Minus Story

Grandiose art-pop records are nothing new to of us, of course, as even decades after Sgt. Pepper would be the catalyst for the first loading of the bandwagon, labels like E6 and its close-knit community of artists, most notably Olivia Tremor Control, would bask in its residual, crafting their very own four and eight-track tour-de-forces. Kansas’s Minus Story have begun to truly write their own chapter in art-pop’s ongoing history with this, their third record. Complete with backward tape loops, non-stop harmonies and their very own mini-orchestra, it unmistakably carries the flag of quirky, experimental stoner pop most recently tackled by Circulatory System, Arcade Fire and the Microphones. Even more to the point, they remember that it all started with an experimental edge on pop music with some serious hooks, and while many similar groups get too lost in the pot haze to remember what’s going on, Minus Story are first and foremost skilled songwriters. The hooks they keep at the very forefront of the record’s dense, lo-fi exterior, especially in the case of "Joyless Joyless,” "You Were On My Side” and "Gravity Pulls” are strong enough to bring you back and take on its epic, less immediate tracks. So grab a pair of headphones, your drug of choice and settle in for 35 minutes of great experimental pop; we hope you will enjoy the show.