What would prog-rock dudes sound like if they dressed stylishly, ran with the cool kids in high school and landed cheerleaders? Probably a lot like Minus The Bear.
Combining intricate, progressive musical motifs with a sultry swagger, the Seattle quintet’s third full-length album, “Planet Of Ice,” is compelling not only for amalgamating modern pop rock with more ambitious playing but also for the sheer strength of the material.
Disjointed, jittery rhythms — a recurring device on the album — signal the opener, “Burying Luck,” so much so that you might think the CD is skipping. Similarly, “Ice Monster” deploys a push-pull rhythm between drummer Erin Tate and bassist Cory Murphy during the chorus, and tension-and-release dynamics are again at play in “Knights,” the lead single. “Knights” is quintessential MTB, showcasing Jake Snider’s ethereal yet spot-on vocals as well as his guitar interplay with David Knudson. “White Mystery” is slower, slinkier and more fluid, featuring some Knudson finger-tapping as well as naughty lyrics rare in proggy territory: “And then we change positions/ She got me on my back.”
The pure pop appeal of Minus The Bear is readily apparent on “Throwin’ Shapes,” a sunny, jam-bandy tune with a melodic chorus, while “When We Escape” is built around a spiraling guitar figure and a funky rhythm track that wouldn’t sound out of place on an Incubus album. There’s a nifty slow-down and drum decrescendo on the choruses as well as more provocative wordsmithery: “Your dress is begging to come off/ A quiet dark place is all we need.”
Minus The Bear, categorized primarily as an indie act, actually has more in common with newer, melodic progressive groups like Gazpacho, Kino and very recent Marillion as well as ’90s alt rock like the aforementioned Incubus and Dishwalla. However, MTB’s sense of concise songwriting and earthbound lyrics keep it from being a full-on prog band, and its extended view of what a pop rock band can be might prevent it from landing in CD collections alongside Coldplay and Keane. That said, it’s all a matter of handwringing for music geeks and critics, not adventurous listeners who will likely find much enjoyment in “Planet Of Ice.”
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