Minus the Bear

Omni (Dangerbird)

By Dana Raidt
Published: May 6th, 2010 | 1:00pm

Minus the Bear’s organic subject matter has always harmoniously coexisted with its pseudo-math rock structure. Even on 2008’s stripped-down Acoustics EP (Tigre Blanco), which strayed musically from the synthy futurism of Planet of Ice (Suicide Squeeze), the band’s songs were heartfelt while keeping a comfortable distance. Not so with their fourth full-length.

With sometimes embarrassing lyrics (“You taste like sweet wine / The sweat rolls down your thigh”), Omni feels—at least to anyone but hopeless romantics and the object of singer Jake Snider’s affection—like witnessing 50 minutes of uncomfortable PDA. Musically, songs have gone from being harbingers of the future to reminders of mainstream pop songs you had hoped to forget. “Into the Mirror” can’t be saved by vocals from Visqueen’s Rachel Flotard, and some tracks, like “Summer Angel,” feel right until the lyrics and Frampton-esque guitar get in the way. “Secret Country” and “Hold Me Down” remotely recall the band’s trademark innovative rhythms and structures, but never quite get there.

Of course music and lyrics are by nature personal, and by no means are artists required to stick to subject matter that is relatable to the audience, nor is sadness a requirement for art. But without the musical progressiveness of past releases, Omni can’t help but be bogged down by sappy imagery and the sinking feeling that this talented band could have done better.

__

Minus the Bear official Web site

Minus the Bear MySpace page

Dangerbird Records