Northstar - Is This Thing Loaded?

[Adrian Villagomez]

Northstar – Is This Thing Loaded?
Record Label: Triple Crown Records
Release Date: October 22, 2002

Every music fan knows of a defunct band that never received the success they rightfully deserved. These bands are close to our hearts, and though we wished them the greatest success, we feel honored to be the few who recognize their talent. Northstar was one of those bands.

It’s difficult to recall the details, but at some time before Is This Thing Loaded? was released, I happened upon a demo of “Broken Parachute.” The two things that struck me most about the song upon subsequent listens were the guitar work and the somewhat odd lyrics. At the time I would listen almost exclusively to pop punk, so it was quite a surprise to hear a band that knew what it meant to rock. It was also interesting to hear lyrics of an ambiguous nature describing the stomping of monsters, running from the heartless, befriending a bottle for its soothing contents, and a woeful narrator on the brink of giving up.

“Broken Parachute” was a fitting introduction to Northstar, but Is This Thing Loaded? offers so much more. For one thing, the album proves that guitarist/vocalist Nick Torres is a songwriter to be appreciated. “Rigged and Ready,” the first song of the album, provides an example of what Torres is capable of. His delivery is drawn out and smooth (‘I’m thinking she needs me / Well do you girl? / I guess we’ll see’), but amplifies with the music while avoiding unnecessary screaming. However, there are moments in every song in which Torres produces short bursts of scratchy singing when he reaches his breaking point. Such a moment can be found on “My Ricochet”, as he repeats ‘I guess it’s that bad’ to the crashing of drummer Gabe Renfroe’s cymbals. These moments exist in every song, usually set to climactic music, and they are always welcome. But even if his voice is commendable, what really makes Torres’ vocals shine are the lyrics he articulates.

As mentioned previously, the lyrics of Northstar go beyond simple writing and implement grammatical tools like metaphors, similes, and symbols, so technically they lean more toward poetry than prose. The result is writing that is deep and satisfying in its vagueness. And like so many poets that came before him, Torres has a female target in mind. On “My Ricochet,” he serenades with the best of them, creating a holy image of his intended lover: ‘Why do you float way up there? / In disguise in dirty air / Why don't you melt way down here / With heaven so far and hell so near.’ Though he can be smooth, Torres is not always gentle when speaking to the ear of a lover out of grasp. He has something to prove as he pursues his “Cinderella.” She’s shot down every one of his friends, and he is clearly frustrated in his attempts to win her. Still, he falls victim to her disinterest just as his friends before him, and Torres comes to realize the futility of words: ‘Well under razor wrists lie the gorgeous words that will put her under my skin / But I’m alone again.’

By this point the review probably sounds like a personal dedication to Nick Torres, but rest assured the whole band deserves credit for helping make Is This Thing Loaded? sound so damn good. Torres, Renfroe, guitarist Tyler Odem, and bassist Shawn Reagan add complexity to their instruments and provide an almost flawless foundation for Torres’ voice and words. The dual guitar combination of Odem and Torres is serene at times, but has a perfect crunching distortion to match the heightened action of choruses and outros. A fitting example of this can be found on “Taker Not a Giver,” one of the album’s best. Airy guitar sounds accompany Torres as he sings, ‘I’m falling together, alone in wonder… land,’ but as soon as the last word is uttered, the real show starts. Rhythm and lead are wonderfully hectic together as Renfroe inserts drum rolls to heighten the commotion. “Taker Not a Giver” has a great chorus in the traditional sense, but the instrumental work between the band is the real high point of the song. Reagan can be overshadowed by the guitarists at times, but he is anything but a backseat bassist. He controls the tone of verses, setting the mood well, especially on “My Ricochet,” while Torres ruminates on matters of heaven and hell. Renfroe accordingly paces the songs, though he does lash out at moments, leaving the band behind to speed things up and take control. Listen to the abuse he dishes out on the bass pedal at the final moments of “Cinderella” to see what I mean; it’s three seconds of bliss just when it seems all the surprises of the song have been revealed.

Torres’ final lyrics of the album are ‘I'm classic and late / Plastic and fake,’ then only the feedback is left. Is This Thing Loaded? is indeed a classic, though there’s nothing fake about it. This is the real deal. There’s no need to nitpick which exact genre the album falls under, so let’s not. Is This Thing Loaded? will appease anyone stuck merely reminiscing about depth in musicians and lyrical content. If you don’t own this album yet, what are you waiting for?

[D_Daydreamer]

Good Review...I totally agree...well deserved 94%

[Adrian Villagomez]

Good Review...I totally agree...well deserved 94%Haha, you commented while I was still tinkering with the score. Pharr, eh? I <3 the Rio Grande Valley.

