Customer Reviews

Planet of Ice

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Well, first of all I must say that this is most likely not the type of album that you'll instantly love on the first listen. I've been through it about 10 times and it has grown on me immensely. Whether you're new to the band or an avid fan, however, this album may not be for everyone. It is darker, has a more psychedelic sound, and is more complex than their previous efforts. The smooth, easy-going sound of older songs such as "Pachuca Sunrise" are mostly replaced by a more ominous and intricate sound. It may take several listens to fully appreciate.

The band has certainly matured and its sound has, for lack of a better word, evolved. Songs like "Part 2" feature a more mellow acoustic sound, and "Double Vision Quest" and "Lotus" feature the band experimenting with more complex song structures, and it the case of the latter, an all-out 8 minute jam. Covering more familiar territory is the track "Ice Monster," which pairs a great light-sounding instrumental backdrop with a chorus so addictive you'll want it to put it on repeat.

On the surface, though, you will find the catchy guitar hooks, brilliant odd time signature drumming, and soaring vocals that are a trademark of the band. Songs such as "Knights" and "Throwin Shapes" will probably seem most like old-school Minus The Bear. All in all I highly recommend that you do yourself a favor and get this album. If anything, you'll feel like you've experienced something entirely original and refreshing (which, by the way is almost completely lacking in today's pop music scene).

When we last left Seattle's indie superheroes Minus The Bear in 2005, they had just released the pseudo-self-titled Menos El Oso, a flawless math-pop album featuring perfectly tight compositions with tasteful guitar-tapping heroics set to danceable grooves. The album had such an impact, it even warranted a collection of remixes, Interpretaciones Del Oso, released in February. The writing was more complex and deliberate than their previous work, the songs more fully-realized with lush arrangements and catchy choruses.

The most striking change evident on their new album Planet Of Ice, is the loose and almost epic feel to the songs. The band is less concerned with formulaic structures and memorable hooks, and more focused on creating dense textures and soundscapes, trading in Menos El Oso's pop sensibilities for prog unison lines, thick vocal layering, and even the occasional guitar solo. Replacement keyboardist Alex Rose adds a new dimension to their signature sound, whether filling the space with subtle rhodes layering or soaring 70s sawtooth synth pads.

Where the spirit of experimentation was contained to brief playful moments on Menos El Oso, here it is decidedly more overt. In the dreamy dance track "Knights," what might otherwise be dismissed as a singular sour note on the guitar, is instead featured prominently, repeated several times and doubled at the octave, as if to tell the listener, "No, seriously, it's not a mistake." On the brooding epic "Dr. L'Ling," it's actually the tight vocal harmonies that ground the song and solidify the tonality, while dual guitar noodling and unison bends serve as accents, rather than the backbone of the song.

Side by side with the more experimental tracks are the catchy pop hooks we've come to expect from Minus The Bear. When vocalist Jake Snider sings "You must be an illusion, can I see through you?" on "When We Escape," it's a chorus you could listen to on loop indefinitely. The balance between infectious pop and meandering prog rock can't be easy to achieve, but the band somehow manages to pull it off, making the jump between the shimmering disco of "Throwin' Shapes" to the unabashed psychedelia of the nearly nine-minute "Lotus" without missing a beat.

I was fortunate enough to hear the song "Ice Monster" previewed on their last tour, and if that performance was any indication, this is definitely an album to be experienced live. In the end, Planet Of Ice will surely alienate a few fans, namely the ones who looked to the band for pleasant background party music, but that was never really what Minus The Bear was about. They're clearly in their element this time around, and they've been doing this long enough to afford themselves the opportunity to make the album they want.

Minus the Bear has progressed since This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic and the era of Highly Refined Pirates (in my opinion, the best MTB album out there.) This CD combines a bit of similar tunes since the previous albums, yet they never fail to combine new amazing tunes and guitar string notes. Also, another great factor to Minus the Bear has always been drums and percussion is in constant progression, lyrical sense has always bothered me with MTB, although some lyrics can be dearly inspiring and sincere and swell, in most of the songs the lyrics simply fade into extremely stupid sentences that make no sense. MTB also can throw a good show, so if you're ever in desire for a good indie show, I recommend MTB. I'm stoked to find out what they boys have in store for the world next.

I first became an avid fan of Minus the Bear following their brilliant 2005 album Menos el Eso's release. I read a five star review for it in AP magazine wherein they sounded like the departure from the music I typically listen to (mostly post-hardcore) that I'd long been looking for. I bought the CD, cranked the volume up in my car, put the windows down, and prepared myself for what I assumed would be 40 minutes of blasting my new favorite album down the streets from Best Buy to my house with pride. Within a few blocks I turned the volume down and found the dial in my mind for disappointment to be at an all-time high. Slowly, each listen after that fateful day revealed something new to me, and one good song linked into others, and in time, the album revealed itself to me as the masterwork it is. The same was true of Pirates... if not for Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse (on Pirates), The Fix (on Oso) and the stellar drumming on everything between (something I couldn't help but notice, even as I turned my speakers down for my first MTB experience), it is entirely possible I would have dismissed these otherwise sublime albums instantly and disregarded Minus the Bear completely.

