Search - Northstar :: Is This Thing Loaded

Less Emo, More Rock

Geoff B | NJ | 02/25/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is easy to believe that in the burgeoning "emo" scene out there, Northstar will soon become one of the most popular bands in the genre. It of course helps to have the immensely popular (and talented) Taking Back Sunday promoting you. But the music speaks for itself. This band is more in the vein of "Hey Mercedes," than other more typical bands of the genre (such as Midtown), in that they actually write good rock music, and combine this musicality with catchy (and well written) vocals, and add on top of this an almost pop-punk vibe in many of their songs. Just like Hey Mercedes, Northstar excels at catchy vocals and well placed rhythm changes in their songs, which makes both of these bands just rock. Every member of Northstar is obviously skilled at their instruments, and they combine their talent well in this cd. The catchiest song (at first listen) is definitely "Cinderella," which is just a great song--the chorus of that song captures what this band does best, in combining great lyrics, with a poppy beat, but not just settling for the simplistic--they juxtapose two different rhythms in the chorus and it works to perfection. Other notable songs (at least immediately notable )include Broken Parachute (which includes a great bass line, and an almost pop-punk jam down session under a melodic vocal line after the pre chorus of la da da da) and My Ricochet, which seems to have (unbelievably) three catchy choruses in one song . Rigged and Ready is also superb, but might take a little longer to appreciate. In fact, the entire album is great, and is composed the way all great albums are: a couple immediately gratifying songs, with even better, but harder to appreciate songs nestled in between. I recommend this album to anyone who appreciates emo, rock, or just well written music."

Is this thing loaded?

Geoff B | 11/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"northstar is one of the greatest bands ever. all of you complaining about the recording quality are ignorant as hell. they re-released the album and anyway the intros or whatever you guys are complaining about echo a little bit and sound kind of far away on purpose. the lyrics are amazing. nick torres is my idol, not only is he a incredible singer but he play guitar while he's doing it. the drums are phenomenal especially the outro to broken parachute (track 3). the lyrics and songwriting are intricate and amazing. not a single bad track on the album. my favorite cd of alltime.



rigged and ready - a highlight of the cd, crazy good

is this thing loaded? - a little slower with great lyrics

broken parachute - one of the coolest intros ever and a song to follow it up

my ricochet - catchiest song on the cd... no words for it

my wishing well disease - one of the harder tracks on the album but still excellent

taker not a giver - cool song with a great chorus

daybreak - guitars on this song are really cool

train hopping in dixieland - one of my favorites on the cd... some really cool isolated vocals on this one

cinderella - another cool intro with a sweet song to back it up

black heart valentine - not so upbeat song... sweet to end off on."

Absolutely amazing!!

Jeannie | NY | 01/02/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Northstar is without a doubt one of the most amazing bands I have ever heard in my life. There really aren;t words for this CD. I preach about it to everyone and everyone I have convinced to buy the CD has become just as obsessed with it as I am. This is a CD you can just let play, no chnaging songs because they are all amazing. They are lyrically fantastic so if you are a lyrics person(like me)...GET THIS CD! Best songs:: "My Ricochet" and "Trainhopping in Dixieland"."