The Seattle quintet Minus the Bear formed shortly after the turn of the millennium, fusing the previous decade’s forward-thinking math rock guitar gymnastics with the new century’s poptimistic pulse, indie sleaze revelry, and technological adventurism. Across the span of eighteen years, six full-lengths, and an array of singles and EP, the band traversed a broad swathe of sonic territories, seamlessly jumping from brainy indie pop to glitchy dance-punk to ambitious prog rock, all while retaining their signature blend of celebratory swagger with a pensive and reflective patina. Fueled by guitarist David Knudson’s fingertapping dexterity and pedalboard wizardy, vocalist/guitarist Jake Snider’s wistful and poignant depictions of adulthood escapades, multi-instrumentalist Alex Rose’s lush synth layers, and bassist Cory Murchy’s nimble groove, Minus the Bear created a body of work that cemented their place as one of modern indie rock’s most distinctive and influential acts.