[huckleberry]

great review, you definitely sparked my interest. ill have to give them a listen

[Heart-A-Tact]

Fucking amazing album. Great review.

[lightcollapse]

amazing album, i agree with all of your scores...except i would give production a 5.

[AP_Punk]

Nice review, Adrian. And great album.

[lilRIPsta]

9 on Vocals? I know everyone loves this band, but come on. Not even close. and i dont know if id give Musician ship that high a level. other than that, i miss the band. shoulda made it big no doubt. In stead we have Boys Like Girls and RJA leading the scene into the mainstream....*pukes*

[Adrian Villagomez]

amazing album, i agree with all of your scores...except i would give production a 5.Eh, I'll take a rougher cut to something over polished any day. I recall being disappointed at how clean "Broken Parachute" sounded on the album compared to my super low quality demo version.

9 on Vocals? I know everyone loves this band, but come on. Not even close. and i dont know if id give Musician ship that high a level. other than that, i miss the band. shoulda made it big no doubt. In stead we have Boys Like Girls and RJA leading the scene into the mainstream....*pukes*Doesn't matter if everyone loves the band or hates them, because I love the vocals. From the smooth delivery of "Rigged and Ready" to the drawn out strain of "Cinderella" ('A fairy tale liaaaaaaarrrrrr'), I'm all over it. I understand it's a personal view though, so disagreeing is cool. And considering the musicianship of their peers, I don't feel bad at all about giving Northstar such a high score in that category.

[cereal4life]

I might give this a listen. I think I should. Yes, I should.

[applesandcyanid]

One of my favorite albums of all time. Northstar fucking tickle me.

[mr chainsaw]

Daybreak is one of my favorite songs of all-time.

Good Review!

[Tom Good]

Good review Adrian. Pollyanna is one of my favorite albums of all time, but this one is almost as good. I really like it. I'm glad this stuff is getting reviewed. Keep it up bud.

[atarisaveskids]

oh Northstar, one of my favorite bands. I love the lament on Nick's lyrics, his lyrics really are special. ""everything is so unused, unlike you"

[Scott Irvine]

"everything is so unused, unlike you"

That's so deep.:mellow:

[Alex DiVincenzo]

Never really got into this band. I love the title track but the rest didn't do much for me. I may have to revisit it.

[eMart]

Awesome review. This is definetely one of my favorite CD's (although I prefer Pollyanna). It's a shame that they never received the recognition they truly deserved.

[ArTkY_]

<3

[myownillness]

To me Northstar, this album especially, is a perfect bridge between bands like Mineral and The Promise Ring and Lifetime or Saves the Day. I guess you could say that about a lot of bands, but it just seems like they did it best. I also hear similarities between Brand New's Your Favorite Weapon and Is This Thing Loaded? For some reason Northstar just never caught on as well with a lot of people.

[Steve Henderson]

The production on this record is ass. The only part of the score I disagree with.

[themostdeplete]

this record is one of my all time favs

[Adrian Villagomez]

The production on this record is ass. The only part of the score I disagree with.:moon:

[underthetalking]

My favorite band... I wish they would come back.

[Colin Farrell]

This was one of the greatest albums but the production was terrible. Listen to this version of broken parachut ethen to Squire's. You'll see what I mean.

[Scott Weber]

Production a 9? What a joke, I'm sorry. The production on this album was abysmal. I understand you love the album, but that's kinda gotta go in the tilt a little bit more than the other scores. It's a great album but the production, even with a love for the record, is a 5.5 at best - and that's being favorable because it's a good record. (Well, to some.)

[lenard27]

I bought this album about 2 years ago at Media Play in the used section on a whim. I had seen the band listed in the thanks section on a few albums I had owned. Good thing I read those thing because this album is in my top-5 now. Coincidentally, I just got the Cassino (Nick and Tyler) album today and it's ridiculously amazing. Totally different style, but I think the lyrics got better and the music is still catchy as hell. I'd totally recommend you pick it up

[eversoinviting]

Good review. I always heard good things about this band, but now you've sparked my interest.

[tygergolf]

i wouldn't give them that much credit. i saw them live back in the day and they tore the roof off the mother, but then i bought the album and wasn't overly impressed. it's good, and showed promise, and i was sad to see them go, but the album itself certainly wasn't a 94.

[shes.a.ghost]

I absolutely love this record... but a 9 for production is just too high.

[myownillness]

I agree with everyone about the production, but, at the same time, the poor sound quality is almost endearing. If the record sounded super polished, it just wouldn't have the same feel to it.

[I.O]

Jesse cannon should have had gabe play with a click and tune the guitars. The production is a mess.

[OveriseFan]

Production: 9?

Are you kidding?