Flash forward to a time a few months prior to the release of Planet of Ice. I started scouting the band's MySpace dying to hear anything new from the band in extreme anticipation. The first tracks I recall them releasing were Dr. L'Ling and Throwin' Shapes. My first listens of both (despite previously learning my lesson) made me cringe a little. After a view more plays, the subtleties became more apparent, and they grew on me. Minus the Bear is not a band that can be fully appreciated in one listen, nor can any of their full-lengths. Songs like Knights come closer than ever before to establishing instant recognition and enjoyment from fans and newbies alike, but impressively, without feeling for a second like an attempt to "sell out," which seems to be all the rage these days. Planet of Ice may very well be their most off-putting album to date, but in a way that true fans of the band will appreciate them for all the more. The intricate guitar play on tracks like Dr. L'Ling, Double Vision Quest, and When We Escape along with the lush keyboard textures throughout provided by newcomer to the band Alex Rose (showcased fully on Lotus) cannot be fully experienced in one listen, which may not appeal to many out there, but anyone looking to dissect and really get into their music (which is one of the biggest draws to MTB, and always has been) will be delighted with Planet of Ice.

Lastly, I would like to address a comment I saw previously while reading others' reviews of this album. It seems people are discontent to see the song titles wrapped up so neatly with three words or less and not completely irrelevant to song's subject matter. I can't speak for everyone out there, but I know I've tried vigorously to get others to listen to and love this band, and when I have to explain that one of their best songs is "Absinthe Party at the Fly Honey Warehouse," by the time I'm done with the song title they won't listen to another word I have to say. Ever tried to discuss with someone who is not an avid Minus the Bear fan how amazing "Hey! Is That a Ninja up There?" is? If the answer is yes, you can understand why they have simplified their song titles. After three albums, it's not hard to see why they would want to be taken seriously, and while the pointless song titles of the past bring hardcore MTB fans together, it makes it all the harder for outsiders and critics to take them seriously. Their sound has changed enough to remain fresh with Planet of Ice, but it's still an amazing album. Not to mention that they still have a sense of humor. Perhaps I'm the only one who has seen the hilarious video for Throwin' Shapes prior to writing my review... and I seem to be the only one I know who has connected the song White Mystery to the flavor of Airheads candy. Nothing has changed about MTB; they have only grown and have moved in a direction that makes them pioneers of the present and capable of remaining relevant for a long time to come.

Minus the Bear nailed it on this one. After listening to it for a few good years I'm comfortable saying this is their best album. The songs follow a certain mood that is set from the opening track. The feel is somewhat dark, lonely, hopeless - similar to the album title "Planet of Ice". I'm not sure if you'd call this a concept album, but MtB strays along the same path of rock throughout the album. The melodies are deep and relentless and can be listened to time and time again while still discovering new layers and nuances.

This album unfurls like an epic masterpeice. Their lyrics and song titles are still growing more serious and farther from the toungue-in-cheek joke-driven material that spearheaded their career, but their picking harmonics and layered vocal and string harmonies are mind-numbingly precise this time around. This is a really beautiful album, but the songs have a certain maturity that may turn off listeners who are still hooked on the way they sounded three albums back. Whatever! This is a very ambitious record that I like much better than any of Cave-In's spacey post-rock, and much better than groups who only have one good album (like Sparta). Minus the bear are an ever-evolving group, even though none of their work is really a major departure. I guess the little changes turn some people off though. Get it anyway!

Listened to the first few songs and was immediately hooked. Definitely new to the whole indie rock experience so i was kinda skeptical.

Much of the music on the CD uses recorded guitar played back over a foot pedal, at different intervals, and the resulting sound is awesome.The drums are also amazing. Definitely purchase this if you or someone you know is experimenting with new guitar/drum angles or looking for something eerie in their music-making. The song moods are all over the emotional spectrum and its great: manic, sultry, regretful, amorous. I have listened to it, through and though, dozens of times and it doesn't get old.

Minus the Bear's 'Planet of Ice' is what I consider to be one of the few gems to be found in 2007. I have listened to Minus The Bear for about 3 years now and own every album. If you study their earlier works, they tend to be more goofy (although still excellent) down to the very title such as "Damn Bugs Whacked Him, Johnny." This album, however, is very direct and to the point, as much as Minus The Bear can be anyway.
This is possibly their slowest album, as far as tempos go. But the band still has that sexy sound and theme that is sure to please old and new fans alike. Dave K's guitar work on this album is stunning and they got a new keyboard player to replace Matt Bayles (who produced this album, by the way) and fills in his shoes nicely.

I received this as a gift and threw it in the cd player not knowing anything about the band. I am into progressive rock (porcupine tree, spock's beard, etc.) and jazz. This album was very impressive. I ended up listening to it about 5 times the first week. Each time a different layer of music seemed to come out. I was really impressed by the rhythm section and how they made the songs flow and move. The album just gets into your skull and stays with you. I have bought the rest of the albums just because I was so impressed with this one. I will be looking forward to what they turn out next.