Polara (album)

Last updated
Polara
Polara - Polara album cover.jpg
Studio album by
Polara
ReleasedFebruary 14, 1995
Genre Alternative rock, indie rock
Length46:27
Label Clean (Twin/Tone)
Producer Ed Ackerson
Polara chronology
Polara
(1995)		 Pantomime
(1996)

Polara is the self-titled first album by Minneapolis alternative rock band Polara.

Contents

The group was founded and led by musician and producer Ed Ackerson. [1] [2] The band was considered one of the most prominent and creative groups to emerge from Minneapolis in the 1990s. Billboard writer Deborah Russell called Ackerson and Polara the front of "the emergence of a new local (Twin Cities) scene" more interested in pop music and postpunk than the punk rock of bands like Hüsker Dü and the Replacements, [3] and Matt Hendrickson of Rolling Stone called him "the kingpin of a resurgent Minneapolis music scene." [4] After the breakup of his previous band, the 27 Various, and a short stint as second guitarist in Blake Babies singer John Strohm's band Antenna, [5] Ackerson formed Polara in 1994 with guitarist Jennifer Jurgens, bassist Jason Orris, and Trip Shakespeare's Matt Wilson on drums. The new group continued his interest in 1960s mod-rock and Syd Barrett-style psychedelia and added a heavy element of Krautrock-inspired electronics and keyboards. [6] Released on the Twin Cities label Clean (Twin/Tone), Polara built on the 27 Various' increasing critical buzz, [7] gaining significant national attention. [8] Besides the main band members, Strohm also contributed on multiple instruments.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [10]

The album was well-received by critics. Los Angeles Times music critic Robert Hilburn called it a "wonderfully appealing indie debut" with "solid songwriting craft … sweet melodies and soulful introspection." [11] AllMusic writer Rick Anderson called it "weird but lovable" and "as fresh and bracing as a bucket of ice water in the face," and said that the band's ability to shift between musical styles made it hard to pigeonhole. [9] Billboard writer Chris Morris called it "the first truly great album (I have) heard in 1995." [12] Another Billboard review called the song "Counting Down" "one of the best modern rock singles of the year." [13] Paul Evans of Rolling Stone praised Ackerson's production, saying "he that delivers sheer infectious fun—songs packed with sing-along choruses and catchy, heavily reverbed effects." [10] Joe Gore of Guitar Player called the album "an inspired blend of blissful pop melody and whacked-out psychedelia," comparing it favorably with Medicine and My Bloody Valentine. [14] Trouser Press writer Ira Robbins called it "challenging, uneven and rewarding," and that Polara's sound offered "a door opening to many new possibilities" for Ackerson's love of studio experimentation. [7]

Critical acclaim for Polara led to a bidding war by several major labels; Polara eventually signed to Interscope Records for its second album, C'est la Vie , in 1997. [15]

Personnel

Track listing

All tracks are written by Ed Ackerson

No.TitleLength
1."Counting Down"4:15
2."Allay"5:03
3."Source of Light"2:53
4."Squelch"3:59
5."Listening Now"4:45
6."Taupe"2:54
7."Avenue E"4:06
8."Anniversary 6"4:23
9."One Foot"2:33
10."a+b=y"4:43
11."State"3:06
12."Letter Bomb"3:47

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cracker (band)</span> American rock band

Cracker is an American rock band formed in 1990 by lead singer David Lowery and guitarist Johnny Hickman. The band's first album Cracker was released in 1992 on Virgin Records; it included the single "Teen Angst ", which went to #1 on the U.S. Modern Rock chart. The band's follow-up, the 1993 album Kerosene Hat included the hit songs "Low", "Get Off This", and "Euro-Trash Girl".

