Minus the Bear

2,392,955 plays
180 SHARES
1,815 FAVS
214 fans

albums

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- Menos El Oso
- Released 2005

- Planet Of Ice
- Released 2007

- Highly Refined Pirates
- Released 2002

- They Make Beer Commercials Like This
- Released 2004

biography

With catchy song titles like "Hey, Wanna Throw Up? Get Me Naked," "Monkey!!! Knife!!! Fight!!!," and "Lemurs, Man, Lemurs," it's hard not to be at least a little bit curious about this Seattle-based quintet. Featuring members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving, Minus the Bear emerged on Seattle's music scene in 2001 with the release of their six-song EP This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic. The band comprised guitarist Dave Knudson, vocalist/ guitarist Jake Snider, drummer Erin Tate, and bassist Cory Murchy. Though the band entered the studio before they ever played a show, they toured aggressively in support of the EP, then returned to the studio to record 2002's Highly Refined Pirates, their first full-length album. Both the EP and LP were released by Seattle-based Suicide Squeeze Records.

Though the song titles may lead one to believe that they're a novelty act, Minus the Bear provides polished, shrewdly arranged songs. Finger-tapped guitar riffs mixed with catchy melodies and unexpected time changes keep listeners interested and entertained. Minus the Bear issued two EPs in 2004: Bands Like It When You Yell "Yar!" at Them on Suicide Squeeze and They Make Beer Commericals Like This on Arena Rock. Their next full-length, the self-produced Menos el Oso (Spanish for Minus the Bear), appeared in August 2005; the remix album Interpretaciones del Oso followed in early 2007. The band released the full-length Planet of Ice later that year. ~ Laurel Greenidge, All Music Guide

news

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- - minusthebear: @LinzDawgPGH glad to hear it!
  - - 11/21/2009
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    - 1:34 AM
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    - Twitter / minusthebear
  - minusthebear: @LinzDawgPGH glad to hear it!

- - minusthebear: http://twitpic.com/qabs3 - PITTSBURGH! hope you can match up to that crowd last night. WOO HOO!
  - - 11/20/2009
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    - 11:34 PM
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    - Twitter / minusthebear
  - minusthebear: http://twitpic.com/qabs3 - PITTSBURGH! hope you can match up to that crowd last night. WOO HOO!

- - minusthebear: Thanks Northampton! That was crazy. Starting the 12 hour journey to PITTSBURGH!!!!!
  - - 11/20/2009
    - |
    - 6:39 AM
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    - Twitter / minusthebear
  - minusthebear: Thanks Northampton! That was crazy. Starting the 12 hour journey to PITTSBURGH!!!!!

- - minusthebear: http://twitpic.com/q52wl - very excited for northhampton tonight!
  - - 11/19/2009
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    - 8:52 PM
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    - Twitter / minusthebear
  - minusthebear: http://twitpic.com/q52wl - very excited for northhampton tonight!

- - minusthebear: oh yeah! sound garden is great....
  - - 11/18/2009
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    - 8:39 AM
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    - Twitter / minusthebear
  - minusthebear: oh yeah! sound garden is great....

See all

- Moros Eros

- The Appleseed Cast

- The Jealous Sound

- The Casket Lottery

comments

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- - To MRCIX
  - - By BlurryHeart15
    - 11/12/2009 00:05:09
  - Holy crap you are right on. Ice Monster is awesome!!!! I feel exactly like you said when I hear it. These guys give me a similar feel as when I'm listening to Team Sleep except they sound way different... I love it!!!! NEeD MoRe MuSiC!!!!!!!!!!
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- - been waiting on next album!!!
  - - By mrCIX3
    - 10/19/2009 06:57:37
  - I am getting so impatient. Minus the Bear is the most unique band i have in my library. their so-called genre shouldn't even have a name. They are out of this world, and the lyrics and sounds are so authentic and easy listening. Fans of Jake's (the lead vocal) voice should check out this album by Sharks Keep Moving, as you will be very familiar with the riffs and style to MTB, and also Jake Snyders voice is incredible. Most of you minus fans out there know exactly what i mean when i say that "listening to Ice Monster gives me that cozzy feeling anytime of the year and in my mind it's like winter outside (best to listen to this song in the snow day, looking outside the passenger window, and into the gray sky)". I could say so much more, but it's never enough... I need details on their following album after Planet of Ice.
  - 1 out of 1 people
  - think this is useful

- - Straight Sex :]
  - - By TheSpook17
    - 4/1/2009 18:58:11
  - These guys are amazing :] No other band close to this band in their style.
  - 2 out of 2 people
  - think this is useful

- - Similar Artists?!
  - - By Blaze N Detox
    - 2/12/2009 20:18:22
  - Coheed and Cambria are not at all similar to Minus The Bear...I don't know about those other bands. Minus the Bear is a good chill band, if you are looking to relax.
  - 3 out of 4 people
  - think this is useful