Biography
New York’s Plus/Minus (+/-) channel their propulsive rock drive through layers of electronics. What began in the early 2000s as a solo outlet for former Versus guitarist James Baluyut soon expanded into a full band whose music embraced off-kilter meters and sharp, forward-looking pop, a direction heard clearly on the 2006 album Let’s Build a Fire and the 2024 release Further Afield.
After several years performing with his brother Ed Baluyut in Versus, James Baluyut launched the Plus/Minus project on his own in 2001. Within a concentrated span of writing and tracking he issued the debut Self-Titled Long-Playing Debut Album on Teenbeat Records in 2002. Although Margaret McCartney and ex-Versus member Patrick Ramos contributed to the sessions, Baluyut handled vocals, instruments, and production himself. Shortly afterward he brought Ramos back on guitar and vocals and added drummer Chris Deaner, and the trio began shaping the bright, twitchy electronic sound that would define them. Their first EP, Holding Patterns, appeared in 2004; months later they delivered the full-length You Are Here, which crystallized their signature mix of dream-pop textures and rapid drumming. A Japanese tour prompted an early release of their third album, Let’s Build a Fire, after which the group played SXSW and Noise Pop. A subsequent deal with Absolutely Kosher Records enabled final work on Let’s Build a Fire, issued in late 2006. Two years later the band followed with Xs on Your Eyes.
Dean er joined Kelly Clarkson’s touring band in 2007 yet continued splitting time with Plus/Minus. Apart from the 2009 EP Thrown into the Fire and scattered compilation appearances, the group remained quiet until 2014’s Jumping the Tracks, which returned them to Teenbeat and favored richer arrangements while preserving their hallmark collision of restless rhythms and melodic indie-rock hooks. Another ten years passed before the next album. Recorded by the band in their Brooklyn studio and at a friend’s house, Further Afield introduced fresh elements including spoken-word samples, a children’s choir, and AI-generated strings. Ernest Jenning Record Co. released the album in May 2024.
After several years performing with his brother Ed Baluyut in Versus, James Baluyut launched the Plus/Minus project on his own in 2001. Within a concentrated span of writing and tracking he issued the debut Self-Titled Long-Playing Debut Album on Teenbeat Records in 2002. Although Margaret McCartney and ex-Versus member Patrick Ramos contributed to the sessions, Baluyut handled vocals, instruments, and production himself. Shortly afterward he brought Ramos back on guitar and vocals and added drummer Chris Deaner, and the trio began shaping the bright, twitchy electronic sound that would define them. Their first EP, Holding Patterns, appeared in 2004; months later they delivered the full-length You Are Here, which crystallized their signature mix of dream-pop textures and rapid drumming. A Japanese tour prompted an early release of their third album, Let’s Build a Fire, after which the group played SXSW and Noise Pop. A subsequent deal with Absolutely Kosher Records enabled final work on Let’s Build a Fire, issued in late 2006. Two years later the band followed with Xs on Your Eyes.
Dean er joined Kelly Clarkson’s touring band in 2007 yet continued splitting time with Plus/Minus. Apart from the 2009 EP Thrown into the Fire and scattered compilation appearances, the group remained quiet until 2014’s Jumping the Tracks, which returned them to Teenbeat and favored richer arrangements while preserving their hallmark collision of restless rhythms and melodic indie-rock hooks. Another ten years passed before the next album. Recorded by the band in their Brooklyn studio and at a friend’s house, Further Afield introduced fresh elements including spoken-word samples, a children’s choir, and AI-generated strings. Ernest Jenning Record Co. released the album in May 2024.
Albums
Further Afield
2024
Summer 2019: Extended Play
2019
Jumping the Tracks
2014
Pulled Punches
2010
Xs on Your Eyes
2008
+/- (Plus/Minus) Vs. Bloodthirsty Butchers
2007
Let's Build a Fire
2006
You Are Here
2003
Holding Patterns
2003
Self-Titled Long-Playing Debut Album
2002
Singles
