by Charles SpanoWith an off-kilter, neo-psychedelic passion for sunny melodies and quirky instrumentation, Minus Story are the next generation of Flaming Lips acid pop dream-makers. Influenced by everyone from the Beatles and Beach Boys to the Zombies and Yes, Minus Story mash all the pop experimentation they can muster into one freaky, harmony-laden trip.
Hailing from Boonville, MO, but with strong ties to the Lawrence, KS, rock scene, Minus Story formed in 2000 with guitarist and vocalist Jordan Geiger, bassist Brian Phillips, guitarist Andy Byers, and drummer and self-proclaimed wizard Nick Christus. In 2001, the group self-released their debut full-length, Belle Ame, with Moebius Syndrome following later in the year on Mercrider. But the band's first true opus, and what would be considered their first "real" album by many, was 2004's sprawling lo-fi psych masterwork The Captain Is Dead, Let the Drum Corpse Dance on Jagjaguwar. No Rest for Ghosts followed a year later. The group hooked up with producer John Congleton for their third album, 2007's My Ion Truss.