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| Polar Bear ClubChasing Hamburg2009 Bridge Nine 
 Review by: mikexdude See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on September 8th 2009
I heard Chasing Hamburg on my last day of high school, two or so months ago. In other words: Before you. It was a goosebump-inducing, cinematic listen that concluded the proverbial chapter of my awkward teen years -- a chapter that included Polar Bear Club from the moment The Redder, The Better bellowed from my top-floor bedroom. Not being able to listen to their Bridge 9 debut a second time haunted me for the remainder of the two months until now, and after setting the bar to an unreachable magnitude, I was disappointed that it didn't strike me like it did on my initial run through. Though not the "instant" classic that I'm sure a lot of us were expecting, after a few listens to soak up all the subtleties behind the poppy outer crust, Chasing Hamburg proves to be a brilliant and captivating spin.
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chasing hamburg is the best song they've written to date Almost perfect...except "Dead Man" was left off it and they should have put "To The Engravers" on it. Top 3 albums of the year! This album could use one more possibley fast song... its before i want it. but still rules hard but not as hard i guess. really solid release. I actually thought drifting thing was one of the best songs on the album next to living saints. "Living Saints" is now my new favorite PBC song. Great song, great album. No complaints at all. amazing album! only thing stopping it from getting a 10 for me, is that they left "dead man" off it. i love that song so much that i've slotted it between living saints and boxes in the running order on my mp3 player. Oh sorry I didnt mean that in a "Crap review crap band sorta way" great review. Just can't get into this gave the Redder the better a shot but no dice I just find these guys really boring. Solid review, nice job not getting too hyperbolic about one of your favorite bands. I'd have a hard time doing so if reviewing, say, an American Steel or Avail record. Not a huge fan of this band but I can definitely recognize why they are huge in the world of .orgcore. chasing hamburg is such a great song To start off I LOVE polar bear club, however I am not a fan of chasing hamburg. Its slow boring and pretty much all sounds the same. And I agree living saints is a good song (not their best), but one song does not make up for an album, an EP maybe. Id have to say this reviewer really over rated the album. The tab is for thatsyouth. ; ) So "See the Wind" is actually NOT drop-tuned. My mistake. It sounds like it because it's super heavy. "How the hell can a song so simple and static ever be "insanely good"? I don't understand why you people are saying "Drifting Thing" is a bad song. It's one of my favorites. Though "Living Saints" might possibly be my favorite song of the year. I have completely neutral opinion of this band. I'm gonna try to see them in Chicago but I have a feeling that they will be completely blown away by the other bands on the tour. How the hell can a song so simple and static ever be "insanely good"? disregard the first score. So just like almost all people, I think this takes some time to fully appreciate. But when you give it time, it's pretty good. Of course "Drifting Thing" left me confused and a little dissapointed and the begining of "The Old Fisher Burial Ground" sounds like Santana made a guest appearance, but the songs get better upon a few listens. I agree with Scruffy that none of the songs sound that much the same (except boxes and living saints have similar verse riffing), but the reason I liked Polar Bear Club was to me, there songs didn't sound samey at all. It's funny that you hear the complete opposite. "There is one good song, Living Saints, and a bunch of other songs that sound like one another. " Not as bad as you guys are making it sound. Yeah, it tends to be boring at parts, but overall it's not bad. I enjoy Living Saints quite a bit. The rest of the album seems like your run of the mill punk: not bad, but nothing to actually pay money for. Anyone who likes this band is a big idiot. How the hell can a song so simple and static ever be "insanely good"? I don't know what you guys are talking about... "Drifiting Thing" is an insanely good song. I'm really loving this record. 8/10 sounds about right to me. I've been listening to this more than Daisy, I really like it. Drifting Thing is the worst song on the record, but every other song is good. Just an opinion, oh and by the way fuck yours. Good review Before me you says? ok I'm out i wonder why Tater Tot-Head in a Tracksuit never took off like King King did? It's okay, but it's also pretty boring. There is one good song, Living Saints, and a bunch of other songs that sound like one another. Overrated by the reviewer. I loved Sometimes Things Just Disappear, but this sounds nothing like it. And fuck this band for cancelling their show in Moscow. ah, that was aaron scott after all. good to know my ears aren't completely busted yet I don't understand why people are hating on this album. People always be hatin' on bands maturing. Great record, great band. I am happy to see they didn't try to just make another "Sometimes things just disappear" and made some musical progress. Bah. Score. Forgot. This record wasn't really a disappointment, it's good. It's about on par with the last one, which I guess would lead some to be disappointed. They've continued to grow as a band, but with that comes the growing pains. "Song to Persona" has some cool stuff going on, but never really "gets there" for me. "Drifting Thing".... yeah. Not really a highlight. "One Hit Back" took me by surprise. Didn't know they had some pent-up Against Me!