Minus the Bear - My Time (Official Music Video)

Some Minus The Bear for your enjoyment. This video looks like it was very fun to film, and the song's one of my favorites off their new album.

I also recommend putting Minus The Bear's discography on shuffle as a great way to start your weekend.

-T

Minus the Bear - The Myspace Transmissions [2010]

I know, I know, Minus the Bear overload. But what can I say? I love the band. This little diddly was released a little while after OMNI and consists of 5 live tracks played for, you guessed it, Myspace. 3 are off the band's newest album while the other 2 come from previous releases. The band performs amazingly live and it shows in this EP. No new material, just a collector's item of sorts.

Genre: Indie
For Fans Of: As Tall As Lions, Portugal. the Man, Everest(?)
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Hold Me Down
2. My Time
3. Knights
4. Pachuca Sunrise
5. Into the Mirror



-A

Minus the Bear Concert

This weekend has been amazing. Alek and I got to see Minus the Bear and they were very enjoyable. The opening bands were also both great. First was Mini Mansions, a three part band (drums, keyboard, and bass) who put on a very energetic live performance playing unique, groovy jams. Everest played next, with classic rock tinged style, and an awesome drum battle that really got the crowd involved.
Finally it was time for Minus the Bear to play. They put on an engaging show that had us all dancing, singing along, and pumping our fists to the choruses. Minus the Bear played a long set with a satisfying variety of old and new, mellow and dancey songs, and then came back onstage for a three song encore of The Fix, Into The Mirror, and Absinthe Party. Definitely a fun and memorable concert.

-T

Minus the Bear - OMNI Bonus Tracks [2009-2010]

Bonus tracks, b-sides, cut songs; whatever you want to call them, Minus the Bear's latest album has them. The 3 tunes have just recently come to my attention and so I had to grab them. Broken China originally was used as the B-side (ha!) to the Into the Mirror 7" which was released last winter (or late fall). I tried to grab a copy but they were sold out on tour. Anyways, I'm kinda kicking myself because Broken China is actually really good and for some reason I just neglected listening to it. The other 2 tracks are just as solid and work well at the end of the normal album.

Genre: Indie Rock
For Fans Of: Sharks Keep Moving, Portugal. the Man, As Tall As Lions
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Broken China
2. Your Private Sky
3. South Side Life



- A

Minus the Bear - OMNI [2010]

As promised (well not promised, per se, but foreshadowed about), OMNI is going up. This recent release from Seattle boys Minus the Bear is awesome. It takes what was good about all of their previous efforts and expands on it. The progginess of Planet of Ice is there in "Fooled By The Night", upbeat tunes like "Hold Me Down" and "Summer Angel" remind you of Menos El Oso, and you can hear Highly Refined Pirates oozing out of "Dayglow Vista Road". Really growing on what they've been known as up til now. Some of my favorites are "Secret Country" with it's hard shell and epic lines like "We forget where we are!", the groovy and funky "The Thief", and "Aminal Backwards", a song that takes the main line of "Into The Mirror" and reverses it (not just playing it backwards, either, but straight up plays the recording in reverse) then makes a whole new song over top. Really a great record to add to the collection, hopefully they'll put it out on vinyl soon.

Genre: Indie Math-Rock
For Fans Of: Portugal. the Man, Look Mexico, Circa Survive
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. My Time
2. Summer Angel
3. Secret Country
4. Hold Me Down
5. Excuses
6. The Thief
7. Into the Mirror
8. Animal Backwards
9. Dayglow Vista Road
10. Fooled By The Night


-A

Minus the Bear - They Make Beer Commercials Like This [2004]

With their new album entitled OMNI coming out this upcoming Tuesday, I thought it'd be nice to show you the record that got me into this band. Minus the Bear's They Make Beer Commercials Like This is a great transition from Highly Refined Pirates and Menos El Oso. It's laid back at some points and exciting at others, catchy and dreamy, airy and dancy. Basically, it's the very definition of what makes Minus the Bear, Minus the Bear. Check out this great introductory 7-song EP and let me know what you think.

Genre: Indie Math-Rock
For Fans Of: This Town Needs Guns, As Tall As Lions, Sharks Keep Moving
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. Fine + 2 Pts
2. Let's Play Clowns
3. Dog Park
4. I'm Not Totally Down With Rob's Alien
5. Hey! Is That A Ninja Up There?
6. Pony Up!
7. Houston, We Have An Uh-Oh


-A

New Songs: Minus the Bear and Coheed and Cambria

With Coheed and Cambria's and Minus the Bear's new albums hitting shelves April 20th and May 4th, respectively, they have both released new songs to the public. Both are great, give them a listen.


-T&A

Minus the Bear - Menos El Oso [2005]

Since Minus the Bear just released info about their new album, I thought it would be a good time to put up one of their previous ventures. Menos El Oso (also known as their self-titled (Menos El Oso x Spanish translator = Minus the Bear) is probably my favorite record by these fellows. It has some upbeat tunes, such as "The Game Needed Me" and "The Fix", and some mellow songs like "El Torrente" and "This Ain't A Surfin' Movie". The music is fueled by smooth keyboard parts and somewhat complex guitar riffs, and makes VERY good music to just hang out and chill to. Jake Snider's lyrical topics range from deep emotional ventures to just hanging out with friends, and really capture feelings we all have. One of the highlights of this record, for me, is "Micho's Death Drive". The intro riff is in 5/4 while the backing bassline is in 4/4 which makes it feel like something is off up until they finally come together and burst into the chorus, a really powerful section that makes you want to pump your fist and jump around. There's a lot of energy in this album, but it often goes unnoticed because of the mellow sounding songs and somewhat monotonous voice of Jake. Still of of my favorite albums of all time, if you can grab in on vinyl, I highly suggest you do.

Genre: Indie Math-Rock
For Fans Of: As Tall As Lions, This Town Needs Guns, Portugal. the Man
Contact: Myspace
Tracklisting:
1. The Game Needed Me
2. Memphis and 53rd
3. Drilling
4. The Fix
5. El Torrente
6. Pachuca Sunrise
7. Micho's Death Drive
8. Hooray
9. Fulfill the Dream
10. The Pig War
11. This Ain't A Surfin' Movie



-A