guErRillA candy with Travis Hay


CD review: Minus the Bear’s “Planet of Ice”


Minus The Bear’s “Planet of Ice” drops in stores Tuesday. Here is the Ear Candy review of the album, which can be read in the print P-I on Tuesday’s Staying In/Going Out pages.

“Planet of Ice” (Suicide Squeeze Records)

Local indie faves Minus The Bear stick to the formula that has won the band plenty of critical acclaim throughout “Planet of Ice,” the group’s fourth full-length record.

The album is full of the standard math rock madness that involves an equation pitting complex timing signatures and sudden, usually unexpected, tempo changes alongside soaring guitars and the sometimes ethereal vocals of Jake Snider.

Album opener “Burying Luck” starts with 25 seconds of screeching electronic squabbles, then immediately kicks into high gear with rolling guitars and a chorus that features Snider continually asking “What have you done?” The following track, “Ice Monster,” stays true to its name with a chilled-out, relaxing vibe.

“Knights,” one of the record’s singles, is simply a fantastic display of a band begging to break into indie pop greatness. The guitar parts on “Dr. L’Ling,” (which is the closest the band comes to re-creating its silly song titles of previous albums) sound so simple yet so complicated as they weave together the backbone for what’s sure to become a staple in the band’s live shows. Meanwhile, the record closer, the near nine-minute epic “Lotus,” is the type of musical acid trip Syd Barrett might have concocted.

Overall, the 11 tracks on “Planet of Ice” will satisfy longtime fans while likely winning over several new fans, placing Minus The Bear among the few Seattle bands poised to make the leap toward becoming the next big thing. DOWNLOAD: “Lotus”

– Travis Hay

FYI: There’s a laser light CD release listening party at 8 tonight at the Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Ave. N.; 206-443-2001, $5.

Categories: CD reviews
Travis Hay