<i>Congregation</i> (The Afghan Whigs album) 1992 studio album by The Afghan Whigs

Congregation is the third studio album by American alternative rock band The Afghan Whigs. It was released on January 31, 1992, by Sub Pop and followed two years of the band's touring in support of their first album for the label, Up in It (1990).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soul Asylum</span> American alternative rock band

Soul Asylum is an American rock band formed in 1981 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Their 1993 hit "Runaway Train" won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helmet (band)</span> American alternative metal band

Helmet is an American alternative metal band from New York City formed in 1989 by vocalist and lead guitarist Page Hamilton. Helmet has had numerous lineup changes with Hamilton as the only constant member. Since 2010, the band has consisted of Hamilton, drummer Kyle Stevenson, guitarist Dan Beeman and bassist Dave Case.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Son Volt</span> American rock band formed in 1994

Son Volt is an American rock band formed in 1994 by Jay Farrar after the breakup of Uncle Tupelo. The band's current line-up consists of Farrar, Andrew DuPlantis, John Horton (guitar), Mark Patterson (drums), and Mark Spencer. In addition to playing alternative rock, the band is considered a staple of the alternative country rock movement of the 1990s. The band's sound also is rooted in folk rock and Americana. The band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2001, before reforming in 2004.

<i>Feeling Strangely Fine</i> 1998 studio album by Semisonic

Feeling Strangely Fine is the second studio album by American rock band Semisonic. It is the follow-up to the band's debut album Great Divide recorded at Seedy Underbelly Studio in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The album contains some of Semisonic's best-known songs, including the major radio hit "Closing Time", as well as the singles "Singing in My Sleep" and "Secret Smile". The song "Never You Mind" was featured in the 1999 film Never Been Kissed.

John Strohm is an American musician, singer, lawyer, and music-industry executive.

Red Rockers were an American musical band from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States, active from 1979 to 1985. Originally formed as a hard-charging punk rock band, they changed their style to a smoother, more melodic sound and released two albums in the new wave vein of their record label, 415. They are best known for their 1983 hit single "China".

Polara is an American alternative rock band formed in 1994 by Ed Ackerson, a musician and producer from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The band was considered one of the most prominent and creative groups to emerge from Minneapolis in the 1990s. Billboard writer Deborah Russell called Ackerson and Polara the front of "the emergence of a new local scene" more interested in pop music and postpunk than the punk rock of bands like Hüsker Dü and The Replacements.

<i>Earwig</i> (Blake Babies album) 1989 studio album by Blake Babies

Earwig is the second album by the Blake Babies, released in 1989.

<i>Boneyard Beach</i> (album) 1995 studio album by Dish

Boneyard Beach is a 1995 album by Raleigh, North Carolina band Dish, led by singer and pianist Dana Kletter, on Interscope Records. The album was produced by John Agnello at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. Interscope's VP, Tom Whalley, told Billboard magazine that "the high quality of songwriting in Dish and the sound of Dana's voice are two things that set this band apart."

<i>The Evil One</i> 1980 album by Roky Erickson & The Aliens

The Evil One is a 1981 debut album by American psychedelic rock singer Roky Erickson with his band the Aliens, after his time with the band 13th Floor Elevators. The songs were recorded in 1979 with producer Stu Cook, former bass player of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Some material, such as the song Sputnik, was not released on the 1980 CBS Records U.K. release, but was included on the 1981 414 Records LP release in California, which was then included on the 1987 combined release by Restless Records in California. Cook played bass on two tracks, "Sputnik" and "Bloody Hammer."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Ackerson</span> American musician and producer (1965–2019)

Ed Ackerson was an American musician and producer from Minneapolis. He produced or engineered dozens of records including works by prominent artists such as The Jayhawks, The Replacements, Motion City Soundtrack, Soul Asylum, Golden Smog, Dave Davies of The Kinks, Wesley Stace, Mason Jennings, Mark Mallman, John Strohm, Brian Setzer, Lizzo, Pete Yorn, The Wallflowers, Rhett Miller of The Old 97s, Jeremy Messersmith, and Juliana Hatfield. He owned a recording studio in Minneapolis, Flowers, and co-founded the Susstones record label. Ackerson led several notable Twin Cities pop/rock bands including Polara and The 27 Various, and released several solo records under his own name. He was also a prolific producer of albums by Twin Cities bands, and was regarded as one of the linchpins of the Minnesota music scene.

<i>Cest la Vie</i> (Polara album) 1997 album by Minneapolis alternative rock band Polara

C'est la Vie is the second album by Minneapolis alternative rock band Polara, and their first for Interscope Records.

