ARTIST: Minus The Bear
TITLE: Acoustics
LABEL: Tigre Blanco Records
GENRE: Indie
BITRATE: 201kbps avg
PLAYTIME: 0h 26m total
RELEASE DATE: 2008-10-08
RIP DATE: 2008-10-22
Track List
----------
1. Guns & Ammo 3:59
2. We Are Not A Football Team 2:57
3. Burying Luck 4:26
4. Knights 4:00
5. Pachuca Sunrise 3:38
6. Throwin' Shapes 3:26
7. Ice Monster 4:11
Release Notes:
http://www.minusthebear.com/
There really isnÆt much behind Minus The BearÆs EP entitled Acoustics. After
all, it is what it is; six previously recorded tracks and one brand spankinÆ new
track with acoustic guitars and modest percussion. Beyond that, it was easy to
see Minus the Bear going acoustic due to their intricate and soothing
indie/progressive rock with that almost emotionally numb attachment.
Acoustics begins with their new track, ôGuns & Ammo,ö a definitive highlight of
the album. One of the most impressive qualities of ôGuns & Ammoö is cohesiveness
and how refreshing the sound is initially. After all, it is the first real taste
of Minus The Bear in an acoustic sense. Anyway, regardless of the apparent
repetitiveness, something that Minus The Bear regularly pull off successfully,
this track thrives on it. Additionally ôGuns & Ammoö is one of the more diverse
tracks without reaching into a more progressive sound. Between the bridge and
the perfect pace of the song, it makes you wonder why they did not record seven
new tracks that would compliment ôGuns & Ammo.ö
Instead, I wondered how they would incorporate the progressive elements from
their last full-length, Planet of Ice, and integrate it into Acoustics. Of the
tracks transcribed, ôKnightsö seemed to be the most challenging. Between the
effects and progressive nature of the track, the stripped down track played off
well, actually better than that. The technicality of ôKnightsö is still there,
along with the incredible precision. ôKnightsö sounds tighter with acoustic
guitars perhaps due to the removal of wailing guitar work. The synth-laden
ôBurying Luckö also went through major changes, switching to a more classical
piano driving along with Jake SniderÆs vocals sounding rather ordinary without
that fire that drove ôBurying Luckö so far on Planet of Ice.
As expected with Acoustics, important little details tend to be omitted. Take
ôPachuca Sunrise,ö which was a track that begun with delay guitar effects on the
initial recording that created a whimsical sound, but instead on Acoustics the
note is simply held down. Otherwise, ôPachuca Sunriseö barely misses a beat and
if anything, sounds better than ever with a more natural sound. The last track,
ôIce Monster,ö incorporates different percussion instruments like maracas and
tambourines, behind SniderÆs best vocal work on the album, in a track that claps
its way to the end of Acoustics.
What to take away from Acoustics is a new light to view Minus The Bear. After
all, they are generally a relaxing band to listen to that stays within a certain
boundary. In all, Acoustics highlights their work that is typically overshadowed
by their use of effects, but the resulting sound was hardly a major surprise.
Overall, Acoustics is tabbed as another steady and consistent release by Minus
The Bear. I guess that works.