Menos el Oso

by Minus the Bear

Overview

Minus the Bear continue their brand of quirky-cum-arty rock with light, airy harmonies and somewhat experimental guitars on "The Game Needed Me" as lead singer Jake Snider doles out lines in the vein of Cake's lead singer. Partially spoken, partially sung, the overall effort is decent but wouldn't whet everyone's sonic palette. "Memphis & 53rd" on the other hand begins with an almost drum'n'bass flavor prior to going into a quasi ska-rock format recalling a timid English Beat. Musically it's a collage of different genres, with the chorus melding them all adequately. Minus the Bear finally hits paydirt on the mid-tempo but inviting "Drilling," fuelled by the drumming of Erin Tate and the guitar work of Snider and David Knudson. At times it's not quite guitar "noodling," but the melodies revolve around intricate and winding riffs as they do on "The Fix," which builds in momentum. When the band opts for a pedestrian, atmospheric pace as they do on "El Torrente," it seems to fall flat, more of a breather or experimental filler than anything truly worth repeated listens. Catchier is "Pachuca Sunrise" with a great hop in its step that brings to mind something that Death Cab for Cutie might attempt at some point. Perhaps the highlight of the record is the barren and radio-friendly urgent rock displayed during "Michio's Death Drive" with its keyboard touches. It comes off as a fusing of the Police and the Strokes to some extent. "Hooray" keeps this frantic, frenetic pace going with some down time splintered throughout. What misses the mark totally, however, is the average but unspectacular "Pig War." ~ Jason MacNeil

Product Details

Release Date:	08/05/2005
Label:	Suicide Squeeze
UPC:	0803238086316
Rank:	31142

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Minus the Bear   Primary Artist
Heather Duby   Guest Artist,Vocals
Michael Richardson   Guest Artist,Vocals,Vocals
Josh Staples   Guest Artist,Vocals
Judah Nagler   Guest Artist,Vocals
Chris Common   Percussion

Technical Credits

Chris Common   Audio Production,Engineer,Additional Production
Erin Tate   Photography,Group Member
Matt Bayles   Mixing,Engineer,Group Member
Cory Murchy   Photography,Group Member
Alex Rose   Engineer
David Knudson   Group Member,Design
Ed Brooks   Mastering
Jake Snider   Engineer,Group Member