Is that too hot of a take that may turn folks off the rest of this blog post? Perhaps. But what fun is it playing things safe. So if I am putting Northstar up there with some of the greats, why are they not so well known?
I would have to guess it could be because they called it quits in 2005, just at this kind of music was going to hit its peak. As I mentioned in a previous blog about emo bands, many of the greats broke up just as they could have gotten big and I think Northstar could fall into that category.
As for the case of why I like this album better then the mentioned great albums above? I would say it comes down to the eagerness and rawness of the product. It's a culmination of the very best things that I loved about the melodic post-hardcore boom that happened in the early 2000s. It makes sense because bands like Taking Back Sunday quoted Northstar as being an influence.
If you want a more polished sounding album then this, then I would suggest looking into their next release Pollyanna. Also a good quality album.
You may not concur with my hot take at the start of this post, which I don't expect many to agree with, but I hope I have convinced you to at least give Is Thing Loaded? a chance. Even just for the trip back to the early 2000s is fun!
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Highlighted song and lyrics:
Broken Parachute- "Pulling out the poison with a kiss on the bottle's lips"
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Similar bands to check out:
Moneen, Hidden in Plain View, Midtown, Name Taken
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Reviews and links to check out:
Sputnikmusic.com- Review
Brooklynvegan.com- 35 Best Emo & Post-Hardcore Albums of 2002
Allmusic.com- Artist Biography
