The French translation of the phrase ‘it’s magnificent’ — c’est magnifique — carries an elegant subtlety when compared to the tone of its English alternative. With translated terms, this happens often. While the word holds the same definition, its connotation evokes a different feeling. Even though Seattle band Minus the Bear isn’t switching its lyrics from English to French, it is rewriting new meanings of older songs.
Traditionally a rock band, Minus the Bear’s sound has attracted a steady following in Salt Lake City. Visiting Utah twice a year, the group’s concerts showcase heavily produced rock-like grooves. Usually, Minus the Bear listeners are happy to swing to the funk vibes of songs such as “My Time.” This time around, on Sunday at The Depot, they will hear a sample of songs from the ensemble’s recent album “Acoustics II.” As the name implies, this record plays acoustic versions of previous works from Minus the Bear.
“It’s an interesting experiment … to translate music into different forms,” said Jake Snider, Minus the Bear vocalist and guitarist.  “We often times have to do promotional stuff with radio shows and whatnot. They [usually] request you to do a stripped down version of some songs with acoustic stuff. It worked really well, so that’s why we started to play with idea of recording it.”
Originally, the song “Hooray” from “Minos el Oso” starts with a fast-paced rhythm that builds to a head-banging anthem. With quick transitions switching from sound to sound, mindsets alter from feelings of hopefulness to thoughts of activism.
When listening to the song, its pace matches its lyrics. “And instead of cars / The streets trafficking in sleighs / Men become boys again / And there’s a war on the corner / With no guaranteed winner.” However, the words also fit into the song’s acoustic take. “Hooray” still narrates a story, but relays it differently, pulling people into a somber trance instead of a frenzy. In comparison to the original version of song, its acoustic styling fashions feelings of hopelessness, not optimism.
From recording new versions of old songs to performing them, the band will highlight “Acoustic II” at it’s upcoming all-age show.  The group plans to throw in slower-paced renditions of songs like “The Game Needed Me” and “Diamond Lightning.” While this breaks from the typical Minus the Bear performance, Snider believes Salt Lake City fans will like the mix-up. He backs this up by recalling the band’s relationship with Utah.
“Starting out in Salt Lake, with a band like us, you start playing shows at Kilby Court and fill in just 160 people into a little tiny room. It builds this intimacy that grows as you get into bigger venues,” Snider said. “The people that get to meet you early on in a really personal way… [makes] for a community word of mouth.”
Intimacy is what Minus the Bear Strives for and “Acoustic II” fits into that goal. For the band, its relationships and its knack for translating music content work well. To them, the new album is a way to integrate new connections with its Salt Lake City fans and showcase its mesh of talents.