Editors' Picks: Polar Bear Club / Aereogramme

Brian: Anchors was right: Polar Bear Club's new EP, The Redder, The Better is ridiculously good. While Hot Water Music / Small Brown Bike and mid-`90s emo comparisons are understandable, Polar Bear Club congregate these influences into something really unique. They've got a masterful understanding of dynamics, fluid, arresting guitar tones, perfectly captivating intros, and resonating, aggressive emotion that makes for one of the most addicting releases of 2006. As if Jordan's review wasn't convincing enough, an MP3 from the EP is below; it's available from Triple Attack Records for order.

Polar Bear Club - Resent and Resistance

Aubin: Scotland's Aereogramme could easily be lumped in with a number of bands tackling the post-hardcore/sludge realm spearheaded by Isis and Neurosis were it not for their latent pop tendencies; tracks at once sound like both Death Cab for Cutie, Mogwai and Neurosis, and transitions between blissful ambience and crushing heaviness happen so deftly as to be unforseen until they are falling down on you.

The band delivered an inspired cover of Slayer's "Disciple" for June 6th, but also issued a new EP Seclusion through Sonic Unyon last year. Both are worth checking out.

Aereogramme - "Dreams and Bridges"
Aereogramme - "Disciple (Slayer)"