Album Review: Minus the Bear – Planet of Ice

Artists: Minus the Bear Album: Planet of Ice Label: Suicide Squeeze Year: 2007 Good’ns: Ice Monster, Knight, White Mystery, Double Vision Quest Not-so-good’ns: Dr. L’Ling
Planet of Ice is Minus the Bear’s latest release. Released in 2007 on Suicide Squeeze, this is by far the band’s greatest release yet. This album is pure sex, and I don’t mean to say that in the way that kids in high school would replace ‘cool’ with ‘sex’, I mean that this album is full of not-so-subtle sexual undertones. I have to admit that while listening to it I was/am getting pretty excited. It was a long train ride. One of Minus the Bear’s strengths has always been their very unique jazzy-progressive-math-rock sound. They have nailed the atmosphere of a dimly lit hipster party full of coked out fashionistas perfectly. This Album is no exception to that. The songs just make you want to find a partner and slow jam your way into their room and remain there for the rest of the evening and well into the next day. I’m a sucker for a good lead synth line, not going to lie. Minus the Bear’s synth has in the past been fairly subtle but in this album they let the synth take the lead more and they certainly made the right choice. Synth intros and bridges give the songs a colder eerier feel than a guitar part would. The synthesized leads on top of the rhythmically complex guitar, bass, and drum parts are what creates the abstracted math-rock coke-party atmosphere I mentioned earlier. Not helping my already excited libido is the cold and smooth voice of Jake Snider. This is a voice that could convince anyone to leave the party and head back to his place. Certainly not someone I would not want my girlfriend to be talking to at a party, as I would probably not be seeing her again after that. Not that I could blame her. My final thoughts on the album – love it. I highly recommend anyone who enjoys really tight progressive math-rock pick up this album as soon as you can. Advisably before your next date. Make sure Double Vision Quest is playing when your date gets in the car, and by the time White Mystery comes on, it will be a sure thing. I’m having trouble coping with the fact that I’m alone and blogging a review of the album rather than on a hot date right now. Jake Snider where are you when I need you…

 

Stupid bots…

13:33 < andrew> @eightball Is lamalex going to ever win an argument around
here??
13:33 < PennBot> andrew: It is possible.
13:34 < lamalex> =O
13:34 < lamalex> that’ll be the day
13:34 < andrew> @eightball but unlikely, right?
13:34 < PennBot> andrew: _I_ don’t know.
13:35 < lamalex> @eightball Will they ever stop heckling me?
13:35 < PennBot> lamalex: Maybe…
13:35 < PennBot> not.
13:35 < lamalex> @eightball Will it be because I died in a cycling accident?
13:35 < PennBot> lamalex: It shall be.
13:35 < lamalex> oh god

The Unveiling…

As many of you are aware, I am very into cycling. I ride my bike daily and it’s the best part of my day. When I’m not riding, I’m working on a bike, thinking about riding, or shopping for cool new bike parts I want, but really don’t need. About a year ago, I discovered the joys of riding fixed gear, since then I’ve completely re-fallen in love with riding, riding fixed is like nothing else. Riding a geared/freewheeled bike is major fun, no buts about it; however there’s a certain level of abstraction from the bike that is inevitable with a freewheeled bike. Relying on shifters, and hand brakes makes you the rider disconnected from the road and from the bike, on a fixed gear you are now part of the bike. You have complete control of the bike, stopping power comes from your legs, acceleration is always possible as long as you can move your legs faster. It’s a beautiful thing. After I got my first fixed gear I was enthralled; however there were things about that bike I was unhappy with. The compact geometry was not very appealing to me, the geometry was also pretty relaxed, which made for a comfortable ride but not super fast or aggressive. The final straw was flex, specifically in the bottom bracket area, I could feel the lack of stiffness on hills and when I was doing sprints, no good. I finally decided I was going to save up and build my dream bike. I spent a lot of time researching parts, thinking about aesthetics, and finding the compromise between high quality parts, aesthetics, and price. It was tricky, but in the end, I was victorious. The final result is my new baby. My EAI Bareknuckle. Here’s the parts list..

• 52 cm EAI Bareknuckle Frame/Fork; Sage Green
• 167.5 mm Sugino 75 Track Crank
• 40 cm Nitto 125AA Drop Bars
• 110 mm Nitto UI-5GX Stem
• Chris King noThreadSet headset
• Phil Wood High Flange 32h Hubs
• Velocity Deep-V Rims
• Nitto S-65 seat post
• Miche sealed bottom bracket
• 48t Sugino Chain Ring
• 17t EAI cog
• MKS clips with soma cages and errebi double straps

I AM IN LOVE!!!! This post is worthless without pics, so here they are. In all their fixed gear glory. (Many thanks to Gabby for her photography. The full shot of the bike, and the shot of the stem/bars were her, the Hub/chain line shot was me. Her new Canon 40D is an amazing camera).

http://www.velospace.org/node/5513

AMERICAN STEEL ARE BACK TOGETHER

HOLY F’IN HELL AMERICAN STEEL ARE BACK TOGETHER!!!!!!!

source: Lookout! Records

Seriously you can’t understand how excited I am. American Steel are hands down, the best punk band EVER. Classic Bay Area punk from the Glory Days of Lookout! Records. Their first album is the most amazing punk album I’ve ever heard, it’s out of print unfortunately, so if you don’t have a copy looks like you’re shit out of luck and I bet since they’re getting back together they’ll be snapped up on eBay.  I’ve got chills man. Seriously, they better tour after this album and they better not just play new shit, if I don’t hear Fargo someone’s losing a limb.