Search - Minus the Bear :: Menos El Oso

Haiirogumanofu

FYP | Japan | 01/15/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Lets see . . . I learned about Minus the Bear about a year ago, hearing about their first CD Highly Refined Pirates. My older cousin, who is now in college, gave my brother the CD to listen to. Well, I listened to it about 6 months to a year later, But it was a great CD. So, I looked on amazon and other places, and found this CD, Menos El Olso



Menos El Olso succeeds in ways Highly Refined Pirates didn't even touch. The sound is fresher, and sticks in your mind well after you've listened to it (It's like when you sing to yourself, and everyone around you asks, who the hell is that?) They do away with the little 50 second songs that get real annoying in the first album, and build more solid music. The overall effect is pleasent,and creates an album you can listen to constantly without wearing it out.



However, the elimination of the same short 50 second songs like "You Kill Bugs Good Man" and "Damn Bugs Whaked Him, Johnny" leaves the album with sort of repetative feel. Also while some songs are classic, like "Hooray" and "The Game Needed Me" some leave something to be desired, Especially the last two, "The Pig Wars" and "This Aint a Surfing Movie".While Menos El Olso may be the best Minus The Bear album yet, it just a bit more of the same that made their first album so good.



Oh . . . and I'm also going to see Minus the Bear in Febuary in Shibuya. I Can't freakin' wait untill then. It's gonna be great"

Flawless

D. W. van Klaveren | 09/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The latest self-titled (well sort of) release by the Seattle wunderkinds completely exceeds all expectations left behind from 2003's "Highly Refined Pirates"... From the initial bombastic sounds of "The Game Needed Me" all the way to the chilled out closer, "This Ain't a Surfin' Movie" M.E.O. glides from track to track like an anorexic figure skater performing toe loop after toe loop. And believe me kids, that's a good thing. Rather than provide a bland track-by-track synopsis, let's just get down to brass tacks. Pachuca Sunrise and El Torrente stand out as the two real highlights of the album. The former being a raucous dance jam track, filled the the catchiest hook this side of Weezer; and the latter being a truly serious, introspective tune with a psychedelic 60s type groove working for it. The driving forces behind this release, as with any other album by The Bear are Snider's beautiful voice, perfect percussion, and the "nerdy" guitars. For those who are just getting into Minus the Bear, don't be fooled by such prior song titles as "Thanks for the Killer Game of Crisco Twister" and "Wanna Throw Up? Get me Naked". The boys have a lighter side when it comes to titling their songs. But the music, the music is as good or better than anything anyone is putting out these days. As with any other Minus The Bear album, Menos el Oro is a must have. See them live too. Yell Yar at them. They dig it."

One of The Top 3 Albums of the Year!!!

M. Robbins | Tampa, Florida United States | 09/12/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Being unfamiliar with their previous work, I cannot comment on what someone would call the digression of Minus the Bear. But as a stand alone record, Menos El Oso, hits all the marks and is everything a good record should be.



The first thing that strikes the listener about MTB's guitar work is that it isnt filled with chords and simplistic picking. Both guitarists work hard at playing off key notes and keeping the songs fresh and interesting. "This Ain't a Surfin Movie" is probably the best example of this. Turn your speakers from left to right and listen as each one plays a unique pattern over and over again.



"The Game Needed Me" is a good opener with a rythm line that will get your foot tapping. Another standout "Memphis and 53rd" proceeds that and keeps thing flowing at a good pace. Minus the Bears lead guitarist does a lot of finger picking and pounds out some very good riffs. Another great feature of MTB is that the keyboardist is used just the right amound. The synth beats don't hit you over the head; they are mixed in well to give the music a more overall lush effect. "Fullfill the Dream" is a good foot stomper and is fun to dance along to when played live.



Not to be outdone, the vocals of MTB hold up very nicely and work well with the guitars. "The Pig War","Fullfill the Dream" and the before mentioned "This ain't a Surfin Movie" contain smooth vocals that usually have something to do with drinking, the beach, and women.



Minus the Bear have a crafted a great record for driving, enjoying the summer time, or spending time drinking with your friends or girlfriend. In an At The Drive-In "light" kind of way, Minus the Bear has used minor notes and interesting note formations to produce one of the top albums of 2005



OVERALL GRADE: A-"