by yos-wa on December 27, 2011 at 12:04 PM

Yos - You fool. I'll keep saying this: Album of the Year.

Posted by bunnypuncher

on December 27, 2011 at 12:16 PM

According to Discogs there are 7 bands named "Men, The," the earliest being a Human League side project. At first I thought you were referring to the Le Tigre spin-off but they are just "Men" and they're not all dudes. I think we can all agree this is a terrible name for a band.

Posted by blip on December 27, 2011 at 12:40 PM

'gang - fine, fine. i'll check it out.

Posted by yos-wa on December 27, 2011 at 3:19 PM

That woman had an episiotomy for you and your big head. Hell yes you should refuse to listen to the new band.

Posted by Lilliable on December 27, 2011 at 5:23 PM

Then there is Men In Hats.

Its like your mom's band, only in hats...and without a definite article.

Google and Apple have sued for less.

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on December 27, 2011 at 9:17 PM

the crowded house comparison is inaccurate. more like dramarama.

Posted by mr. herriman on December 27, 2011 at 9:43 PM

having said that, i remember this song (your mom's) well, and i like it.

Posted by mr. herriman on December 27, 2011 at 9:48 PM

Feet are on the ground, I've rid myself of tiny $6 bottles of scotch, and the moms band is in the lead. If only I saved this post for closer to Mother's Day

Posted by Jackson Hathorn on December 28, 2011 at 12:51 AM

Wow! I remember that song. I saw the video a handful of times. The chorus rocks! I would like to point out that the female guitar player plays a better solo than the guy. Your mother holds the groove nicely. Does she still play?

Another vote for you mom's band!

Posted by gttim on December 28, 2011 at 5:49 AM

Aquamaine...........

I will forever side with moms. Fuck the new Men.

Posted by dangerousgift on December 28, 2011 at 9:41 AM

I remember that song was a hit. The story songs were more popular then. It almost holds up . Almost. It doesn't sound anything like Crowded House, though. Your mom was bad ass. I wish my mom was that cool.

Posted by randomitis on December 28, 2011 at 12:25 PM

I wanna do your mom.

Posted by Regularist on December 29, 2011 at 8:22 PM

Awesome! I love this article. Thanks for posting it. I had the honor of listening to The Men live circa 91. (David, the drummer, is my BFF.) Good times listening to them at Madame Wongs on Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica! And of course, at other clubs too. All my best to you and your mom!

- Jo

Posted by JungleJoMama on December 29, 2011 at 11:13 PM