Polar Bear Club: Sometimes Things Just Disappear

The Indie Review

By Sean Duregger
May 16, 2008

Artist: Polar Bear Club
Album: Sometimes Things Just Disappear
Label: Red Leader Records

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Sometimes you want to ditch the “over production wonderland” of today’s music and hear what you’re going to get at a dirty, sweaty, stuffy live show. So many bands today are supported live by pre-recorded tracks and synth just so they don’t look like total jackasses live. Welcome my Saviors, Polar Bear Club with their debut full length Sometimes Things Just Disappear.

Polar Bear Club draw minor influences from bands like Hot Water Music and Lifetime, resulting in some of the most exciting songs I’ve heard this year. There’s no over produced vocals here, Jimmy Stadt’s voice is perfectly imperfect. His gruff voice adds the perfect touch to the music and isn’t over dominant, letting the clean background vocals add depth to each song. I absolutely love the vocals on this album.

Musically, the other members deliver on all fronts. There is a post-punk edge here, with a combination of clean guitar and distortion. I really enjoy the balance of the production as well. This is one of the few albums that will translate from album to live performance. A quality that more and more albums are lacking. This is what makes Polar Bear Club so special. They remind me of all the bands I’ve fallen in love with throughout the years. Bands that can translate their raw energy and passion and energy into an album are the ones who have staying power.

Sometimes Things Just Disappear captures the rawness and passion of Polar Bear Club. So, buy the CD, learn the lyrics and get to that small, dark, stuffy bar and scream the lyrics along with everyone else in the room. I know I’ll be there.

Stand Out Tracks

“Hollow Place”

“Burned Out In a Jar”

“Our Ballads”