Members of the band were formerly in the bands Botch, Kill Sadie, and Sharks Keep Moving. Their sound involves a mix of pele-esque guitar-taps and electronics, with a Don Caballero-esque sophistication of composition. The name Minus the Bear comes from the famed TV show B.J. and the Bear—minus the bear.
After initially forming in 2001 with guitarist David Knudson, bassist Cory Murchy, and drummer Erin Tate, the trio eventually recruited keyboardist/sequencer Matt Bayles and vocalist/guitarist Jake Snider. They released their debut EP This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic on September 14, 2001 through Suicide Squeeze Records—who would subsequently release the majority of their albums and EPs.
The following year, on August 8, 2002, in preparation for the up-coming album the band was working on, they released the 5 track promo EP Bands Like It When You Yell "Yar!" at Them. On December 2, 2002, the band released their first full-length album, Highly Refined Pirates.
In 2004, the band released their third EP entitled They Make Beer Commercials Like This through Arena Rock Recording Co. on July 13th. The band then contributed the track "Houston, We Have an Uh-Oh" to the Vagrant Records compilation In Honor: A Compilation to Beat Cancer which was released on September 21st.
Their second full-length album, Menos el Oso, was released on August 23, 2005. The title in Spanish translates to "Minus the Bear." The album featured the band's first-ever official music videos, with videos being made for both "The Game Needed Me" and "Pachuca Sunrise". The album signaled the end to the amusing song titles featured on previous releases.
On January 2, 2006 after touring in support of Menos el Oso, keyboardist/sequencer and producer Matt Bayles announced that he was leaving the band in order to focus on record production work. His last performance with the band was on January 28, 2006. Bayles wrote on his homepage that he would be replaced by Alex Rose, an engineer on Menos el Oso.
A remix album of Menos El Oso, entitled Interpretaciones Del Oso, was released on February 20th, 2007. The title in Spanish translates to "Interpretations of the Bear." The album features remixes by Plan B, Morgan Henderson of The Blood Brothers and Jason Clark of Pretty Girls Make Graves, among others.
Minus the Bear's third full-length album, Planet of Ice, was released on August 21, 2007, with a limited vinyl pressing on Suburban Home Records. To date, there have been three official pressings of Planet of Ice on vinyl. All pressings are double LPs. The album was recorded during February and March of 2006. Music videos were made for both "Knights" and "Throwin' Shapes".
On June 3, 2008, Suicide Squeeze Records re-issued the band's third EP They Make Beer Commercials Like This. The EP was remastered and expanded to include the track "Houston, We Have an Uh-Oh".
On October 7, 2008 the band released Acoustics, a 7 track EP featuring acoustic versions of the band's songs including the previously unreleased "Guns & Ammo". The EP was released on Tigre Blanco Records. The EP was released on vinyl on February 17, 2009 through Vinyl Collective.
On October 27, 2009, Minus the Bear released a digital 2 song single for "Into the Mirror", which features the title track and "Broken China". The band released their fourth original studio album Omni on May 4, 2010. Their final live performance was December 16, 2018 at The Showbox in Seattle.
Band members
Dave Knudson - guitar Cory Murchy - bass Alex Rose - synthesizer, drum machine, vocals, electronics, saxophone Jake Snider - lead vocals, guitar Erin Tate - drums
Former members
Matt Bayles - vocals, keyboards/drum machine, electronics
Former bands
Dave Knudson - used to play in botch Jake Snider - used to play in sharks keep moving Erin Tate used to play in kill sadie Cory Murchy used to play in kill sadie
The Game Needed Me
Minus the Bear Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So we can't lose it
But you touchin me like piano keys
You can't buy that movement
What do we get from
This soft transaction
We know the money lies
We're all just selling time
You got a lot to lose
The paper's a ticking clock
You got a lot to lose
What does it cost for
This life of excess
Would you ever miss your desk's caress
There is no mouth to
Trace it's shape on you
You seem to let it fuck you anyway
We're all just selling time
You got a lot to lose
The paper's a ticking clock
You got a lot to lose
What you got to lose?
The lyrics of Minus the Bear's song "The Game Needed Me" present a reflection on materialism and the notion of selling time to achieve a life of excess. The opening lines, "We don't have money, so we can't lose it", establish the idea that the characters in the song are not wealthy or interested in material possessions. However, there is a highlight on the value of human connection and the intangible experiences that cannot be bought with money, as shown in the lines "you touching me like piano keys, you can't buy that movement".
The song then moves to question the purpose of the accumulation of wealth and how much it costs to achieve and maintain a life of excess. The lyrics suggest that the act of selling time is not a sustainable solution and that the pursuit of material possessions leads to a loss of identity and purpose. In the chorus, the lyrics repeat "we're all just selling time, you got a lot to lose, the paper's a ticking clock, you got a lot to lose", highlighting the deadline and pressure to accumulate wealth and success.
The final lines, "what you got to lose?" challenge the listener to consider what really matters in life and if the pursuit of wealth and material possessions is worth the sacrifice of personal relationships and experiences. The song ultimately presents a cautionary tale about the dangers of materialism and the importance of prioritizing human connection and experiences over material possessions.
Line by Line Meaning
We don't have money
We are lacking in wealth
So we can't lose it
We cannot lose what we do not have
But you touchin me like piano keys
You are touching me with precision and finesse
You can't buy that movement
True talent and natural ability cannot be purchased
What do we get from
What do we gain from
This soft transaction
This gentle exchange between two people
We know the money lies
We understand that money is deceitful
And you can't put a price on this brand of action
This particular type of behavior is priceless
We're all just selling time
We are all exchanging our time for various things
You got a lot to lose
You have much to risk
The paper's a ticking clock
Money is a time-sensitive resource
What does it cost for
What is the price of
This life of excess
This lifestyle of extravagance and abundance
Would you ever miss your desk's caress
Would you ever long for the satisfaction of working hard
There is no mouth to
No one is there to
Trace it's shape on you
To outline or shape your body
You seem to let it fuck you anyway
Despite this, you seem to allow it to control you
What you got to lose?
What do you stand to risk?
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BAYLES, JOHNSON, KNUDSON, MURCHY, SNIDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Eric McDonald
We don't have money
So we can't lose it
But you touching me like piano keys
You can't buy that movement
What do we get from
This soft transaction?
We know the money lies and we can't put a price on this
Brand of action
We're all just sellin' time
You got a lot to lose
The paper's a ticking clock
You got a lot to lose
What does it cost for
This life of excess?
Would you ever miss your desk's caress?
There is no mouth to
Trace its shape on you
But you seem to let it fuck you anyway
What you got to lose?
Music loving metal head
Menos el oso is an all time favorite.
Eric McDonald
We don't have money
So we can't lose it
But you touching me like piano keys
You can't buy that movement
What do we get from
This soft transaction?
We know the money lies and we can't put a price on this
Brand of action
We're all just sellin' time
You got a lot to lose
The paper's a ticking clock
You got a lot to lose
What does it cost for
This life of excess?
Would you ever miss your desk's caress?
There is no mouth to
Trace its shape on you
But you seem to let it fuck you anyway
What you got to lose?
Jacek Kokoszka
WTF?! 2327 views? This is one of their best track from their best album... Shame...
He Cheng
It’s a shame I only started listening to them after re-playing saints row 2 if my 7 year old self paid attention I could have been here sooner
Angelina Maureen
yesssss.
NOSESLIDEIMSATAN
2020
Eric McDonald
almost!
Robert Vigh
2020 for REAL y'all!!!
Slam Jam
Wait... the fuck?
Ian Carriere
@Facefirstinatale Minus The Bear