-style anger. Awesome stuff, loved it as soon as I got it. Mediocre. That cousin It is huge. He's probably reeking mad havoc on that tiny city. hmm.. there was supposed to be a plus between voice and cheap vodka. score is for the songs on which his voice isn't super gruff and reminds me of the explosion's dudes voice cheap, low quality vodka and university life. stopped reading after the first two sentences. you're just so cool man, I couldn't handle it! Telegraph, what exactly could you hate about The Redder the Better? I'm not hating this one as much as their previous releases. Great review. And really who cares if hes a "dumbass" high school kid. Obviously he has some music knowledge if he can talk all the techinal stuff and has the conections to hear this first before anyone. Score is for mikexdude and this review. I can't bring myself to say anything negative about this band or their music considering they've given me some of the best hours/nights of my life, so instead I'll just quote other people's comments that I agree with. it was a really good album after a couple of listens...Although Summer Of George EP made it seem like this was going to be like one of the greatest albums ever which it is not. But it's still probably gonna be in my top 10 for the year hmm.. the Whoas and Hey Heys in the first 2 tracks get on my freakin nerves... overall, has some good bits, but has some serious generic nu metal moments and wtf lyrics I'm gonna give this another try. I listened once and was pretty disappointed (especially with "Drifting Thing"), but I find the best records are usually growers. I love almost everything this band has done. who cares if sydbarret is kind of a dick sometimes? hes completely right I like it a lot. Their live show was so good at Reading. I wasn't sure what to make of the new track they played, and I kind of deliberately avoided listening to the Summer of George because I wanted to wait for the full album experience. Still, I need to hear this. STJD is just stupid good. "Review sucks for three reasons That's not the cover art. Slight letdown, but it ain't bad. "Boxes" is the best song by a mile. i like. there are some great pop moments throughout the record. for some reason, i like their demo best, but their entire output is better than most bands who have been around much longer. That's not the cover art. How long till sign 2 major? just wait till you haters hear the songs live...then you'll S their D. As a musician, that's kinda' the way I describe things. I'll make sure on my next review to be less technical. I do see what you're saying. 3. Your review covers very little of what the songs sound like. No one here gives a shit about dropped minor chords and appregiaos (sp). Take this shit to Guitar World. Score is for how much of a fucking dumbass SydBarrett is. I still stand by everything we said a week ago, Mike. I just can't dig it. Living Saints is great and that sweet vocal at the end of One Hit Back is classic but I just can't get into this. I'm still trying. It's not awful. But it's just not near as good as I expected and that is such a disappointment for me since I'm such a huge fucking fan of this band. "Song to Persona" is one of the best PBC songs ever made. Definitely better than their last album. The whole album feels very fluid. Man, if Strike Anywhere's EP with three decent songs and one good song got 4.5, Mike giving this 4 shouldn't even be an issue. FUCK DA HATERZ. mikexdude just got out of high school? diapercore. score is for his inability to grow a beard. I didn't really like it at first, but I do now. Still sounds like Anchor Arms singing Rise Against songs. I still find track 5 laughably bad. I think it's fine Mike reviewed it. Another short statement. I didn't really like it at first, but I do now. Still sounds like Anchor Arms singing Rise Against songs. I still find track 5 laughably bad. I think it's fine Mike reviewed it. Another short statement. This is better than the last album for sure. The cover art is incorrect firstly. And secondly, this is blatant editorialism/fanboyism. I've read things from so many people who ever LOVED the last record that said this was audio garbage. What a bullshit review. "3. Your review covers very little of what the songs sound like. No one here gives a shit about dropped minor chords and appregiaos (sp). Take this shit to Guitar World." Your awkward teen years may be over, but your apprehensive twenties are right around the corner. Enjoy. teeeh score ;o I'd say this record is a small letdown. In fact, the expectations were probably too high after the suberb EP and the very good debut album. It lacks intensity at times (why not 1-2 more tracks like See The Wind or the opener of STJD?), and, when it comes to experimenting with new sound, PBC don't deliver that much (Drifting Thing is meeh..). Take Me To The Town is a pretty weak track and I consider Dead Man far better than it, thus wondering why they put the latter only on the TSOG EP and not on this album. Better yet, put both tracks on it and make it a 11 songs. The album is almost 10 minutes shorter than their previous one, which is also kinda disappointing. Also, my favorite songs off this are "Living Saints" and "Boxes", which I've been listening to for quite some time now. I think If I'd heard this cd all at once, It would have hit much harder. I don't know, it's funny how that works out... I'm still not sure how I feel abut this record. I mean, theyre one of my favorite bands, but I think I just had too high of expectations for this. I mean, theres some great fuckin songs on it, but "Drifting Thing"? Really? Review sucks for three reasons I will definitely say this isn't, by any means, an "instant" classic. I had to give it a few listens before soaking up all the great things about the record. "Take Me To The Town" always threw me off at first, seeming kind of out of place, and a little out of tune for some reason. Nevertheless this record is just as amazing as the others. I don't think this band can disappoint. Score is for the reviewer. score is for the band, album, review, and reviewer. wow. supposed to be skipping many in that previous comment. good review man. i really enjoy some songs, but also find myself many. i have put a fair amount of time into listening to this album but i'll still keep trying (for the songs i don't enjoy). |
