It's hard to pinpoint Washington, D.C.'s Monument. It's clear that Monument’s foundation was built by bands like Braid and Cap’n Jazz, but there’s just as much Meneguar or Teenage Cool Kids thrown in the mix as well. Even though classifying them is difficult, not many people can compose music this dynamic and brimming with energy that always feels like its on the verge of careening off the tracks while simultaneously transmitting as completely unforced and organic. With influences from post-punk, noise-pop, grungy 90's indie rock and even the Dischord-styled hardcore of the band’s D.C. home, Monument writes songs as loose and raw as they are infectious and intricately layered. Perhaps Monument’s most charming, engaging attribute is its ability to craft songs with depth and complexity, as well as a wealth of peculiar chord progressions and unconventional harmonies.

When the Washington, D.C. quartet released the stellar, much buzzed about and aptly titled '3 Song 7? ' in early 2009, many fans and pundits decreed “Cap’n Jazz meets American Football meets Braid” while others pronounced the outfit second only to current emo torchbearers Algernon Cadwallader, an assertion which was strengthened when Monument announced that it would be recording its highly anticipated debut full-length, "Goes Canoeing", with the aforementioned band’s Joe Reinhart. Goes Canoeing isn’t so much a melding of styles but rather the culmination of a vast array of influences, not to mention years of members playing in bands such as The Summer We Went West, Dawntreader and The Tasty Habits. But, more importantly, Monument can be recognized for blazing its own unique path. Their debut album "Goes Canoeing" is full of wonderfully skewed, raucous anti-anthems for emo, indie, punk and hardcore kids alike. "Goes Canoeing" is available on a self released CD and on vinyl from Tiny Engines.

LINKS
http://www.tinyengines.net/bands/monument/
http://www.myspace.com/monumentisaband