| | Full Review | Ratings (1036) |
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| 4.5 superb | Jared Floryan | October 13th 14 |
This album really caught me by surprise; I say this because initially, Minus the Bear's music would've thrown me off for their name alone; don't judge a book by the title, kiddies. That said, MtB's debut album Highly Refined Pirates is complete with serenading vocal harmonies and immensely catchy musicianship, especially considering the guitar work here can drag one down to the most sempiternal territories. The interludes are a bit cheap on their own, but they work within the context of this release.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | kashmoney | September 16th 22 |
Your soundoff was too short, it has to be at least 50 characters
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| 0.0 | SubtleBody | May 13th 13 |
The only Minus the Bear album I care for, Highly Refined Pirates is a greatly enjoyable album with neat melodies and a fun catchiness.
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| 4.5 superb | IslamicPenguins | February 7th 13 |
The essential minus the bear album, the musicianship is as good as it gets, and each track is fun and upbeat. The vocals and lyrics at times take a little getting used to, but in the end they only add to the genius of this record.
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| 4.0 excellent | Progmaster85 | December 20th 09 |
Minus the Bear are one of the most complex and layered bands in Indie/Alternative, and this album is yet another gem in their discography. This is simply a pretty awesome album, but it has it's flaws. While their most complex and technical album, the tracks are a bit inconsistent and sometimes the songs get out of hand with technicality, but not too often. While not as impressive and focused as Planet of Ice, Highly Refined Pirates is still one hell of an album, and continues to impress me more through every listen.
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| 3.5 great | Iai EMERITUS | November 14th 06 |
The stupid song titles, album names, and even band name might give you the inclination to believe that Minus The Bear are, at best, a throwaway experiment, and at worst, a joke. Neither is true. In actual fact, Minus The Bear are an occasionally fiddly, fairly complex indie band clearly in thrall to Television. What's remarkable is the sense of melody and passion that runs through everything here. Truth be told, you might say there's something for everyone on here - melody, pop songs, rock riffs, strong melodies, musical intelligence, humor, the lot. It might not be impossible not to enjoy this record, but it's close.
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| 4.0 excellent | warwkplyr | August 7th 06 |
Minus the bear is a very solid band. You get the feeling that these are 5 really good friends doing wahat they love to to do, play great and original music. This was a very mellow cd, yet the band members are quite talented. Youll hear finger tapping like its a van halen cd and clever lyrics mostly about, well, drinking and spending time with your buds. This is easily their most straight forward and coherent cd, but quite possibly the best.
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| 4.0 excellent | Damrod EMERITUS | August 6th 06 |
When I first read about this band (and got interested in checking them out), it was from a sticker on a Fall of Troy album. When I further read that the guitarist of Botch is in there... well, I expected something Fall of Troy like. Sure I was suprised when I heard their songs, but not disappointed. The guitar work is really good and technical though it's quite mellow. There is a lot to discover here, drumming, vocals, guitar. Only the bass seems a bit simple though always present. Good stuff. Really good stuff
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| 3.8 excellent | Sunnyvale EMERITUS | June 4th 25 |
| 4.0 excellent | Lassie | March 24th 25 |
| 4.0 excellent | tellah | October 9th 24 |
| 4.5 superb | woxdy | June 7th 24 |
| 5.0 classic | bSmith | March 9th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Maniac! | December 31st 23 |
| 4.5 superb | abaeza | December 28th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Compachi | September 24th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | bnest | August 10th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Piglet | August 10th 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | Emo | June 1st 23 |
| 5.0 classic | Yep321 | January 30th 23 |
| 4.5 superb | Jerrad | August 25th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jadari | June 11th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | cb123 | March 29th 22 |
| 3.0 good | aroge | November 2nd 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | xlev | August 7th 21 |
| 3.5 great | Sowing STAFF | October 15th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Gillie | September 22nd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Prancer | September 10th 20 |
| 3.5 great | Collis | August 25th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | shira | July 14th 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Mser94 | April 22nd 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ziggity | April 14th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | rufous | January 3rd 20 |
| 4.5 superb | kenotik | December 9th 19 |
| 3.0 good | fog | August 13th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Josh | June 18th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | josh | June 10th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Josh | May 9th 19 |
| 3.5 great | NateMa | March 26th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Erwann S. EMERITUS | February 2nd 19 |
| 4.5 superb | crab | January 29th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jake E. | January 16th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | gschwen | September 9th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | NickyP | May 2nd 17 |
| 3.5 great | Quen | December 9th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | dctarga | December 8th 16 |
| 3.5 great | El Olam | November 27th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Wolfe | July 19th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tom R. EMERITUS | May 30th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | tofue | December 25th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Atrophy | December 13th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Abraxas | November 30th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | mrend55 | October 10th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | JGreeb | August 31st 15 |
| 3.0 good | swoen | June 1st 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Arctick | April 28th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | TheEwok | March 31st 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Oc3anic | March 30th 15 |
| 3.0 good | itchy | January 15th 15 |
| 3.5 great | tyler | November 16th 14 |
| 3.5 great | boogs | October 18th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | KaNe00 | October 17th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | wojodta | September 10th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | tene | July 16th 14 |
| 1.0 awful | Epitaph | February 24th 14 |
| 3.5 great | J | February 23rd 14 |
| 4.5 superb | tarkus | January 7th 14 |
| 3.5 great | 8bit | December 17th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Skoj | December 15th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | djken97 | December 2nd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | GaugeOT | August 15th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pox | August 9th 13 |
| 3.2 good | Trey STAFF | July 13th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | akimbo | July 13th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ulshad | July 3rd 13 |
| 4.5 superb | tlhk | June 21st 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | dobs | April 19th 13 |
| 3.5 great | reef2 | March 18th 13 |
| 4.5 superb | Weedon | March 13th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | ishsim | February 11th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | Eswin17 | February 10th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zamora | January 26th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | kb36 | January 22nd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | sbleezy | January 7th 13 |
| 3.5 great | urzadek | December 17th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | mybeard | December 10th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Surette | November 10th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | lerem | October 2nd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | axc1080 | September 25th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Duderino | September 21st 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | MrElmo | September 21st 12 |
