Minus the Bear offers a wide range of styles on this album, from acoustic guitar-driven thumper “Listing” (#5) to tricked out guitar solos in “Lonely Gun” (#9) to the lovelorn punk rock influenced closing track “Cold Company”. Throughout, they rely heavily on guitar and the kind of hoarse, raw vocals of their lead singer, and in the second half of the album they bring in bloopy, very electronic synth melodies. Most of their subject matter is about struggling relationships, and this feels like a lovelorn summer album to play in the car as you drive across the country. Pop influenced tracks 1 and 2 are very accessible hits. Try 2, 4, 9. FCC clean.

1. (3:49) Very percussive, multiple time signature changes, vaguely hoarse, raw vocals, synth melody, mid-tempo
2. (4:01)** Nice indie rock/pop tune, awesome guitar doodles beneath, punchy beat, more urgent guitar interludes spaced throughout
3. (4:56) Slower, melancholy melodic vocals, shimmery guitar accompaniment, stronger percussion and guitar come in for chorus, keeps building throughout, guitar solo at end
4. (4:31)** Picks back up, foot-tapping bass-drum driven beat, punchy vocals, awesome blooping synth melody
5. (3:34) Percussive, driving bass drum, acoustic guitar, forlorn lyrics, muted trumpet/brass come in with chorus, ends abruptly
6. (4:49) Exposed vocals, hymn-like, low key electronic beat, shimmery, synth and acoustic guitar, drums kick in to build it up with electric guitar solos
7. (3:43) Chill, groovy 80’s feel guitar, shuffle, builds up for chorus with stronger percussion, reaching, soaring vocals
8. (3:30) Solid rock jam with bloopy synth, head bobbing, more urgent vocals, mid-tempo
9. (3:44)* Sweet, Ratatat style, heavily distorted solo guitar throughout, drum machine, pauses ¾ of the way through, sax solo
10. (5:04) Synth solo opener, heavy rock, aggressive/half shouted vocals, minor, repetitive, building guitar