by Jason MacNeilMinus the Bear continue their brand of quirky-cum-arty rock with light, airy harmonies and somewhat experimental guitars on The Game Needed Me as lead singer Jake Snider doles out lines in the vein of Cake's lead singer. Partially spoken, partially sung, the overall effort is decent but wouldn't whet everyone's sonic palette. Memphis & 53rd on the other hand begins with an almost drum'n'bass flavor prior to going into a quasi ska-rock format recalling a timid English Beat. Musically it's a collage of different genres, with the chorus melding them all adequately. Minus the Bear finally hits paydirt on the mid-tempo but inviting Drilling, fuelled by the drumming of Erin Tate and the guitar work of Snider and David Knudson. At times it's not quite guitar noodling, but the melodies revolve around intricate and winding riffs as they do on The Fix, which builds in momentum. When the band opts for a pedestrian, atmospheric pace as they do on El Torrente, it seems to fall flat, more of a breather or experimental filler than anything truly worth repeated listens. Catchier is Pachuca Sunrise with a great hop in its step that brings to mind something that Death Cab for Cutie might attempt at some point. Perhaps the highlight of the record is the barren and radio-friendly urgent rock displayed during Michio's Death Drive with its keyboard touches. It comes off as a fusing of the Police and the Strokes to some extent. Hooray keeps this frantic, frenetic pace going with some down time splintered throughout. What misses the mark totally, however, is the average but unspectacular Pig War.