Search - Northern State :: All City

Nice With It

SoulBoyJon | Michigan | 08/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"About two and a half years back, I saw bell hooks speak on the importance of bringing feminism to the masses through, among other things, hip-hop music. I think Ms. hooks vision is actualized with artists like Northern State.



That said, you haven't heard Northern State until you've heard All City. The first album showed the women setting out with collegiate rhymes, less complex beats, and literary references aplenty. Now our heroes have seen much more of the world (while promoting the first record), and it's reflected both in lyrical content and the numerous guest producers/musicians they work with on the album. A lot of the playful charm from the first record is still intact, but they've got much more to say this time around and they've greatly improved their lyrical execution and rhyme styles.



There's no way anybody can compare their style to the Beastie Boys on this record. Better comparisons could be found in the vocal interplay of Us Girls (Lisa Lee!) or Salt-N-Pepa, the feminism of Apani B-Fly Emcee, Lady Mecca, or (the greatest MC that ever lived) Bahamadia, and pushing social and musical boundaries like Jane Doe or Mystic.



The record moves hip-hop forward by addressing the social/political importance of women's issues and the hypocrisy of sexism both within and outside the hip-hop community (a community that's mostly on point with racial issues, but severely lacking in a lot of other areas). For that alone, it's a monumental record...but it's so much more fun than just that. This is a great album, and if you aren't feeling it by track three ("Nice With It"), that'll get you started. "Don't Look Down" is my track of the day."

More hook, less book

Paul O'Brian | Westminster, CO United States | 02/22/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Northern State's first album, the independent release DYING IN STEREO, was the first hip-hop record I ever really loved -- its old-school beats, clever lyrics, sly humor, and intellectual acumen (along with its refreshing lack of sexism and its focus on fun) struck just the right chord with me. So when I found out they'd been picked up by a major label, I awaited their new disc with great excitement.



Now that ALL CITY is here, I can say that its expanded production palette does some great things for the group. Just the stinging guitar licks in "Girl For All Seasons" or the intoxicating buzz behind "Don't Look Down" surpass any of the music on DYING. The arrangements are more interesting, the choruses are catchier, and there's a lot more variety on display -- all good things. Moreover, Northern State's cleverness is still alive, such as the way they open the album with a jump-rope cadence, neatly and cannily making the case for white-girl rap before the first instruments even appear. Hilarious and/or thrilling rhymes abound ("we work out the brainus / write rhymes out the anus / wine dine and champagne us / you just can't contain us!"), and there are a handful of really excellent tracks. My favorites are "Ignite," which starts off the record with an adrenaline jolt of excitement; "Girl For All Seasons," whose body-image exhortations couldn't be more welcome; "Summer Never Ends," with its playful and idyllic evocation of summertime fun; and "Don't Look Down," a fantastic portrait of the giddy terror brought by sudden fame and success. So for the most part, ALL CITY is a triumph, a really fun album that takes Northern State to the next level.



I did feel a little something missing, though. ALL CITY moves noticeably away from the erudite feminism of DYING IN STEREO, with lyrics that tend to be both less intellectual and less personal than those of its predecessor. That's a shame, because those were two of my favorite things about Northern State's debut. DYING routinely references writers like Dorothy Parker and Wendell Berry, but ALL CITY isn't going to turn you onto any new authors. It seems no accident that the most pointed and political track, "Speaking For Me," is muttered, muffled, and whispered, while tracks about drinking Stoli and smoking "government weed" are shouted proudly. In addition, while the first album certainly has its share of rap braggadocio, it was balanced by some almost confessional lyrics from all three members. That's faded away on this album -- the only one who even stays close is Sprout, whose lyrics still sometimes address fear, pain, and dreams, along with the usual swagger.



Don't get me wrong -- ALL CITY is still a fine disc, and I enjoy it a lot, but it left me wondering how much Northern State is willing to change themselves in their bid for hip-hop cred. Between the guest stars, the emotional distance, and the mild dumbing-down, I fear they're moving toward abandoning what made them great in the first place. To fulfill the tremendous promise of that first album, they must truly live the creed of courage they so frequently proclaim, embracing the expanded musical possibilities found here while not sacrificing an iota of their braininess and soulfulness to appease a thuggish and anti-intellectual hip-hop mainstream.



"

I expected more

John S. Kenny | columbus, ohio | 11/14/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I wrote in my review of their first album that Northern State had the same energy and enthusiasm as the Beastie Boys did with Licensed to Ill. Unfortunately, while the Beasties took a giant step forward with Paul's Boutique, the girls decided to maintain the status quo by putting out virtually the same album with a better producer. The songs now sound derivative and tiresome while the final track is downright annoying. I look forward to their next album, but I hope they actually decide to do something with their opportunity."