Rating: NNN
Seattle’s Minus the Bear have the double distinction of having one of the silliest, most poorly chosen names in alt-rock while being one of the genre’s most interesting and thought-provoking acts.
On their third full-length, the band continues along the same path full of noodly, angular post-punk guitar patterns. Some songs lack raw emotion but have sombre vocal melodies and engaging lyrics.
Planet Of Ice’s trademark guitar sound is becoming increasingly complex while still flirting with melodic accessibility, and the rest of the band sounds equally interested in pushing boundaries. Unfortunately, that results in an unbalanced record that continues to tease with unlimited potential but falls short of the goal.