Chasing Hamburg

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Chasing Hamburg
Studio album by
Polar Bear Club
ReleasedSeptember 8, 2009
RecordedApril 2009
GenrePost-hardcore, indie rock, pop punk, melodic hardcore
Length31:56
LabelBridge Nine
ProducerMatt Bayles
Polar Bear Club chronology
The Summer of George
(2008) 		Chasing Hamburg
(2009) 		Clash Battle Guilt Pride
(2011)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Rock Sound(8/10)[2]
AbsolutePunk.net(84%)[3]
Punknews.org[4]

Chasing Hamburg, is the second studio album and fourth official release from the upstate New York-based post-hardcore/indie rock band Polar Bear Club. It is the follow-up to their teaser EP, The Summer of George, and received mostly favourable reviews.

Background and recording[edit]

On January 8, 2009, the band announced they had signed to independent label Bridge Nine Records. Drummer Emmett Menke said the group had been in discussions with labels for a while, "and as cliche as it sounds, there isn't a better match out there for us."[5] He said that the band were long-time fans of the label, in addition to "the bands they've worked with. It's rare these days to be a part of a label that doesn't feel the need to rest on its laurels and is not afraid to push the envelope."[5] He mentioned that the band had been writing a new album for two weeks up to that point. Their next album was expected to the be released some time in the fall.[5] In mid-January, it was mentioned that the band would be recording in three months' time.[6] In March 2009, they went on a short East Coast tour with Have Heart.[7] On April 6, the band began recording with producer Matt Bayles.[8] Bayles engineered and mixed the album, with assistance from Derek Moree. Ed Brooks mastered the album at RFI.[9]

Release[edit]

In early May, the band went on a brief west coast tour with Living with Lions. In late May and early June, the band toured the UK with Ruiner and Defeater.[8] On May 28, 2009, Chasing Hamburg was announced for release in three months' time. Following this, they supported Every Time I Die on a few North American shows.[10] On June 18, 2009, the album's artwork and track listing were posted online.[11] The Summer of George EP was released on July 28, 2009, featuring two songs from the album, "Living Saints" and "Boxes", alongside the exclusive song "Dead Man".[12] In August 2009, the band supported Set Your Goals and Four Year Strong on their co-headlining US tour, which was followed by an appearance at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in the UK.[13][14] Shortly after this, "One Hit Back" was posted online.[15] It released on September 8, 2009 through Bridge Nine Records. To promote the album, the band played a handful of New York shows and then supported Face to Face on their US East Coast tour.[16][17] Following this, they went on a US tour in October and November 2009, with Strike Anywhere, Crime in Stereo and Ruiner.[18] The trek included a performance at The Fest.[19]

Following this, Polar Bear Club supported Thrice on their headlining US tour until the end of the year.[20] On November 10, 2009, a music video was released for "Light of Local Eyes".[21] Following an Australian tour in January 2010 with Break Even and the Gifthorse, Polar Bear Club went on a European tour with Shook Ones and Title Fight in February and March 2010.[22][23] In March and April 2010, the band went on a US tour alongside Four Year Strong, Every Time I Die and Trapped Under Ice, and then appeared at Skatefest and Bled Fest.[24][25][26] During this trek, a music video was released for "Living Saints", directed by Thomas Colella. It is a "conceptual piece" akin to the video for "Sledgehammer" (1986) by Peter Gabriel.[27] Following a headlining tour with support from Moving Mountains, Lemuria and Living with Lions, Polar Bear Club performed on Warped Tour through to July 2010.[28][29]

Track listing[edit]

All songs written by Polar Bear Club.[9]

No.TitleLength
1."See the Wind"2:21
2."Living Saints"2:33
3."Boxes"3:35
4."Take Me to the Town"3:34
5."Drifting Thing"2:28
6."Light of Local Eyes"3:19
7."Song to Persona"3:17
8."The Old Fisher Burial Ground"3:45
9."One Hit Back"2:52
10."Chasing Hamburg"4:12
Total length:31:56

Release history[edit]

