MINUS THE BEAR DROP “THE PIG WAR” DEMO FOR ‘MENOS EL OSO’ 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Legendary Seattle indie-rock group Minus The Bear is celebrating the 20th anniversary of their seminal album, Menos El Oso. We can’t believe it, either! The band is reissuing the record and embarking on a major tour across the USA, but first, they dropped a stunning demo version of “The Pig War.”

There’s something magical about hearing these demos from bands two decades after their initial release. Demos like “The Pig War” feel like a glance behind the wizard’s curtain. Of course, it’s sonically stripped down a bit, but that’s not where the magic lies. Instead, its sparkle shines in the demo’s rawness. It feels inherently real, as though we were in the studio with the band—we can dream, after all.

“The Pig War” sits right at the happy place of Death Cab for Cutie and The Audition, a fine line that blends indie with alternative rock. It hits the sweet spot, scratching an itch that’s been sitting there since 2005. However, something about this song feels fresh, and not just because this is a new version of it (to us).

Something about the emotional vulnerability of the lyrics hits just right. Paired with a no-nonsense recording, the nostalgia-tinged track evokes a warm, fuzzy feeling in listeners.

Long live Minus The Bear!