Minus the Bear

When Kurt Cobain pulled the trigger in 1994, he scattered a whole lot more than brain matter and the remnants of grunge — the chance for Seattle to once again reach the apex of alternative went with him, too. Now, more than a decade later, the pioneering Minus the Bear and its accompanying four albums — including the recently released "Menos el Oso" — have reinvigorated what once made the city's scene so great. Minus mixes lead singer Jake Snider's drizzly vocals over intricate layers of proggy guitars and relentless drums and drum machines for a wall-of-sound effect that's as smart as it is catchy. But Minus never takes itself too seriously — wisecracking song titles such as "Monkey!!! Knife!!! Fight!!!" and "Thanks for the Killer Game of Crisco Twister" will have you reaching for the liner notes before the CD ever makes it to the stereo.