Recall 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 Mirror’.  I wrote:

[Into the Mirror] 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.

Valid comments, I maintain.  However, the album has yet to strike me as anywhere near as affective.  The lyrics drive me insane, and songs like ‘The Theif’ ruin the entire album for me!

That being said, I just can’t hate on them. Plus, it sounds great… which is something I think I often overlook when being extremely critical.  They’re one of my oldest loves, and, still, one of the bands I’m sure I’ll enjoy well into my lifetime.   If that isn’t a declaration of devotion, what is?  Go see them this Friday at the Doug Fir! It’s cheap and they’re amazing live.  Also, if they play ‘Into the Mirror’, it will have been totally worth it.

Posted By David Hutchinson

The first time I heard P.O.S. was when he remixed Minus The Bear’s track Knights for their 2007 remix album, Interpretaciones Del Oso.  This actually became my favorite of the remixes featured, but offered little in the way of how P.O.S.’s actual music might sound.  Much to my surprise, P.O.S. turned out to be a hip-hop artist with a couple of albums already under his belt.  Well, of course there was more to it than that.

As it turns out, he’s a pretty damn good rapper, if underground is what you’re into.  Personally, I’ve always avoided the conscious-rap tendencies of the underground in favor of something I could move my feet to, or enjoy without feeling like a bad person.  Thankfully, P.O.S. produces a large body of his own music (hence the MTB remix).  This has allowed him to avoid the monotonous musical styling of some of his Rhymesayers compatriots, and rap over beats that vary in influence from punk (where P.O.S. has his roots) to noise, and dance to dub.  This sense of variety also permeates throughout his lyrics; some are aggressive and confrontational, while others are personal and humorous.

Again, Oregon picks up a pair of hip-hop shows on the north and south side.  P.O.S. will be joined by the new Rhymesayers recruit Grieves and Dessa in Portland at Berbati’s Pan on the 13th of this month, as well as in Eugene at WOW Hall the following day.  Sorry kids, the Portland show is 21+.

Posted By David Hutchinson

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

The first show I want to highlight in this years MusicFest NW is unfortunately at Dante’s, and unfortunately the same night as Nico Muhly’s last scheduled Portland performance: Friday September 5th.

The first time I saw These Arms Are Snakes was over 5 years ago, on June 28th, 2003. They played the now defunct Nocturnal (my all time favorite venue) and although I was there to see The Blood Brothers and Minus The Bear, I was pleasantly surprised by TAAS. Singer Steve Snere sang with the microphone entirely in his mouth, intensifying his screams with the synth he leaned on the entire time.

These Arms Are Snakes – Horse Girl

Although now he lays off on the synthesizer for the most part, and the microphone spends more time in his pants than in his mouth; its all part of a show that is still every bit as grabbing, and every bit as entertaining. With the release of their new album Tail Swallower And Dove coming up in October, we can expect their set to be chalk full of new songs. I caught them again a few months ago at Jaguar Love’s first show ever, and while Jaguar Love commanded their own attention, TAAS were the headliners for a reason.

These Arms Are Snakes – Riding The Grape Dragon

Tail Swallower And Dove is the perfect illustration of their live show. It’s impossible to listen without picturing Snere collapsing backward as he shouts; going from flat on the floor to arms in the air in only a moments notice. Doing double time on the kick drum, drummer/producer Chris Common acts as an orchestrator for Snere’s screaming, while the rest of the band is defiant in their instrumentation, only coming together to keep it coherent. What we’re left with is another amazing chapter in These Arms Are Snakes’ career. Though this may not be their best album, and the experimentation can be a bit exhausting (Read: Lucifer), they prove that with their new home on Suicide Squeeze, TAAS (thankfully) aren’t ready to close the book.

These Arms Are Snakes – Big News

It should also be noted that people like The Muslims quite a bit, but you should be aware that Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson will be at the Roseland at the same time, playing an amazing set with the aformentioned Jaguar Love, and some band called TV On The Radio.

Posted By David Hutchinson