I've heard the argument, with bands like Lifetime, as well as uncountable 90's emo bands [Christie Front Drive and Mineral come to mind...] that the production is 'what make it so good.'

Bullshit. The music is what makes it good, the production is what keeps it from getting the recognition it deserves.

The production deserves a 5, if you're lucky...

Other than this massive oversight (You don't mention it in the review, the production, that is.)

[Co and Ca]

I've liked Northstar for about 5 years now, and they still sound as fresh today as they did back then. I don't know many bands, or probably any bands, who sound like them. I always felt like Northstar was a no bullshit band. There are no gimmicks needed with these guys. Their live show was flawless as well. I had the pleasure of seeing them three times, and each time was a treat.

Good review also. I felt it gave them the recognition they deserve.

[OveriseFan]

I agree with everyone about the production, but, at the same time, the poor sound quality is almost endearing. If the record sounded super polished, it just wouldn't have the same feel to it.

There's a difference between "super polished" and decent production.

I think comments like this are asinine.

[smogs]

Awesome review, I now have the urge to listen to this cd!

[TinMan20]

Nick Torres is one of the greatest lyricists out there. I miss Northstar

[TBSowns524]

this is a quality cd, and i miss northstar

[myownillness]

There's a difference between "super polished" and decent production.

I think comments like this are asinine.

I'm not saying that all bands should purposely release shitty quality recordings. I'm just saying that, in this case, I enjoy it for what it is.

[TellYourFriends]

At the time I would listen almost exclusively to pop punk, so it was quite a surprise to hear a band that knew what it meant to rock.I was trying to explain to a friend one time how they are really hard to give a specific sound other than just... rock. That line kind of reminded me of that...

Good review though! Such an amazing CD. I feel like it's still fresh everytime I listen to it.

[Broken Parachute]

Great album, hence my username.

[DGlazier]

Great album. I might like Pollyanna's production a little more, but both are stellar albums.

[DGlazier]

Great album. I might like Pollyanna's production a little more, but both are stellar albums.

[uglystar03]

The production on this album is garbage. Its simple as that. The drums sound like shit. At times, everything just sounds really off. It almost makes such a great album unlistenable for me. The songs are quality, but it takes a lot for me to listen to these recordings.

[flip]

northstar is a top ten band for me. i listen to them a ridiculous amount. this is a great cd, and the lyrics are amazing.

that said...pollyanna is the delivery that is this thing loaded? promised. anyone who thinks their first cd is better is crazy. i wish so bad we could've seen #3 from these guys (cassino is great...just not the same.)

[TKTKrob]

Adrian, can you please just change the production score so everybody stops bitching?

[Scott Irvine]

To me Northstar, this album especially, is a perfect bridge between bands like Mineral and The Promise Ring and Lifetime or Saves the Day. I guess you could say that about a lot of bands, but it just seems like they did it best. I also hear similarities between Brand New's Your Favorite Weapon and Is This Thing Loaded? For some reason Northstar just never caught on as well with a lot of people.

My god -- please. Comparing Northstar to Mineral or TPR in the slightest is like comparing steak to Burger King's Fish Filet. And I'd like to find a "perfect bridge" between my fist and your balls for saying such a thing. Mineral redefined a genre and The Promise Ring were arguably the last great band of its kind. Northstar's style comes nowhere near either of them, so stop namedropping bands for the sake of my intelligence.

[Steve Henderson]

My god -- please. Comparing Northstar to Mineral or TPR in the slightest is like comparing steak to Burger King's Fish Filet. And I'd like to find a "perfect bridge" between my fist and your balls for saying such a thing. Mineral redefined a genre and The Promise Ring were arguably the last great band of its kind. Northstar's style comes nowhere near either of them, so stop namedropping bands for the sake of my intelligence.
I think that is a very petty thing to say. First off, he called them a "bridge" and not an equal. Even if he was, some of the only basis for such reasoning as yours is the bands that you defend have been around longer and remain more obscure. Of course, Northstar gained a relative amount of notoriety...so that of course negates any chance of credibility right?

You're showing too many indie snob stripes to make such a careless dismissal. The Promise Ring was great, yes - but what did they do different than any other slew of pseudo indie pop bands? Have you ever read Nick Torres' lyrics? They kick the SHIT out of anything their peers have written.

I think it is worth re-evaluating why you have such strong feelings for the aformentioned bands, and not crap on people who are professing their affections for a different breed.

[Scott Irvine]

I think that is a very petty thing to say. First off, he called them a "bridge" and not an equal. Even if he was, some of the only basis for such reasoning as yours is the bands that you defend have been around longer and remain more obscure. Of course, Northstar gained a relative amount of notoriety...so that of course negates any chance of credibility right?

