 | Tracklist:
1. Guns & Ammo
2. We Are Not A Football Team
3. Burying Luck
4. Knights
5. Pachuca Sunrise
6. Throwin' Shapes
7. Ice Monster
Release Date: 10/07/2008 | |
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On 14 Lists
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| Summary: Armed with one new track, Minus The Bear only fire a few surprising shots. |
There really isn’t much behind Minus The Bear’s EP entitled Acoustics. After all, it is what it is; six previously recorded tracks and one brand spankin’ new track with acoustic guitars and modest percussion. Beyond that, it was easy to see Minus the Bear going acoustic due to their intricate and soothing indie/progressive rock with that almost emotionally numb attachment.
Acoustics begins with their new track, “Guns & Ammo,” a definitive highlight of the album. One of the most impressive qualities of “Guns & Ammo” is cohesiveness and how refreshing the sound is initially. After all, it is the first real taste of Minus The Bear in an acoustic sense. Anyway, regardless of the apparent repetitiveness, something that Minus The Bear regularly pull off successfully, this track thrives on it. Additionally “Guns & Ammo” is one of the more diverse tracks without reaching into a more progressive sound. Between the bridge and the perfect pace of the song, it makes you wonder why they did not record seven new tracks that would compliment “Guns & Ammo.”
Instead, I wondered how they would incorporate the progressive elements from their last full-length, Planet of Ice, and integrate it into Acoustics. Of the tracks transcribed, “Knights” seemed to be the most challenging. Between the effects and progressive nature of the track, the stripped down track played off well, actually better than that. The technicality of “Knights” is still there, along with the incredible precision. “Knights” sounds tighter with acoustic guitars perhaps due to the removal of wailing guitar work. The synth-laden “Burying Luck” also went through major changes, switching to a more classical piano driving along with Jake Snider’s vocals sounding rather ordinary without that fire that drove “Burying Luck” so far on Planet of Ice.
As expected with Acoustics, important little details tend to be omitted. Take “Pachuca Sunrise,” which was a track that begun with delay guitar effects on the initial recording that created a whimsical sound, but instead on Acoustics the note is simply held down. Otherwise, “Pachuca Sunrise” barely misses a beat and if anything, sounds better than ever with a more natural sound. The last track, “Ice Monster,” incorporates different percussion instruments like maracas and tambourines, behind Snider’s best vocal work on the album, in a track that claps its way to the end of Acoustics.
What to take away from Acoustics is a new light to view Minus The Bear. After all, they are generally a relaxing band to listen to that stays within a certain boundary. In all, Acoustics highlights their work that is typically overshadowed by their use of effects, but the resulting sound was hardly a major surprise. Overall, Acoustics is tabbed as another steady and consistent release by Minus The Bear. I guess that works.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 3.5
not much to say really, fans will dig this album
Digging: A Place to Bury Strangers - Exploding Head | | |
I wonder what a shoegaze band's acoustic album would sound like.
oh, and good review.
Digging: PSY/OPSogist - Kings Of Sleep
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the original track 2 is one of my favorites; will find this shortly
Digging: Rumah Sakit - Obscured by Clowns
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Even though I'd rather have a CD or EP of new songs, I rather enjoyed this.
Digging: The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute | | |
We are not a football team is my favorite MtB song
Digging: Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind
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I'm quite partial to Pachuca Sunrise...will be getting this soon more than likely...
Digging: City of Ships - Look What God Did To Us
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Yeah, this is great. Really like Guns and Ammo, would be interesting to hear a full version of that, which doesn't stick to acoustics. Pachuca Sunrise is my favourite though.
Digging: Hammock - Raising Your Voice... Trying to Stop an Echo | | |
I hope they release an acoustic LP soon.
Digging: DJ Shadow - Endtroducing
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Listening to this now, sounds very nice so far.
Digging: OverClocked ReMix - Xenogears : Humans Gears | | | Album Rating: 3.5
I didn't like how they slowed down "Knights", but I loved what they did with "Burying Luck" and "Throwin' Shapes". Pretty good stuff.
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3.5 is a very appropriate rating for this ep.
it does what it wants to well, but doesn't change the world in doing so
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ugh there is so much stuff i need to get lately
Digging: Beach House - Teen Dream
| | | Album Rating: 4
it does what it wants to well, but doesn't change the world in doing so
you expect too much from everything
Digging: Converge - Axe To Fall | | | Album Rating: 4
I think it's excellent, hence the 4... great song choice, the last 6 all translate well to the acoustic version.
Tracks 3 and 4 have always been two of my fav.s and 1 was a pleasant surprise
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Pachuca Sunrise and Throwin Shapes were never MtB favorites of mine and they're the only two tracks I don't really like. Burying Luck is amazing.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
A nice solid EP. I'm really happy they included We're Not a Football Team. Sounds great, what you'd expect from MtB.
Digging: Do Make Say Think - Other Truths | | |
On first listen...this is very pleasing...new track is pretty sweet also
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you expect too much from everything well stated. chan, that's probably the most accurate description of my so called tastes
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but doesn't change the world in doing so
whoa man
Digging: The Flaming Lips - Embryonic
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hahaha. hyperbole
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