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POLARA Jetpack Blues

by Polara

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  • Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    The original digipak edition of the CD is long gone, but we have a handful of the second jewel case edition remaining.

    Includes unlimited streaming of POLARA Jetpack Blues via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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1.
2.
3.
Is This It? 04:24
4.
5.
Wig On 04:08
6.
Obsolete 04:54
7.
8.
Overboard 04:02
9.
Other 03:56
10.
11.

about

After releasing three albums on Interscope, and an abortive new deal with the legendary Chris Blackwell (Island/Palm Pictures), Polara had spent almost eight years inside the major label alternative rock machine. Weary of the slow-motion world of the big labels, the band stuck out on its own, forming the Susstones cooperative label and taking the means of production into its own hands.

Jetpack Blues is certainly the most complex and epic of all Polara albums, with the band's trademark short, sharp pop tunes bathed in labyrinthine layers of psychedelic texture. At a time when this was a relative rarity in rock music, Polara integrated electronic, computer-based, and analog elements into a futuristic vision that summed up the band's many influences and ambitions. Standout tracks "Is This It", "Can't Get Over You", "Wig On", and the title track were all centerpieces of the band's massive live sets of the time. The album was a certified local hit, selling as well in the midwest as any of the band's previous records even without major label backing. Unfortunately, lack of business and management infrastructure led to the band only doing scattered national touring behind the record, so it never got the exposure it deserved across the country.

Pitchfork's review of the album predicted "when this kind of stuff has its renaissance fifteen years from now, your kids'll love it". Now is just about the time to rediscover this milestone album from Polara.

credits

released May 2, 2002

Produced by Ed Ackerson. Recorded at Flowers Studio, Minneapolis using 2, 8, and 24 track linear and 3.5" nonlinear magnetic media.

Ed Ackerson: vocals, guitars, bass, organ, piano, synthesizers, programming, loops, percussion
Jennifer Jurgens: vocals, guitars, piano, organ, synthsizers
Dan Boen: bass, synthesizers, programming
Peter Anderson: drums on 2, 3, 4, 5
Erik Mathison: drums on 3, 6, 9, 10
Marc Iwanin: drums on 9
Knobby: drums on 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
John Strohm: horn arrangement and reverse consultation on 3
Janey Winterbauer: backing vocal on 5
Gary Louris: drone and main lead guitar on 6

Thank you: Robert and Rosemary Ackerson, Christian Erickson, Clint and Mary Ann Jurgens, Paul Kolderie, Ashley Prenzlow, Tal Tahir, Nick Tangborn, Jenna Thompson, Dan and Helen Boen

Acknowledgements: Chris Blackwell, Rosemary Carroll, Bob Ezrin, Joe Galdo, George Howard, Frank Riley/High Road Touring, Gary Smith/Fort Apache/Geronimo, Tom Whalley

For Susstones: Vince Caro, John Kass, Marc Mueller, Mike Reiter
Reissue series special thanks: PD Larson

Thanks also to: Big and Bryant Lake Bowls, Paul Henry/GC Edina, Steve McClellan and First Avenue, Bill Sullivan and the 400 Bar, Twin Town Guitars

Support and inspiration: Gary Louris/Jayhawks, Mark Mallman, Peter Holmstrom, John Strohm

Album design: Jennifer jurgens and Ed Ackerson
Conceptual assistance: Tricia Boland, Nick Tangborn
Mastering: Jeff Lipton at Peerless Mastering

A Susstones Product ©2002 all rights reserved.

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about

Polara Minneapolis, Minnesota

Ed Ackerson formed Polara with drummer Peter Anderson, guitarist Jennifer Jurgens, and bassist Jason Orris, continuing his interest in 1960s psychedelic pop but adding a heavy element of Krautrock-inspired electronics and keyboards.[11] Polara was Ackerson's first band to gain significant national attention. Polara released 5 albums & 2 EPs between 1995 and 2006. ... more

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