Northstar may be the band we missed our chance on. Honestly, the vocals are like nothing we have seen in music, the songwriting ability is unmatched, the emotion and the emphasis they put on their live performances are like no one else. Northstar come from Triple Crown Records, who have produced Brand New and some other quality bands, Northstar being one of them. Northstar's first record came after being the headliner on a tour with Taking Back Sunday [yeah the headliner], and being together for five years after finally making a record. As Taking Back Sunday claims on the back cover of Tell All Your Friends "Northstar is the greatest band ever". Enough said, but we will say more.
Track by track
1. Rigged And Ready
One of the best album openers I think I’ve ever listened to by a pop-punk band. Northstar shows their ability to write complex and yet freighting lyrics to a generic beat in this song. The song really brings out the best of ever member in the band, the drums are well done, but yet so is the guitar work. The chorus in this song is absolutely fabulous. And the end of the song is one of the most catchy I think I’ve ever seen. 5/5
2. Is This Thing Loaded?
But the momentum doesn't stop, Is This Thing Loaded? Shows Northstar ability again to make a song with a simple beat have such complex lyrics. Probably the most pop-punk song on the album, the song chorus proclaims "Forget you and the future we don't have", and the surrounding lines are great as well: "There's something about a morning without the picture perfect ribbons in her hair"; the chorus really makes this song though. The thing that I like about this song is that it has a radically simple beat and yet I’m screaming the lyrics at the top of my lungs, and still head banging to it. Another great song by Northstar. 5/5
3. Broken Parachute
One of my favorite songs of all time. The song combines great drum work with catchy guitar riffs, and absolutely insane lyrics. The lyrics are actually meaningful in this song, which also makes it very special. The chorus is the best of the album; this song again brings out the best in everyone in the band. This is what the band is doing with a record that was produced well at all, it's like the band is performing the record live and you can feel the energy every time you listen to this. The ending of this song is just fabulous, not as good as the first track, but it's still pretty darn good. 5/5
4. My Riochet
Another great song by the band. Probably the best lyrics they written for the album so far [and they have been very good], the song is song at a low pitch at the begging of the song, but Nick's tone get's higher and higher as the song goes on to the chorus. The chorus repeats the line "You Threw Up My Best Skin, because you never loved it", almost freaky hell raising lyrics put to a more complex beat, makes it a great experience. The only negative I can think of is that the song doesn't really have a distinguished ending, sure Nick sings "I will never understand why I am dying", but it's not as great of an ending as in the previous tracks. 4.5/5
5. Wishing Well Disease
This song is like nothing else we have seen on the album so far. The lyrics are still complex and catchy, but the overall mood of the song is much more dark, and there really is distinguished chorus. Are these good changes? I think so because you always like to see bands go on risk, well at least I do. Nick repeats the line "Well It's only a matter of time", leader into the second screaming, which I guess is the chorus. The end of the song is again brilliantly done, "She looks amazing, I wish I was amazing" is repeated towards the end of the song, and is in my opinion the climax of the song. 4.5/5
6. Taker Not A Giver
The album is back on it's 5/5 form [not that it lost all it's momentum], this song features almost two chorus, with how good the pre-chorus is, the drums in this song are again perfectly done, and the guitar work fits with Nick's vocal perfectly. "There are reasons why I forfeit this nightly mess, nubbin my hand's down that even dress, daydreams love the violent colors of your lips, and the nightmares that accompany it". The song takes a long instrumental break after the first chorus, and it leads into those lyrics above. The lyrical work Nick and Northstar can do is amazing, and it comes unto its peak during this 5-minute song. The song starts to mellow down leading to another dramatic ending, this proves how much talent Northstar has. 5/5
7. Daybreak
Probably the most mellowed and relaxed song on the album. Features some awfully good guitar work, but the song is very under produced. I mean sometimes you can't even make out if the band is singing are not. But what you can hear is great. "Catch a daybreak" is repeated through the chorus, and is probably the most sub-par chorus on the album. The second lyrical session is Northstar has been speeding up the whole album and they don't stop here, the lyrics by Nick here are absolutely sick [meaning good], and the song is good as well. 4/5
8. Trainhopping In Dixieland
The album reinvents itself again with this song. The Hawthorne Height's copy line is "But I can't wait forever for you" sang at the end of the song. The second best lyrics on the album: "Hey green eyes I'm going blind", "Your the best thing that ever happened to me" is repeated during the chorus that is filled with energy and emotion. An original song on the album. 4.5/5
9. Cinderella
Another Classic. The quiet verse loud chorus formula works to perfection in this song. At first I have to warn you that this song may seem pretty boring, but you have to listen to the first chorus, which is one of the best on the album for it to speed up. But it's well worth the wait. The best part in the song is when the song comes to a complete stoppage and Nick screams "Like Cinderella, Like Cinderella" and the song moves into a great, action packed, jam session from there. Another terrific song. 5/5
10. Blackheart Valentine Pill
I agree with Chop’s review when he said that it doesn't really sound like a Northstar song at the begging, but if you wait you can hear Nick's vocals. But honestly, this is probably the worst song on the album. You just can't be content with settling for this as the last song, to such a great and entertaining album. But I guess you have to. 3/5
Conclusion:
The best pop-punk album ever, in my opinion. Ever song has the sheer emotion that it takes a band to make a single these days, and having ten singles in an album isn't that bad in my opinion. Such a great album that you should buy at your music store or off the Internet.