| 4.5 superb | aus1o | August 24th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mythr | June 20th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Veldin | May 17th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | foxxxy | April 20th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | jg777 | March 29th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | brollin | February 27th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Aberjam | February 11th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | iBrad99 | January 23rd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pipt | January 19th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | BreaC | January 17th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dev518 | January 4th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Snubbs | December 21st 11 |
| 3.0 good | Mojito | December 14th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Andrew | December 2nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jerbz | November 12th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rev | November 7th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | a2sk8 | September 24th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | CoConi | September 14th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | sharmz | August 10th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | evan193 | August 10th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | lucho | July 27th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Jones | July 24th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Cavs | May 27th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | elry2k | May 27th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Reigato | April 28th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jdok | April 27th 11 |
| 3.5 great | saucy | April 25th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | BL182 | April 23rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | NateT | April 21st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | patod92 | April 6th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | thecwo | April 4th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Xzaeon | March 21st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | benhxc | March 16th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rowdy | March 15th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | tehaj1 | March 2nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ire | February 19th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Remer17 | February 18th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | CrumbBum | February 18th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | deadsye | January 31st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Thor | January 18th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | shively | January 17th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Klichty | December 26th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | FuckedUp | December 22nd 10 |
| 4.5 superb | ltsmash | December 21st 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Snowi | December 20th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | TT | December 9th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Opsonyn | December 7th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | P2008J | November 19th 10 |
| 3.0 good | Wolfe | November 18th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Thane | November 4th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Dan H. EMERITUS | November 1st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | TheStig | October 20th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | rws197 | October 6th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | PieRye | September 12th 10 |
| 3.5 great | bonette | September 6th 10 |
| 3.5 great | bloodah | September 4th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | jmh886 | August 27th 10 |
| 2.0 poor | GLN | August 8th 10 |
| 1.5 very poor | kfresha | July 24th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | jazack | July 21st 10 |
| 5.0 classic | becdar | July 19th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | iganja | July 17th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | mvood | July 3rd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | dhxp45 | June 24th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | vakuola | June 12th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mevz | June 6th 10 |
| 3.0 good | Thef | May 25th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Valle | May 19th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kleur | May 18th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Pizza | May 16th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | focksy | May 6th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Photon | April 27th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | phpjoey | April 26th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mctasty | April 2nd 10 |
| 4.5 superb | tuk | March 21st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | joshc | March 5th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | zoso33 | March 5th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | WolfAmI | February 28th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nach0 | February 15th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | DethSpel | February 14th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Talent | February 11th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | dcha | February 8th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | JWT155 | January 19th 10 |
| 3.5 great | Bamboo | December 7th 09 |
| 3.5 great | JohnW | December 3rd 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Fapper | November 28th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | bryn | November 27th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | foxxxy | November 10th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | alt | November 9th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | Jips | November 3rd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | DayMan | October 22nd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Marver | October 17th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ceziria | October 7th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | roofi | September 26th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | qwe3 | September 24th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Hiyruu | September 11th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Robewho | September 10th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Apoc | September 9th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | dev4ll | August 18th 09 |
| 3.5 great | Skyler | August 16th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | ArC | August 4th 09 |
| 3.5 great | ebay | July 27th 09 |
| 3.5 great | GBJ | May 14th 09 |
| 3.5 great | tom79 | February 8th 09 |
| 3.0 good | TheDMV | January 3rd 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Yotimi | December 24th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | AlKal | December 21st 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | theAlien | December 15th 08 |
| 3.0 good | eof | December 3rd 08 |
| 3.5 great | kingsoby1 EMERITUS | December 2nd 08 |
| 2.5 average | TBliss | November 26th 08 |
| 3.5 great | dukes | October 23rd 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | JordanS | October 15th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | ares | September 11th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Phasing | August 30th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | MrKite | August 13th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kiran EMERITUS | July 25th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Chasta5 | July 23rd 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | dagashi | June 25th 08 |
| 3.5 great | KjD | May 23rd 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Smooz | May 21st 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Jdill | April 16th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | Riziger | March 21st 08 |
| 4.5 superb | Robbins | February 28th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | Stuff | February 25th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | mana20 | January 19th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | UBIK | January 7th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | badsocks | December 31st 07 |
| 3.0 good | donovr | December 12th 07 |
| 5.0 classic | John L | November 22nd 07 |
| 4.5 superb | Sleepy | November 10th 07 |
| 3.5 great | glewis | November 7th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mikesn EMERITUS | November 1st 07 |
| 4.5 superb | bpkybe | October 10th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | jrowa001 | September 4th 07 |
| 4.5 superb | YDload | May 13th 06 |
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