<i>Pantomime</i> (Polara EP) 1996 EP by Minneapolis alternative rock band Polara

Pantomime is a 1996 five-song EP by Minneapolis alternative rock band Polara, released shortly before their second full-length C'est la Vie, their major-label debut for Interscope Records.

<i>Formless/Functional</i> 1998 album by Minneapolis alternative rock band Polara

Formless/Functional is a 1998 album by Minneapolis alternative rock band Polara, their third full-length album and their last for Interscope Records.

<i>Jetpack Blues</i> 2002 album by Minneapolis alternative rock band Polara

Jetpack Blues is a 2002 album by Minneapolis alternative rock band Polara, their fourth full-length record, and first after breaking with Interscope Records and going independent. It was released on bandleader Ed Ackerson's Susstones Records label, and produced by Ackerson at his recording studio, Flowers, which he founded by reinvesting the money from the band's Interscope deal as well as an otherwise unsuccessful deal with Chris Blackwell's Palm Pictures.

<i>Beekeeping</i> (album) 2008 album by Minneapolis alternative rock band Polara

Beekeeping is a 2008 album by Minneapolis alternative rock band Polara, their fifth and final full-length release. It was released on bandleader Ed Ackerson's Susstones Records label and produced by Ackerson at his recording studio, Flowers.

Flowers Studio is a recording studio in Minneapolis founded by Ed Ackerson, leader of the alternative rock bands Polara and the 27 Various, and co-founder of the Susstones Records label. Many notable musicians have recorded at the studio, including the Jayhawks, The Replacements, Motion City Soundtrack, Brian Setzer, Golden Smog, Mark Mallman, Soul Asylum, the Old 97's Rhett Miller, Clay Aiken, the Wallflowers, Pete Yorn, Juliana Hatfield, Free Energy, Lizzo, Jeremy Messersmith, and Joseph Arthur.

<i>Hideout</i> (Antenna album) 1993 studio album by Antenna

Hideout is an album by the American indie rock band Antenna, released in 1993. It is the band's second album.

References

  1. ↑ Riemenschneider, Chris (5 October 2019). "Minneapolis 'musical wizard' and Polara frontman Ed Ackerson dies at 54". Star Tribune. Minneapolis-St. Paul. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  2. ↑ Marx Jr., Wally (July–August 2011). "Ed Ackerson: A Minneapolis Institution Goes Solo". Tape Op . No. 84.
  3. ↑ Deborah Russell (25 February 1995). "Polara Defines New Scene: Restless Set Mixes '80s Pop, Synth". Billboard (published February 25, 1995). p. 5.
  4. ↑ Hendrickson, Matt (1995-06-29). "Reviews". Rolling Stone (711): 23.
  5. ↑ Gary Graff (1996). MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. ISBN   978-0-7876-1037-1.
  6. ↑ Ankeny, Jason. "Polara: Biography". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  7. 1 2 Robbins, Ira. "27 Various, Polara, Sideways, Ed Ackerson". Trouser Press . Trouser Press LLC. Retrieved 2019-10-14.
  8. ↑ Ali, Lorraine (1995-08-19). "Post-Punk Player Is Finding Success Through Surrender". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2019-10-14.
  9. 1 2 Anderson, Rick. "Polara: Polara Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  10. 1 2 Evans, Paul (1995-02-23). "Reviews". Rolling Stone (702): 76.
  11. ↑ Hilburn, Robert (1997-01-26). "Polara, "Pantomime," Interscope". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  12. ↑ Morris, Chris (5 April 1997). "Declarations of Independents: Big Plans Afoot For Indie Sector At NARM; Also, Polara Turns Into More Than a One-Man Show". Billboard (published April 5, 1997). p. 83.
  13. ↑ Larry Flick, ed. (1995-08-05). "Single Reviews: Polara, "Counting Down"" (PDF). Billboard . p. 73.
  14. ↑ Gore, Joe (March 1995). "Polara". Guitar Player. Vol. 29, no. 3. p. 137.
  15. ↑ Rosen, Craig (5 April 1997). "Interscope Emphasizes Mktg. Basics For Polara". Billboard (published April 5, 1997). p. 1.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.