Planet of Ice
by Minus the Bear
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 17 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 17
  3. Negative: 1 out of 17

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  1. ShapingM.
    Sep 20, 2007
    10
    The best MTB album yet. Took a couple of listens through before i 'got' it, but once it clicks into place, the whole album sounds glorious from start to finish. Less immediate than El Oso, but rewards the listener with more finely crafted songs, less standards verse/chorus arrangements, and some truly great guitar playing. Best indie / rock album of the year so far.
  2. Mark
    Sep 27, 2007
    7
    That Tiny Mix Tape review is, in fact, pretty unfair. This isn't a life-changing album, by any means, but it's still pretty solid, and a listenable effort all the way through.
  3. JackN.
    Oct 27, 2007
    9
    Planet of Ice is amazing. Really catchy hooks, amazing guitar solos, interesting sonic textures. The band kind of lost me with Menos El Oso, which seemed to be catering to MTV emo kids with short attention spans. But Planet of Ice stands up nicely against Highly Refined Pirates, and shows that a band can evolve and grow up without becoming a cliche.
  4. ER.
    Nov 17, 2007
    8
    Very good actually, flaw is the songs aren't arranged in proper order.
  5. Alex
    Sep 25, 2007
    8
    If you liked El Oso, you will like this. It's more of the same great sound with a more funk. I love Tiny Mixed Tape's review saying the songs were too long. So what if the songs average 5 minutes? Like every good song in the history of music has been under 5 minutes long. Bad review. Not the best album of the year or anything, but very very good.
  6. mitchelljgreco
    May 3, 2017
    10
    Great album from beginning to end - programming of the album is great for full listening. Many rhythmic and melodic phrases reoccurring throughout the album, which isn't redundant but actually very cool. Mixing of the album is very good, but I still suggest attempting a listening with the treble cranked up and another with the bass cranked - you'll find how the music is polyrhythmicallyGreat album from beginning to end - programming of the album is great for full listening. Many rhythmic and melodic phrases reoccurring throughout the album, which isn't redundant but actually very cool. Mixing of the album is very good, but I still suggest attempting a listening with the treble cranked up and another with the bass cranked - you'll find how the music is polyrhythmically conceived, and it's sweet! If you're a fan of the instrumental aspect of MTB, then you're likely to love this album.… Collapse
  7. Boater22
    Nov 23, 2022
    10
    In college I listened to this album frequently, often assisted by Cid or boomers. I keep coming back to it almost a decade later. It takes me back to nights in dim dive bars, chasing women. Some of the songs panned by critics are some of my favorites, and the last three songs of the album (When We Escape, Double Vision Quest, and Lotus) are excellent. I love the three separate parts of Lotus.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 1 out of 16
  1. Amazon.com
    80
    Most songs keep well away from a standard verse-chorus structure, with lyric and instrumental passages stitched together like some indie rock Frankenstein, but Minus the Bear keeps the melodies potent and the emotion high enough to prevent Planet of Ice from drifting into impenetrable shoe-gazer territory.
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  2. Delusions of Adequacy
    70
    This album is both immediately gratifying and deceptively interesting.
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  3. Drowned In Sound
    70
    Planet Of Ice is an oddly sour letdown, a high-quality album that suffers only from the reception and perception of its forefathers.
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