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| Polar Bear ClubThe Summer of George [7 inch]2009 Bridge Nine ![Polar Bear Club - The Summer of George [7 inch] (Cover Artwork)](/images/covers/polar-bear-club-the-summer-of-george.jpg)
 Review by: OverDefined See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on August 7th 2009
I first got hit with the Polar Bear Club bug at a church basement show in some suburb of Boston. Looking back, it was a pretty stunning lineup, with PBC supporting its now classic EP The Redder, The Better, and playing alongside the hugely under-hyped Capital, Thieves and Assassins, Transit and the unfortunately disbanded McClane. Even with a stellar lineup like that, PBC stole the show with their mix of high-energy power and catchy flawless execution. While not sonically reminiscent, their presence reminded me of the power Thursday had during the Full Collapse days, with the audiences hanging on every word and move of the bands’ respective frontmen. I picked up the EP that night and for me it quickly became the soundtrack of that summer.
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Only 3 songs? Why not just wait for the album? "Living Saints" and "Boxes" alone are worth 4 stars, and while I don't think "Dead Man" is the worst song ever, I'm glad it's just a b-side. All the hate/backlash is not surprising. These guys make passionate music that strikes a strong chord with some people, and other people don't feel it at all. No big deal. I figure it's just a lot more people giving them a chance lately, and with all the positive comments they've gotten, there's always someone who wants to cancel it out. Just last week I met 4 guys in their late 20's at a show who had lost track of new music over the years but were (are) big HWM/SBB fans, and they loved "Living Saints" upon first listen. And I know I, for one, am still thoroughly stoked for "Chasing Hamburg". Mikexdude didn't review this?! "now classic"? i'm sure all 2,000 people that have heard that EP agree with you, but that's a pretty sweeping statement. Seinfeld quotes are None More Black's thing. "now classic"? i'm sure all 2,000 people that have heard that EP agree with you, but that's a pretty sweeping statement. "Yo OneGirlArmy, are you Barrie by any chance?" I love this band. Living Saints is the best on here. One positive review and comments = hype? What about the lack of news posted about them? You know, the news I find a day late and submit? Besides me, do people go into off topic conversations about them like they did for against me, dear landlord, gaslight etc? No. You need to stop being a negative nancy. comment below says it all-oldpunker- "Polar Bear Club is far from hyped on here. 90% of comments referring to them are a variant of "I don't get the PBC love". The other 10% are favourable, but from the same 1 to 3 people. Opposite of hype. Like Mike said, any thoughts otherwise are in your head." I can't wait to see these guys in two weeks. Both Polar Bear Club and D4 make me happy. I know it was tp antagonize me. Also, duh of course the comparison remains. They play the same genre, I'm not denying that, but people need to give this band more credit for originality. Cause they may not be revolutionary, but when I heard them I know it's them.. "Like Mike said, any thoughts otherwise are in your head." "Don't be an idiot." Polar Bear Club sounds very little like Small Brown Bike, other than the fact that both bands have gruff vocals. And when listened to, those gruff vocals are very different than those of the other band. The instrumentation is nothing alike, besides the fact that they use electric guitars, bass and drums... seriously. boring, uninteresting, and completey forgetable. the org hype machine strikes again. D4 IS the orgcore sound, followed by the Lawrence Arms. boring, uninteresting, and completey forgetable. the org hype machine strikes again. Wouldn't the D4 sound be standard Org shit? Xote, you should see Assholeparade in DC in a few weeks. Standard org shit. Not a fan. Fuck you telegraphcocks, Thrice is AWESOME. Score is for Thrice. Don't worry about it. How do you know what I look like? I am so flattered : ) If you weren't an attractive dude you'd soooooooooooo have spit flying in your face right now... I can say whatever I want, because you know, I'm right :D "their music is better than anything being put out now." just after hearing this i'm pretty sure their new alum will be better than Disappear. might be my most anticipated for the rest of the year. The Redder The Better was a good release... the following full-length I thought was boring... this was really hard to listen to. My biggest pet peave is when people dismiss a band as a carbon copy of bands and use it as a reason to not like them. Never thought they were revolutionary, just think they're the best band doing this sttyle of music. I mean come on, listen to "Another Night in The Rock," "His Devotee," or "To the Engravers." Then listen to "In Tune" or "Safe in Sound." "Such a lazy comparioson. Polar Bear Club and Small Brown Bike are only