Planet of Ice is the third full-length album from Minus the Bear, released on August 21, 2007 by Suicide Squeeze Records. It was produced and recorded by the band's former keyboard player, Matt Bayles, in February and March of 2007. It is the first Minus the Bear album to feature keyboardist Alex Rose, who replaced Matt Bayles after he left the band to concentrate on his career as a producer.

Vinyl information

A limited run of 2000 colored records was pressed and released by Suburban Home on vinyl imprint, Vinyl Collective.. Vinyl Collective website. 2007. High demand led to a second pressing, which included a limited edition tour pressing.. Vinyl Collective website. 2007.

To date, there have been three official pressings of Planet of Ice on vinyl. All pressings are double LPs. Retrieved September 30, 2008.

Test pressing

A test pressing of 20 copies was pressed by Suburban Home records. Copies were given to the band members, recording engineers, and management. Unique artwork was hand painted on each sleeve by Vinnie Fasano.

First pressing

* 2000 copies total, sold out prior to US release date.

# 500 - clear with magenta splatter

# 500 - clear with silver splatter

# 500 - white with silver splatter

# 500 - solid silver

Second pressing

* 1000 copies total, shipping early October 2007. Has since sold out.

# 500 - clear with gold splatter (tour exclusive)

# 500 - solid white

Third pressing

* 1000 copies total, made available in 2008 after second pressing sold out.

# 500 - coke bottle blue

# 500 - baby pink

Personnel

* Jake Snider - vocals, guitar

* Dave Knudson - guitar

* Erin Tate - drums, percussion

* Cory Murchy - bass

* Alex Rose - keyboards, saxophone, vocals

Other personnel

* Co-produced by Chris Common

* Engineered by Matt Bayles and Chris Common

* Additional engineering by Alex Rose and Jake Snider

* Mixed by Matt Bayles

* Mastered by Ed Brooks

References

Category:2007 albums

Category:Albums produced by Matt Bayles

Category:Minus the Bear albums

Artist/Band Information

Minus the Bear is an indie-rock group from Seattle, Washington that incorporates elements of ambience and sonic experimentation while maintaining indie influences. The band features current and former members of Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving. Their sound is a combination of Pele-esque guitar-taps and electronics, with sophisticated time signature composition.

History

On January 2, 2006, Matt Bayles, keyboardist and producer for Minus the Bear, announced that he was leaving the band in order to focus all his time on his career as a producer. His last performance with the band was on January 28, 2006. Subsequently, he was replaced by Alex Rose, who previously worked as a sound engineer on the band's second full length album, Menos el Oso.

Interpretaciones del Oso, an album of remixed songs from their second full length album Menos el Oso, was released on February 20, 2007 through Suicide Squeeze Records.

The band's third full length album, titled Planet of Ice, was released on August 21, 2007 through Suicide Squeeze Records, and contains ten tracks. On top of an exclusive iTunes bonus track titled "Cat Calls & Ill Means," a bonus CD containing two b-sides, "Electric Rainbow" and "Patiently Waiting," a demo verson of "Ice Monster," and a remix by P.O.S. of the album's first single, "Knights," was released with the album's first edition.

In 2008 the band recorded four tracks live on Daytrotter that were released for free with a membership to the website. Later that year, the band also released their acoustic EP titled, Acoustics, which contained an unreleased track, "Guns & Ammo," and acoustic renditions of six previously released tracks.

On October 27, 2009, they released a two song single, Into The Mirror on various digital music outlets and sold exclusive 7" vinyl copies on tour.

On February 17, 2010, Dangerbird Records announced that it had signed Minus the Bear and that it will distribute the group's next release. A week later, it was announced that the album was titled Omni, and was scheduled to be released on May 4, 2010.

Band Members

*Jake Snider – guitar, lead vocals

*Dave Knudson – guitar

*Alex Rose – keyboards, backing vocals

*Cory Murchy– bass

*Erin Tate – drums

Former Members

*Matt Bayles – keyboards

Discography

LPs

EPs

Remix LPs

Exclusive Tracks

*"You're Some Sort Of Big, Fat, Smart-Bug, Aren't You?" and "Drop It Like It's Hot", two tracks from the promotional CD Bands Like It When You Yell "Yar!" at Them, were released as bonus tracks on the UK edition of Highly Refined Pirates.

*A demo version of "I Lost All My Money At The Cockfights", a track available on Highly Refined Pirates, was also included on Bands Like It When You Yell "Yar!" at Them.

*"Houston, We Have Uh Oh" originally appeared in 2004 on the compilation, In Honor: A Compilation To Beat Cancer, and later in 2008 as a bonus track on the re-release of They Make Beer Commercials Like This.

*"This Ain't A Surfin' Movie (IQU Remix)", available on their split 7" EP with City On Film and their remix album Interpretaciones del Oso, appeared as a bonus track on the Australian version of Menos el Oso.

*"Electric Rainbow", "Patiently Waiting", Knights (P.O.S. Remix), and "Ice Monster (Demo)," were released exclusively on a Bonus CD which was included with the first edition of Planet of Ice.

*"Cat Calls & Ill Means" was released exclusively as an iTunes Bonus Track with the purchase of Planet of Ice.

*"Guns & Ammo", an exclusive acoustic track, was released on Acoustics with acoustic renditions of six other previously released tracks.

*"Broken China" was released as a b-side to the Into The Mirror single, as an iTunes Bonus Track with the purchase of Omni, and also appeared on Hear To Help: A Compilation Benefiting The Haiti Recovery Effort.

*"Your Private Sky" and "South Side Life" were leaked b-sides to their latest effort, Omni.

Music Videos

*"The Game Needed Me" from Menos el Oso.

*"Pachuca Sunrise" from Menos el Oso.

*"Knights" from Planet of Ice.

*"Throwin' Shapes" from Planet of Ice.

*"My Time" from Omni.

Trivia

The name "Minus the Bear" comes from an inside joke among the band members, referring to the 70's TV show B. J. and the Bear. "A friend of the band had gone on a date,” explains singer-guitarist Jake Snider, "and one of us asked him afterwards how the date went. Our friend said, 'You know that TV show from the '70s B.J. and The Bear? It was like that minus the bear.' That’s the straight truth."

References