MENOS EL OSO

Minus the Bear

Product Details

• Vinyl (August 23, 2005)
• Original Release Date: August 23, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Suicide Squeeze
• ASIN: B000A2XCS0
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,662 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #32 in	Music > Rock > Vinyl Records
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Track Listings

1. Game Needed Me

2. Memphis & 53rd

3. Drilling

4. Fix

5. Torrente

6. Pachuca Sunrise

7. Michio's Death Drive

8. Hooray

9. Fulfill the Dream

10. Pig War

11. This Ain't a Surfin' Movie

Editorial Reviews

URB

"Virtuoso musicianship + smart songwriting = Seth Cohen's wet dream" --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Product Description

Three years removed from the riveting full-length debut, "Highly Refined Pirates", this highly stylized Seattle indie-pop group flaunts substantial glitch-riddled prog-pop on their second Suicide Squeeze full-length. Weaving through territories long established by '70s prog-rockers (Yes, Rush), '80s proto punks (Fugazi), and '90s art rock mind-f*cks (Jawbox, Joan Of Arc), Minus The Bear invoke the modern love affair between dance driven strategy and lush, Upper Pacific sweater rock. Features appearances by Judah Nagler and Josh Staples (The Velvet Teen), Michael Richardson (The New Trust), and Heather Duby. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars haiirogumanofu, January 15, 2006

By	FYP (Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Menos el Oso (Audio CD)

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

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Their Best Album To Date?, June 1, 2007

By	Refined Pirate (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Menos el Oso (Audio CD)

When you listen to Minus the Bear, there's a certain sound you expect to hear. That smart, quirky, bleep bloop rock. Finger taps and hot dance beats mixed with electronica and non abrasive vocals. My friend travis would argue that Highly Refined Pirates is their best (and quintessential) work, but I believe Menos El Oso is the superior album. The album is not boring as some may claim- it's just more mature. MTB's song writing is at it's best, along with the quality of the musicianship. The album is solemn and beautiful with enough hooks to keep you coming back no matter what mood your in.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Flawless, September 4, 2005

By	D. W. van Klaveren - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Menos el Oso (Audio CD)

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.