Northern State – Dying In Stereo - Appeared in Portfolio Oct 2003
Northern State – Dying In Stereo [StarTime; 2003]
Three white girls from Long Island? Doing old-school rap? With literary references? Is it as bad as it sounds? Well, that depends on whom you ask. I think it’s the best thing to come out of New York since sliced pizza, but Pitchfork (www.pitchforkmedia.com) called it “Juvenile, simpering, weak, preachy, pointless and accidentally snooty.” Ouch! Okay, I’ll admit it - a friend of mine laughed in my face when I first played him their single “At the party.” I couldn’t believe he didn’t hear what I heard, and he couldn’t believe that I was serious. So, I guess they’re not for everyone.
What do they sound like? Well, they sound an awful lot like the Beastie Boys, to tell you the truth. That is, if the Beasties were fresh out of some northern Liberal Arts College, and were, well, all female. No, it’s not the next new thing, and it doesn’t fit into the context hip-hop music as a whole, but if you don’t mind your hip-hop being a bit out of touch, you just might love it. Best of all, they’re playing at the NORVA on the 25th of this month so you can judge it for yourself. I’ll be in the front row. I hope I’m not the only one.