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Minus the Bear

 
Artist: Minus the Bear
See Minus the Bear Lyrics
  • Formed: 2001, Seattle, WA
  • Genres: Rock
  • Representative Albums: "Menos el Oso", "Planet of Ice", "Highly Refined Pirates

Biography

With catchy song titles like "Hey, Wanna Throw Up? Get Me Naked," "Monkey!!! Knife!!! Fight!!!," and "Lemurs, Man, Lemurs," it's hard not to be at least a little bit curious about this Seattle-based quintet. Featuring members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving, Minus the Bear emerged on Seattle's music scene in 2001 with the release of their six-song EP This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic. The band comprised guitarist Dave Knudson, vocalist/ guitarist Jake Snider, drummer Erin Tate, and bassist Cory Murchy. Though the band entered the studio before they ever played a show, they toured aggressively in support of the EP, then returned to the studio to record 2002's Highly Refined Pirates, their first full-length album. Both the EP and LP were released by Seattle-based Suicide Squeeze Records.

Though the song titles may lead one to believe that they're a novelty act, Minus the Bear provides polished, shrewdly arranged songs. Finger-tapped guitar riffs mixed with catchy melodies and unexpected time changes keep listeners interested and entertained. Minus the Bear issued two EPs in 2004: Bands Like It When You Yell "Yar!" at Them on Suicide Squeeze and They Make Beer Commericals Like This on Arena Rock. Their next full-length, the self-produced Menos el Oso (Spanish for Minus the Bear), appeared in August 2005; the remix album Interpretaciones del Oso followed in early 2007. The band released the full-length Planet of Ice later that year. ~ Laurel Greenidge, All Music Guide
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Wikipedia: Minus the Bear
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Minus the Bear

Performing at the 2008 Bonnaroo music festival
Background information
Origin Seattle, Washington, USA
Genres Experimental rock
Indie rock
Math rock [1]
Years active 2001–present
Labels Suicide Squeeze Records
Arena Rock Recording Co.
Polyvinyl Record Co.
Luckyhorse Industries
Associated acts These Arms Are Snakes
Kill Sadie
Botch
Sharks Keep Moving
State Route 522
Onalaska
Askeleton
Website minusthebear.com
Members
Dave Knudson
Cory Murchy
Jake Snider
Erin Tate
Alex Rose
Former members
Matt Bayles

Minus the Bear is an indie rock band from Seattle, Washington that incorporates elements of ambience and sonic experimentation while maintaining indie influences. The band features current and former members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving. Their sound is a combination of Pele-esque guitar-taps and electronics, with sophisticated time signature composition.[2] Some argue the name "Minus the Bear" comes from an inside joke among the band members, referring to the 80's TV show B. J. and the Bear.[citation needed]

Contents

History

On January 2, 2006, Matt Bayles, keyboardist and producer for Minus the Bear, announced that he was leaving the band in order to focus on record production work. His last performance with the band was on January 28, 2006. Subsequently, he was replaced by Alex Rose, who previously worked as a sound engineer on Menos el Oso.

An album of remixes of songs from Menos el Oso, entitled Interpretaciones del Oso, was released on February 20, 2007,[3] including a remix by underground rapper P.O.S..

The band's fourth full length album, titled Planet of Ice, was released on August 21, 2007, and contains ten tracks. On top of an exclusive iTunes track, a bonus CD was also released containing 2 B-sides, a demo track, and a remix also done by P.O.S..

In 2006 the track "We Are Not a Football Team" from their first album Highly Refined Pirates appeared in a TV advertisement for mobile network operator O2 in the UK and Ireland.

In 2008, tracks from Menos el Oso such as Pachuca Sunrise, have been used as clips for the intro and outtro to NPR's All Things Considered. In addition, the band recorded four tracks on Daytrotter that have since been distributed for free with a membership to the website. [4]

The band posted a note on September 3, 2009 on their Twitter saying that they've finished recording their new album.[5]. On October 27, 2009, they released a digital two song single, Into The Mirror on Amazon and iTunes. [6]

Band members

  • Dave Knudson - guitar
  • Cory Murchy - bass
  • Alex Rose - synthesizer, drum machine, vocals, electronics, saxophone
  • Jake Snider - lead vocals, guitar
  • Erin Tate - drums

Former members

  • Matt Bayles - vocals, keyboards/drum machine, electronics, producer

Notable guest appearances

Discography

Studio albums

Year Title Label U.S. Charts[7] Other information
2002 Highly Refined Pirates Suicide Squeeze Debut album.
2005 Menos el Oso Suicide Squeeze #20 Heatseekers
2007 Interpretaciones del Oso Suicide Squeeze Menos el Oso Remixed.
2007 Planet of Ice Suicide Squeeze #74
2010 Untitled TBA Fourth studio album - expected release early 2010.

EPs

Year Title Label Other information
2001 This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic Suicide Squeeze
2002 Bands Like It When You Yell "Yar!" at Them Suicide Squeeze
2004 They Make Beer Commercials Like This Suicide Squeeze Records
2008 Acoustics Tigre Blanco Records Acoustic EP featuring six old tracks and one new song, "Guns & Ammo."
2009 Into the Mirror Tigre Blanco Records

Music videos

References

External links


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Minus the Bear" Read more

 

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