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

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

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

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

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

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.[9]

References

  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. 1 2 3 "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. 1 2 "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. 1 2 3 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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