"I'd really like Minus the Bear if their songs were slower, more drawn out, and had less vocals." If any of those sentiments sound good to you, then Sharks Keep Moving is your band. Before Jake Snider sped up his somber vocals and brought even more finger tapping gymnastics, ala Dave Knudson (thus assisting, I believe, to a seminal hardcore band's demise) forming Minus the Bear, he was already experimenting with a more subdued version of technical indie music. Right around the time bands like Thursday and Taking Back Sunday, anyone with a day in their band name, really, were about to rape the word "screamo," bands that sought to be a little less cookie-cutter took on a jazzier kind of math rock style. Like I stated before, Sharks Keep Moving is a slower, yet complicated form of indie rock. It's the kind of music you'd listen to right at dusk or dawn over some picturesque back drop. Snider's vocals are sparse, but you will find a lot of the same subject matter as Minus the Bear: drinking, girls, cigarettes, etc. Unlike MTB, Sharks... aren't too keen on choruses so most of your repetition will be found in 3+ minute instrumentals.
If band's were Snider's children then State Route 522 is the older son who grew up on punk, but watched a lot of 120 Minutes; Sharks Keep Moving is the middle child who looked up to his older brother, but was a little bit more nerdy and listened to a lot of Don Caballero; and Minus the Bear is the younger, good looking, socially adept child. MTB does feel like an extension of Sharks Keep Moving, much like Daughters just feels like an extension of As the Sun Sets (yep, I just referenced As the Sun Sets in a Sharks Keep Moving piece). So if you are a fan of early Minus the Bear then definitely check out SKM. If you heard early Minus the Bear and kind of gave up on them, thinking "I'd really like Minus the Bear if their songs sucked," then check out their latest album OMNI.
Where they started: 1998 Split 7" with The Kentucky Pistol
Where you should start: Their first EP Desert Strings and Drifters boasts my favorite songs and the other EP, as well as final release, Pause and Clause is a good follow up. The self titled full length isn't bad, but it's slightly overproduced which is why I'd recommend checking it out last. To be honest, you won't find much variance in the releases, which would suck if there were more than 15 songs (not counting compilations) among them, but there isn't so enjoy it.
Essential Song:
Essential Live Video: Can't find one, so here's another song.
Other bands members from Sharks Keep Moving have been involved in: The Blood Brothers, Minus the Bear (obviously), State Route 522, Kill Sadie, and Pretty Girls Make Graves
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