Login for Favorites
EDIT INFOMinus The Bear - Menos El Oso
Tweet
Album Details
- Artist: Minus The Bear
- Album: Menos El Oso
- Label: Suicide Squeeze
- Year of Release: 2005
- ME Rating:
- Reviewed by: patchen on 2005-11-28
Media
RecommendMinus The Bear has set indie tongues wagging for a few years with their build-to-stomp sound that sounds like classic rock and lo-fi in the same refrain. While this speaks of a band willing to take risks, it doesn't always translate into memorable music. Listening to minor key rave-ups like "Memphis 53rd" "Drilling" "The Pig War' "El Torrente" Minus the Bear rock, then hold back and pulsate, then explode. They build off pop-punk and while many of their more daring moves don't quite hit the high mark they aim for, this is still a band that has the sac to try new things, and keep going forward. A few records down the road, when they have even more chops, this record may be the seen as the start of a great run.
User Reviews and Comments
Log In or Register to Rate Albums
User Rating:
Write your own review
Tell us why this album is great or sucks ass, or correct the reviewer. If you write enough quality reviews you may find yourself on the editorial staff.
Reviews have to be over 100 words, shorter ones are classed as comments.
Tell us why this album is great or sucks ass, or correct the reviewer. If you write enough quality reviews you may find yourself on the editorial staff.
Reviews have to be over 100 words, shorter ones are classed as comments.
Log In or Register to Rate AlbumsReview:
on 2010-10-24 kevin234 Said:
Menos el Oso meaning Minus the Bear in Spanish, is the second album by the five member band from Seattle. The record features a night on the beach feel and a theme of water that has appeared on all their albums. Consequently the album offers great play- back value due to flawless song structure and improved musician ship by all band members.
Chief song writer, Dave Knudson masters the guitar and comes into his own on this record. Knudson displays his variety of talents on this album after relying heavily on tapping in the bands previous effort: Highly Refined Pirates. The two finger tap technique is well apparent so fans of Pirates and the EP, not need fret. Knudson only occasionally deviates away from the math rock style that the band had been known for. But unlike their past releases, solos and complex yet rich rhythms have allowed for their most complete record. With this sophomore album he has distinguished himself as a brilliant guitarist in a band that is emerging as a leader in rock music.
Knudsons guitar mastery ties perfectly with singer and rhythm guitar player, Jake Snide. His lyrics on Drilling, and The Fix are rich and fun contrasted well by later tracks on the album. He shows passion on tracks This Aint a Surfin movie and Pachuca Sunrise; songs that could almost be called romantic. His writing combines perfectly with Knudson guitar throughout the album. This is most especially evident on Memphis and 53. The second track on the album is and epic pumping ride with Tates drums abruptly overtaken by Knudsons guitar and Sniders engaging lyrics. Snider tells the tale of a black car in a deserts night as Knudsons electric lead tunefully carries the song instrumentally.
Overall this album shows the emergence of band looking to make a name for itself in rock. Minus the bear has successfully created a record that dazzles as just a sophomore album and displays the talents of a band that is just beginning to hit their stride.
Rating: 10/10
on 2008-04-01 kev_stev Said:
I love MTB (see my Planet of Ice review) but I too think this one was lacking minus a few really amazing songs.
Rating: 7/10
Review:
on 2007-07-29 blackxdan Said:
I love this album. Whatever mood i was in i could easily just switch to a song off of this album and get into it. I love the way that everything sounds, and how it's different then a lot of stuff that is out today. I think this is a step in the right direction from past albums, just like Symphony. I agree 100%, i cant wait to actually pop in the new album and listen to it.
Rating: 8/10
Review:
on 2007-05-09 Symphony Said:
This deserved more than a blurb for such an epic album.
Rating: 8/10
Review:
on 2006-11-12 Symphony Said:
I understand some of Luke's ideas, but personally, I find Menos El Oso a step in the right direction. I find it actually to be an improvement over past records.
Rating: 8/10
