Menomena: Mines

Portland's Menomena proved with 2007's glorious Friend and Foe that they had the chops to produce a "big rock record". A three-piece intertwined with other Portland acts and side-projects; the trio's demi-operatic mixture of inquisitive basslines, jumpstart saxophone and running piano could easily prove a mess, but it's often shirt-grabbingly thrilling. And even more often it's shirt-releasingly melancholic. The only disappointment is that the album, like their last, is toploaded with the two best tracks, the stunning Queen Black Acid (a sort of end of relationship via Alice In Wonderland tale) and Taos, which makes what follows seem mildly disappointing. Even if tracks like noir-indie-soul number Bote and the Animal Collectiveish thump of Lunchmeat are fizzingly good. With a bit of luck they could be one of the year's belated breakouts.