Northern State @ Annex 1/16: Island Girls

Some of my friends can't go out on a "school night." I say bullocks to that. Going out for a brew and a show on a Tuesday is exactly what one needs to break up a week. This past Tuesday was a Newcastle gulped down to the sounds of girl rappers from Long Island at the Annex.


While Northern State put on an undeniably riveting show, it is perhaps riveting for the wrong reasons. The brand of music these Dix Hills natives create speaks more to those wanting to watch something funny and odd, as opposed to those seeking high quality music. While some of the girl's rhymes border on brilliant, for the most part, they fall into the terrain of incomprehensible, predictable and downright silly. The first 3 songs of the Tuesday set sounded nearly indistinguishable.

The slower songs, however, like 'Away Away' are where the trio really shine. Though the single off of the new album isn't genius, it speaks of a talent that could become one given a little more time. One naysayer on Stereogum disagrees and says of the single "it's totally lame. They should be rapping about skorts and being white. That's what they're good at." Rapping about "skorts and being white" only gets you so far and to even get to the point of say Lady Sovereign, one needs a massive talent behind the novelty. With Mike Skinner 'Never went to church' type songs, the girls could actually tap into a niche that the music world can embrace as new and innovative.

Advice, stop remembering you are from Long Island, continue to take on issues such as the environment and Republicans that could really distinguish you from the fray and ease up on the cliches. Then I think, you'll really have something. Though the Kavalier and Clay reference was pure inspiration.



Go see what the commentators over at Stereogum have to say, also download a free track.
Read the contrary opinion over at Salon.