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Back in 2005, Seattle quintet Minus the Bear were riding the wave of a swift upward trajectory with their blend of ‘90s mathrock fretboard savvy, early ‘00s electro-indie textural depth, and the wistful melodicism of the more mature strain of Midwest emo.
So it was an interesting time for the band to undergo a stylistic sea change. Looking beyond their fellow guitar slingers, Minus the Bear instead found inspiration in the more adventurous pop producers of the era and went full steam ahead with a revamped sound of glitchy guitar loops, modern R&B rhythms, and swirling electronic tapestries on their 2005 sophomore album Menos el Oso. The stylistic shift was a gamble in the waning years of indie rock orthodoxy, but the risk paid off and Minus the Bear’s popularity exploded. Twenty years later, Menos el Oso still sounds fresh and vibrant while simultaneously capturing the essence of a specific era where the rules and formulas of guitar-forward music were breaking down.
To celebrate the album’s anniversary, Suicide Squeeze Records and Minus the Bear are offering up Menos el Oso (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition).
Menos el Oso (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) expands the original LP into a double album featuring five demos mastered by Ed Brooks at Resonant Mastering on side C and an etching by Cory Murchy on side D. These early incarnations of four Menos el Oso tracks and “I’m Totally Not Down With Rob’s Alien” from the They Make Beer Commercials Like This EP showcase how razor-sharp and sonically satisfying Minus the Bear were even when their songs were still being workshopped. As companion pieces to the album, these alternate takes shine a light on the creative process of a band undergoing a sonic evolution while also just being solid standalone tracks.
In addition to the expanded tracklist and side D etching, the vinyl version of Menos el Oso (20thAnniversary Deluxe Edition) features updated artwork in a gatefold jacket with a matte gloss and spot UV varnish, a 24-page photo archive journal, and a vinyl cut by Bernie Grundman. Suicide Squeeze Records is proud to release Minus the Bears’ Menos el Oso (20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition) on August 22, 2025.
Tracklisting:
1. The Game Needed Me
2. Memphis & 53rd
3. Drilling
4. The Fix
5. El Torrente
6. Pachuca Sunrise
7. Michio's Death Drive
8. Hooray
9. Fulfill the Dream
10. The Pig War
11. This Ain't A Surfin' Movie
12. Hooray (Demo)
13. Drilling (Demo)
14. The Pig War (Demo)
15. Michio's Death Drive (Demo)
16. I'm Totally Not Down With Rob's Alien (Demo)
