Minus the Bear
continue their brand of quirky-cum-arty
rock
with light, airy harmonies and somewhat experimental guitars on
"The Game Needed Me"
as lead singer
Jake Snider
doles out lines in the vein of
Cake
's lead singer. Partially spoken, partially sung, the overall effort is decent but wouldn't whet everyone's sonic palette.
"Memphis & 53rd"
on the other hand begins with an almost
drum'n'bass
flavor prior to going into a quasi
ska
-
format recalling a timid
English Beat
. Musically it's a collage of different genres, with the chorus melding them all adequately.
finally hits paydirt on the mid-tempo but inviting
"Drilling,"
fuelled by the drumming of
Erin Tate
and the guitar work of
Snider
and
David Knudson
. At times it's not quite guitar "noodling," but the melodies revolve around intricate and winding riffs as they do on
"The Fix,"
which builds in momentum. When the band opts for a pedestrian, atmospheric pace as they do on
"El Torrente,"
it seems to fall flat, more of a breather or experimental filler than anything truly worth repeated listens. Catchier is
"Pachuca Sunrise"
with a great hop in its step that brings to mind something that
Death Cab for Cutie
might attempt at some point. Perhaps the highlight of the record is the barren and radio-friendly urgent
displayed during
"Michio's Death Drive"
with its keyboard touches. It comes off as a fusing of
the Police
the Strokes
to some extent.
"Hooray"
keeps this frantic, frenetic pace going with some down time splintered throughout. What misses the mark totally, however, is the average but unspectacular
"Pig War."
~ Jason MacNeil