I have all Minus The Bear’s records. I have seen them over ten times in 3 different states. These things would normally qualify me as being among their biggest fans. The truth of the matter, however, is that I’m not even sure I really like them. Sure, I was in love with their debut and followed them closely afterward, but all of that had somewhere along the line lost it’s significance to me.
Until today.
What they’ve accomplished up to this point has seemingly only served to lay a reasonably significant foundation for what is to come. Whether it’s R&B, or disco, or whatever, something has inspired a change in Minus The Bear’s sound. It’s still easy to imagine fingers tapping strings, and toes tapping pedals, as they have throughout MTB’s career. With their new single ‘Into The Mirror’, however, there is a new energy that is making their sound much more dynamic. Repetition is a quality of disco music that perpetuates resonance and introspection; and it is the high pitched guitar tapping repetition that drives the uptempo beat of this particular track. But unlike Jaguar Love, or Neon Neon, they aren’t transforming so much as evoking qualities to accentuate what’s there. Same goes for R&B. The vocals have become more tonally aware. The melisma isn’t as urgent as it is sensual. Again, what’s always been there on previous records still remains; but it’s being accentuated with some careful consideration of the boundaries of their sound.
One could argue with reason that older albums, namely Highly Refined Pirates, have adopted a new quality within the context of the band’s career that serves to discredit their genius, their significance. But if time has had any effect on Minus The Bear’s past, I find it most evident in this new single. ‘Into The Mirror’ is a wake up call to those who may have written them off. It indicates that, musically, Minus The Bear still have something significant to say; and they still have an incredibly appealing way of saying it. Maybe this is much ado about one single song; but if it’s any indication of where they’re going with their new record, you’d be silly not to be excited.
Minus The Bear – Into The Mirror
‘Into The Mirror’ is due out the 27th of this month, and hopefully they’ll bring it, as well as some other new ones, to the WOW Hall when they play October 30th.
Posted By David Hutchinson
reading this was like looking into a mirror of my own experience with mtb. love the new sound
ps the horrible pun was 100% unintentional
Haha. Good one. Yeah, I am genuinely stoked on where they’re going with this. The producer responsible for the new record claims the whole album has a more complex sound. Can’t wait to hear more.
Wow I couldn’t disagree more I think over the years since the first few Ep’s “they make Beer commercials like this” , “band like it when you yell Yar at them” not to mention highly refined pirates and ” this is what i know about being gigantic” They have continued this downward spiral into everyday club rock. It went from being a feel good real good up beat frenzy on guitar lycks delay pedals organ over tones and the fastest hi-hats lines I’ve witnessed live (on several occasions and in three different countries [Now there some bragging right for being a big fan....]) to what ever you call this trying to be slick they they are doing now. “Highly Refined Pirates” the majority of “Menos el Oso” and even Parts on ” Planet of Ice” stay true to their original sound but if you listen to the each record front to part you can follow the change from care free to more thoughtful and less spontaneous. they are falling into the main stream which is shame. there will alway be a place in my heart for Minus The Bear and I enjoy almost anything they place but much like other bands they start out balls to the walls and then fall in line. The composition turns into a process of One Two Three Four and rely more heavily on cool effects etc. In comparison to before they lost their original keyboardist I’d its SHIT. Especially this new single. Look hard for some of the lost gems “Drop it like its hot” or “Uhhg ….. Paint suit” Or the track that won me over the very first time i heard them at age 15 “lemurs, man, Lemurs” The new stuff just don’t have that same playful appeal anymore… I guess people get old and all good things must come to and end. I Love Minus the bear
[...] october of last year when I posted a glowing review of Minus The Bear’s lead single for their forthcoming album OMNI, called ‘Into the [...]