There was an immediate buzz surrounding This Is What I Know About Being Gigantic, the 2001 debut EP by Seattle indie phenomenon Minus the Bear. It wasnt the kind of viral interest that translated into a string of sold-out tour dates, but it meant that the tuned-in crowd eagerly anticipated their next move. To help stir up the excitement for their first proper full-length, the band followed up Gigantic with a promo CD featuring two tracks from their upcoming album, a short instrumental interlude, an exclusive new song, and a demo version of another album track. Packaged in a cardboard slipcase, it was the kind of cheaply manufactured promotional item that could be handed out for free at shows or thrown in as a bonus in online ordersa relic of the final years of the CD age before the advent of the iPod and mp3. The sampler CD was christened Bands Like It When You Yell YAR! At Them in a nod to the upcoming album Highly Refined Pirates.

While these kinds of promotional items typically had an ephemeral existence, filed away in some neglected binder of CDs or tossed out during one of the many apartment-to-apartment moves of the bands principal demographic of urban twentysomethings, Bands Like It When You Yell YAR! At Them had a curiously persistent presence. Perhaps it was because it was packaged more like a proper EP than a sampler. It certainly helped that it was a free release, meaning anyone who came to a show likely walked away from the evening with the cardboard slipcase tucked in their jacket pocket. Its also noteworthy that the EP showcased three songs from the back half of Highly Refined Pirates rather than the albums live staples and fan favorites from side A. Whatever the combination of factors at play, YAR! took on a life of its own and was ultimately re-packaged in a jewel case and sold as a proper EP in 2004 in the wake of Highly Refined Pirates success. And now in 2026, its getting its first proper release on vinyl.

Opening with the driving beat, chirping guitars, and funky low-end of Spritz!!! Spritz!!!, Bands Like It When You Yell YAR! At Them quickly cements Minus the Bears foundation of sophisticated revelry, a spirit further emphasized in the Highly Refined Pirates title choice. Part of the Bears lore involves them playing their first show three days after 9/11, and just as New York Citys indie rock scene took a sharp turn towards nightclub debauchery and a rejection of 90s rocks dour fatalism in the wake of the World Trade Center tragedy, so did the Bear turn away from the Seattles scenes penchant for gloom and angst towards a cerebral after-hours pop sound. The inclusion of Women We Havent Met Yet helped elevate what could have otherwise been seen as an album deep cut into a lead track. The fact that these first two songs essentially served as preview singles over future Pirates hits like Monkey!!!Knife!!!Fight!!! and Absinthe Party At The Fly Honey Warehouse speaks to the high quality of every song the band cranked out in their early years. The EPs exclusive track Drop It Like Its Hot presaged Snoop Doggs mega-hit single of the same name by two years, but whereas Snoop leaned into restrained minimalism, the Bear unleashes some of their fiercest work here, building off of interwoven riffs and electronic layers to a climax of stabbing guitars and hollered vocals. Much like Nirvanas Hormoaning EP, Minus the Bears Bands Like It When You Yell YAR! At Them was initially more of a marketing gimmick than a proper release, but given the popularity of the pivotal studio albums that stemmed from the same recording sessions, these extended plays serve as compelling companion pieces that have earned a special spot in their respective fanbases hearts. Suicide Squeeze is proud to offer Bands Like It When You Yell YAR! At Them on vinyl on September 18, 2026, nearly 25 years after the bands first show.

Remastered for vinyl by Bernie Grundman with lacquers cut at 45rpm, this limited edition pressing of 1000 copies on Puget Sound-colored vinyl helps document and preserve the exciting early years of one of American indie rocks most beloved acts.