It’s no secret Seattle’s Minus The Bear is at the forefront of the complex indie-pop movement. With their fourth full-length, Omni, the band continues their stay at the top, but in a different way than before.
On this new album, the band turns up the pop factor more, with the inclusion of more organ parts and straightforward pop-rock songs. “Summer Angel” is a great example of this, as it has the feel of something you would hear on the radio in the middle of summer (imagine that) and would want to blare full blast with every window down. The auditory sensuality Minus The Bear captured on each album is prevalent on Omni, with each song possessing the sassy nature we all know and love. Songs like “Hold Me Down” and “Fooled By The Night” are perfect for late night shenanigans between lovers underneath moonlight and comforters.
The lyrical content of Omni is not unlike any other Minus The Bear offering, covering your basic Minus The Bear topics: drugs, love lost, lust had, parties, etc. While I enjoy the lyrics on each of the band’s releases, I would like to hear about more than some guy blowing coke and sleeping with strangers.
One surprise I found in this record is the increased inclusion of synthesized beats. The entirety of “Animal Backwards” highlights the ingenuity of guitarist Dave Knudson and keyboardist Alex Rose, creating a song off of a sample of theirs, the moving “Into The Mirror”. On its own, “Into The Mirror” is the best track on the album. As one of the longer tracks on Omni, the song has a lot of dynamic development and embodies everything about the band’s signature sound.
While I wouldn’t suggest someone who has never heard Minus The Bear start out with Omni, it is a great record for an already-established Minus The Bear fan. It’s not as technically complex as their previous releases, but it shows the catchier side of the band not many could initially see.
See also
Minus The Bear - Planet Of Ice Minus The Bear - They Make Beer Commercials Like This
