Bears

Jangly and summery enough to warrant comparisons to bubblegum and psych pop-minded indie pop groups like the Afternoon Naps and the Bicycles, the Ohio-based Bears formed in the summer of 2005 as a collaboration between core members Charlie McArthur and Craig Ramsey. Putting together an album's worth of material well before a year had passed, the duo self-released its self-titled debut album in 2006. Having garnered some attention from the press, notably from Impose Magazine and Alternative Press, Bears wasted no time in putting out an EP, Shortest Day of the Year, before the year came to a close. In 2007, the buzz surrounding Bears was enough to land them a spot on an Urban Outfitters compilation disc (Urban Outfitters/Filter Magazine Compilation #27). Bears saw a flurry of releases in 2008; in addition to a vinyl reissue of their self-titled debut and a 7" single, Who Knows, on IMPOSE Records, the band released its sophomore full-length, Simple Machinery, via Moon Jaw Records. Bears released a 7" single, Snowman, in the winter of 2009. ~ Margaret Reges, Rovi