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It's rare when every member of a band can claim both vocal and instrumental contributions to an album, and even more rare when each contributor is exceptionally talented. Portland, Ore., rock trio Menomena's latest album, "Mines," contains a smattering of experimental rock tracks agreeable even to those who wouldn't normally indulge in the genre. But the music still tests boundaries, especially with the use of a self-programmed computer program in the recording process. Justin Harris sings, "You're 5-foot-5, not a hundred pounds/ I'm scared to death of every single ounce" on opener "Queen Black Acid," a mellow gem that exercises a few of the album's common themes: desolation and relationship complexities. The set's laid-back rock feel with a punchy beat is embodied on the track "Tithe," where Menomena also captures soulful, ethereal vocals reminiscent of TV on the Radio's Tunde Adebimpe.
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