vocally (only when he's gruff) and have a timing tendencies to small brown bike. SBB never had that many leads, or that poppy, or anything like them. I hate that comparison so much. Both bands I consider very dear to my heart, and I can honestly say they're barely similiar." I promised to give these guys another chance because of all of the love by so many people after the last record but this is as equally unappealing to me. Oh well can't make myself enjoy it I guess. I'll just have to sit this one out... While not sonically reminiscent, their presence reminded me of the power Thursday had during the Full Collapse days, with the audiences hanging on every word and move of the bands’ respective frontmen. ""...Mike, are you serious dude (haha)? I love PBC, but Small Brown Bike did this same stuff years ago man! It's nothing groundbreaking... just like most other stuff we listen to. But hey, who's complaining? ...Mike, are you serious dude (haha)? I love PBC, but Small Brown Bike did this same stuff years ago man! It's nothing groundbreaking... just like most other stuff we listen to. But hey, who's complaining? I don't see these guys ever topping Most Miserable Life. That song is truly amazing. I listen to everything they put out hoping they'll make a song as good as that...but I just don't hear it... I purposely didn't buy this because I don't want to ruin the flow of the record when it comes out in September. When I listen to songs off the record way before it comes out, I eventually skip them when I get the record and I don't want to do that. I'm just weird like that. I still need to give that b-side a listen though. Score is for how much I fucking love Polar Bear Club. It's pretty good. Living Saints is catchy and Boxes is easily the stand-out track. As a fan of this band from (literally) day one I can say that "Dead Men" is the worst song they've ever written. It's like bad radio-rock. Not afraid to say that. Beyond that, the 7" has gotten me ready for the new full-length. Even if it's not like the good 'ol days of PBC, the music is still good, I still want to support the band...and it's really special to have PBC vinyl knowing we had to wait 3 years and 3 releases just for SOMETHING on wax. "Who exactly do these guys sound like that doesn't stand out?"-mikexdude dead man is phenominal, i can't believe its not on the new album I have to agree with all the disappointing sentiments here. After like a half dozen listens I still don't remember what the fuck any of these songs even sound like. I hope this isn't a sign that they don't have the magic in them anymore. how did i know mikexdude would have already commented, you know, after hearing a few songs by these guys, i just dont get em. One of those bands that just kind of sound like so many others I cant really tell the difference, nothing really stands out. I guess onegirlarmy any I are the only one's who think alike. I thought dead man was quite a bit better than both living saints and boxes. Overall a disappointment, I was really hoping that PBC would regain the form they had on The Redder the Better, but Im starting think they never will which is truly sad. This shit's the jams, no doubt. Fuckin love 'Living Saints' and 'Boxes'. To me, it's what I expected out of this EP, which is awesome. Yo OneGirlArmy, are you Barrie by any chance? These songs are good, but disappointing just because of the band's previous material. If anyone else released this it would have been great, but because it's PBC and it competes against their earlier stuff it's harder to like. I still have hopes for the full length. how did i know mikexdude would have already commented, you know, after hearing a few songs by these guys, i just dont get em. One of those bands that just kind of sound like so many others I cant really tell the difference, nothing really stands out. Maybe that will change when I see them at the f2f show next month, for now? ehh. -oldpunker- score is for mikexdude not doing this review!!! Disagree, Dead Men is phenomenal. It's so catchy. I find it hard to believe that nobody else seems to enjoy it. I can't get enough. Oh well, to each their own I guess. Mikexdude- email me back And I don't mean not staying the course cause it's a drastic change in sound, but because they're moving further away from the aggression that was on Sometimes. I thought they'd mix the melody and post hardcore/hardcore influence a bit better. I remember loving chasing hamburg, but now I am worried for the real listen. Here's hoping for me to be proved wrong. I still love these guys and their music is better than anything being put out now. Score's for the teaser. "Dead Man" is disappointing because it starts off like Hot Water Music then starts getting boring. Living saints is just SO fucking good and immediately grabbing. Boxes rules but some of the melodies almost sound radio-music predictable if that makes sense. I thought "Living Saints" was kinda generic when I first heard it on the B9 sampler, but it grew on me as a really fun song. The B-side is okay -- definitely sounds like a B-side. |