Region Date Label Format Catalog #
United States United States
Canada Canada 		September 8, 2009[30] Bridge Nine Records CD 202232
LP 202231

Personnel[edit]

Personnel per booklet.[9]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Prato, Greg. "Review: Chasing Hamburg". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  2. ^ Kearns, Emily (October 2009). "Review: Chasing Hamburg". Rock Sound (127): 91. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  3. ^ Fallon, Chris (2009-10-05). "Review: Chasing Hamburg". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  4. ^ French, Michael (2009-09-08). "Review: Chasing Hamburg". Punknews.org. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
  5. ^ a b c "Polar Bear Club sign to Bridge Nine". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. January 8, 2009. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  6. ^ "Polar Bear Club UK headlining tour announced". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. January 16, 2009. Retrieved July 31, 2017.
  7. ^ Paul, Aubin (February 3, 2009). "Have Heart / Polar Bear Club". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  8. ^ a b "Polar Bear Club to record LP2 with Matt Bayles; more tour dates". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. March 12, 2009. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  9. ^ a b c Polar Bear Club (2009). Chasing Hamburg (booklet). Bridge Nine Records. B9R123.
  10. ^ Paul, Aubin (May 28, 2009). "Polar Bear Club announces title, release date". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  11. ^ Paul, Aubin (June 18, 2009). "Polar Bear Club post art and track listing for 'Chasing Hamburg'". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  12. ^ Paul, Aubin (July 3, 2009). "Polar Bear Club to release teaser 7-inch this month". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  13. ^ Paul, Aubin (May 20, 2009). "Set Your Goals / Four Year Strong / Fireworks with Polar Bear Club, the Swellers". Punknews.org. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  14. ^ Paul, Aubin (June 17, 2009). "Anti-Flag, Faith No More, Rise Against to play Reading and Leeds Festival 2009". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  15. ^ Paul, Aubin (August 25, 2009). "Polar Bear Club: 'One Hit Back'". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  16. ^ Shultz, Brian (July 27, 2009). "Polar Bear Club (Europe, CD release shows)". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  17. ^ Paul, Aubin (June 27, 2009). "Face to Face / Pegboy / Polar Bear Club (east coast)". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  18. ^ Shultz, Brian (July 7, 2009). "Strike Anywhere / Crime in Stereo / Polar Bear Club / Ruiner". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  19. ^ Paul, Aubin (July 21, 2009). "The Fest 8 announces lineup". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  20. ^ Paul, Aubin (August 27, 2009). "Thrice / The Dear Hunter / Polar Bear Club". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 10, 2022.
  21. ^ Paul, Aubin (November 10, 2009). "Polar Bear Club: 'Light of Local Eyes'". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  22. ^ Paul, Aubin (November 2, 2009). "Polar Bear Club / Shook Ones / Title Fight". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 12, 2022.
  23. ^ Paul, Aubin (December 23, 2009). "Polar Bear Club (Australia, USA, Warped)". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  24. ^ Paul, Aubin (January 25, 2010). "Every Time I Die / Four Year Strong / Polar Bear Club / Trapped Under Ice". Punknews.org. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  25. ^ Paul, Aubin (January 19, 2010). "Polar Bear Club, Recover, The Receiving End Of Sirens at Skatefest 2010". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
  26. ^ Paul, Aubin (May 18, 2010). "Polar Bear Club, Strike Anywhere, Bled, Of Mice and Men at Bled Fest 2010". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  27. ^ Paul, Aubin (April 27, 2010). "Polar Bear Club: 'Living Saints'". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  28. ^ "The Dillinger Escape Plan, Every Time I Die, Suicide Silence Confirmed For Vans Warped Tour". Blabbermouth.net. December 19, 2009. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  29. ^ Paul, Aubin (April 28, 2010). "Polar Bear Club / Moving Mountains / Lemuria / Living with Lions". Punknews.org. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  30. ^ "Polar Bear Club "Chasing Hamburg" #B9R123". Bridge Nine Records. Archived from the original on 2009-08-17. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
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