Sunday 31 August 2014

Saturday: Minus the Bear - When We Escape

     Calendar and Mother Nature be damned, the Labour Day long weekend is often seen as the unofficial end to summer. Fall doesn't officially start for a bit yet, and weather-wise fall could still be a ways off, but the return of students to schools just seems to mark the change of season more concretely. All this means that this long weekend is a tailor-made excuse for maxing, relaxing, and chillification of all sorts.

     And I've got a soundtrack fit for any of those three states of mind. But first, I've got a question for you: do you remember seminal math/metalcore band Botch? If you don't, you probably should, but for the time being let's just say you're probably at least familiar with one or more of the bands that were born from Botch's ashes. Mouth of the Architect, Russian Circles, and These Arms Are Snakes can all trace some membership past or present back to Botch, as can today's melodically poppy indie rock band Minus the Bear.

     It really is hard to pin Botch guitarist Dave Knudson's current project down. Minus the Bear has very radio-friendly melodic sensibilities, but with a little more going on than your average indie rock band. Whether it's an interesting musical idea, or a hint of a dark tint lyric-wise, Minus the Bear have enough cool stuff in their bag of tricks to keep a metal fan like me entertained.

     So entertained, in fact, that I had several candidates for today's (yesterday's) song, the rest of which will probably end up here in due time. But for today (yesterday) you're getting "When We Escape" from Minus the Bear's 2007 classic Planet of Ice. It's a (mostly) mellow, melancholy sort of track, but it's still got a cool energy that should serve your long weekend well. Get to know Minus the Bear if you know what's good for you.

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