Infinity Overhead

Minus The Bear | Format: MP3 Music

Product Details

• Original Release Date: August 28, 2012
• Label: Dangerbird Records
• Copyright: 2012 Dangerbird Records
• Total Length: 41:33
• Genres:
  • Alternative Rock
• ASIN: B008U9MRPE
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,107 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't let the others get you down August 28, 2012

By Grace

Format:MP3 Music

Like the other reviewers here, I consider myself a fan of Minus the Bear. I'm very familiar with all of their past albums, and while I agree that OMNI was a bit of a letdown, saying that this album sounds identical to OMNI frankly insults it. The more I listen to it, the more I hear Menos el Oso and Planet of Ice coming back, and I love it. Yes, some songs were less interesting with others. But I, for one, am glad that they've brought back the shred on songs like Cold Company and Steel and Blood, and I would certainly recommend this to anybody, not just fans of MTB. Like any band that's been around longer than 10 years and released more than 2 albums, MTB will always have "purist" fans who decry any steps the band takes away from their original sound, and that's just silly. I applaud them for crafting an album that improves with each listen and keeps the band moving forward without forgetting all of their original sound.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Straightforward Crowd-Pleaser August 28, 2012

By T. A. Daniel TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:MP3 Music

In the Seattle band's fifth album, the group has streamlined their sound. Some of Minus the Bear's past releases include strange synthesizers, jarring musical arrangements, and fragmentary electronics. Most of these rawer, pointer ends of Minus the Bear's music is absent in INFINITY OVERHEAD. It's not such a terrible thing though -- instead of innovating, the band has chosen to focus on the substance rather than the style. Listeners hoping for another PLANET OF ICE or MENOS DEL OSO, be forewarned: this album is sonically closer to OMNI than any other past releases.

Lead single "Blood and Steel" begins the album -- it's one of the more straight-forward tracks here, and it's a solid one. The melody is strong, and the rhythm warrants a groove that is hard to stay still to. "Toska" feels like a song that could have appeared on PLANET OF ICE: it's willingness to hover between acoustics, metallic noises, and flittering electronics makes it an interesting listen, but the melody makes it one of the more memorable songs here. "Heaven is a Ghost Town" is significant in that it grapples with serious lyrics. In the past, Minus the Bear has generally steered away from weighty topics like existentialism or religious doubt, but this track goes with it confidently. "Lonely Gun" experiments with sound (the instrumentation here a mix of electronica and electric guitars) and arrangement (the song starts and stops and switches around), but it never quite solidifies as much than an exercise. INFINITY OVERHEAD ends with "Cold Company," a song that shifts between rolling guitar riffs, and more intricate guitar noodling -- it ends the album on a strong and powerful note.

INFINITY OVERHEAD is a good album for all its merits, but, if you are like me, and you've come to enjoy the stranger sides of the band, this album will be disappointing straightforward (if only slightly). Fans who were really let down by OMNI will find a few points here of interest, but this album is probably just disappoint like the last. It certainly feels like the band is growing, and this album comes with many peaks that could rank among some of the band's best work. I would recommend this album to fans of Bloc Party, Band of Horses, or Two Door Cinema Club. Standout tracks to sample/download: "Steel and Blood," "Toska," and "Cold Company."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Better than OMNI, but nothing amazing February 20, 2013

By nutsforpunk

Format:Audio CD

First off I have to say that this band is amazing! So creative, and trying new things all the time! I like that.

But as for Infinity Overhead, I was not real impressed. The best way to describe it is that half of the songs are pretty good, while the other half are not that great. It's a little better than OMNI in my opinion, but it didn't wow me like Highly Refined Pirates, Menos El Oso, and Planet of Ice.

Overall, I would recommend this to hardcore MTB fans.