You're showing too many indie snob stripes to make such a careless dismissal. The Promise Ring was great, yes - but what did they do different than any other slew of pseudo indie pop bands? Have you ever read Nick Torres' lyrics? They kick the SHIT out of anything their peers have written.

I think it is worth re-evaluating why you have such strong feelings for the aformentioned bands, and not crap on people who are professing their affections for a different breed.

Don't bullshit me, Steve. I listen to almost every band mentioned or featured on this site, so don't undermine some of what I like because you've never heard of the particular band. I understand Northstar are held as a great in the scene, for whatever reason, but the likes of The Promise Ring and Mineral started things, they were progressive. Who are you to call The Promise Ring "pseudo indie pop[-rock]" when so much of what you listen to owes so much to them. They arguably set in motion the kind of styles and elements bands still draw from the genre today.

We know you enjoy Torres's lyrics, dude. We all know. However, the objectivity of your statement is compromised when you sink to what you've stated so much before, something thats actually rather obvious when their "peers" are bands like Saves the Day and Taking Back Sunday. And of course I've read them. You had me read them when you were being challenged by your "lyrical acrobatics" line or whatever it was. And I agreed with you that they were great. So don't talk down to me like some schoolboy bitch.

And its funny you admit Northstar is in a different breed than TPR and Mineral, because that was the exact point of my previous statement you're now complaining about. There are some things I don't like seeing roped in with others. So don't challenge my affections because the person's affections I'm "craping on" match more closely to your own.

[myownillness]

My god -- please. Comparing Northstar to Mineral or TPR in the slightest is like comparing steak to Burger King's Fish Filet. And I'd like to find a "perfect bridge" between my fist and your balls for saying such a thing. Mineral redefined a genre and The Promise Ring were arguably the last great band of its kind. Northstar's style comes nowhere near either of them, so stop namedropping bands for the sake of my intelligence.

Excuse me for having an opinion. I was just trying to say that I enjoy Northstar's music because they combine the atmospheric elements of early 90's Midwestern emo with more aggressive parts reminiscent of a band like Lifetime. But at the same time their sound was all their own, and their lyrics set them apart. I apologize if I tarnished the legacy of a few of the bands you have a hard-on for by mentioning their names in the same sentence as a more recent but just as valid act.

[Steve Henderson]

Don't bullshit me, Steve. I listen to almost every band mentioned or featured on this site, so don't undermine some of what I like because you've never heard of the particular band. I understand Northstar are held as a great in the scene, for whatever reason, but the likes of The Promise Ring and Mineral started things, they were progressive. Who are you to call The Promise Ring "pseudo indie pop[-rock]" when so much of what you listen to owes so much to them. They arguably set in motion the kind of styles and elements bands still draw from the genre today.

We know you enjoy Torres's lyrics, dude. We all know. However, the objectivity of your statement is compromised when you sink to what you've stated so much before, something thats actually rather obvious when their "peers" are bands like Saves the Day and Taking Back Sunday. And of course I've read them. You had me read them when you were being challenged by your "lyrical acrobatics" line or whatever it was. And I agreed with you that they were great. So don't talk down to me like some schoolboy bitch.

And its funny you admit Northstar is in a different breed than TPR and Mineral, because that was the exact point of my previous statement you're now complaining about. There are some things I don't like seeing roped in with others. So don't challenge my affections because the person's affections I'm "craping on" match more closely to your own.
First of all, just because I don't cream over Mineral or TPR on a regular basis, you would be remiss to assume I have "never heard of" them.

And regardless of what bands we choose to identify with or sing to in the car with the windows down, it is just irresponsible to talk down to someone just because you cannot see where they are coming from, especially when the main offense is indeed that they did little more than namedrop a few of your indie darlings.

[Scott Weber]

It's a new Scott vs. Steve rivalry!!!

[Scott Irvine]

you would be remiss to assume I have "never heard of" them.

You completely missed my point, Steve. I wasn't saying you didn't know who TPR or Mineral was -- I was responding to you saying, "Of course, Northstar gained a relative amount of notoriety...so that of course negates any chance of credibility right?"

[checkitfool]

9 on Vocals? I know everyone loves this band, but come on. Not even close. and i dont know if id give Musician ship that high a level. other than that, i miss the band. shoulda made it big no doubt. In stead we have Boys Like Girls and RJA leading the scene into the mainstream....*pukes*

Torres actually has my favorite voice of any singer I know of. I guess he isn't really an extraordinairy singer in the traditional sense; he doesn't have vibrato, that great of a range much sustain, etc. But there's just something about the tone of his voice that just really gets me. Just personal opinion, I guess.

[TK]

Man, I would love a acoustic version of this album.

[Wyatt!!!]

Good review for an excellent album.

[fridaysfinest]

This cd is great, and the review is great. Northstar is awesome, and I love their music.