Artist: Northstar
Album:Pollyana
Label: Triple Crown Records
Rating:
Reviewer: Jordan Hoefar

Bands that are distinctly themselves should be more of a frequent occurrence. Fortunately, Northstar has graced us with their own flavor of rock. The guitar tones, riffs, melodies, and lyrics are indisputably branded with their sound. Their 2002 release, “Is This Thing Loaded?” delivered quite an impressive debut. However, “Pollyanna” provides the maturity that wasn’t as abundant in their previous release.

This album is one that will never be a standout and will never take crowds by storm. But something it will do is charm people. It’s just simply pleasant and enjoyable. This CD contains the melancholy of a rainy day but the bliss of a kid getting out of school for summer vacation. Basically, if you’re ever gonna take a trip to the beach in the rain with your friends, bring this album. A factor to the charm that exists is the catchiness. And we’re not talking about holy-crap-I’m-going-to-shoot-myself-because-this-is-so-extremely-happy-and-poppy catchiness. Just, catchy. A variation in slow songs and rockin’ songs is also another great aspect of the CD.

All those little goodies aside, the standout ingredient (in this reviewers opinion, at least) are the lyrics. To give you an idea, they’re sort of the Picasso equivalent. Abstract in construction but we all get the picture. While you may not get the same idea from it that was intended, it’s written in a fashion so that you may take it to mean what you want (granted it’ll be along similar lines as other perspectives). This slips in the listeners own personal tie to the songs. Of course this can be done with any song written by anyone, but these lyrics are more prone to such a thing. So instead of rambling about it, here is an example:

“I can’t leave with words like these / They’ll break the bones that hold up my sleeves / I’ve got to tie her so high her / breath freezes before she speaks / But this bus just won’t go far enough / so I’ll strap my face to a homemade bomb / …And blow the bus stop through the parking lot / ..We’ll celebrate like we were free…” - The Pornographer’s Daughter …Speaking the unspeakable that you know hurts, when you can’t help but place someone so high you know it’s unhealthy…Abstract but makes sense and said in such a way you’ll sing along. While that may be inaccurate, it’s my interpretation. And that’s the beauty of this whole album; it’s whatever you make it. Don’t give it a chance and yeah, you probably won’t like it. But open your ears and heart and make it yours and you’ll enjoy it.

Some bands come out banging and some don’t. I think Northstar will slowly and surely work their way up the ranks of the multiple new bands and accomplish the recognition that the talent they possess says they deserve. As far as “Pollyanna” goes, it’s worth your money to go out and buy an enjoyable CD for your collection and support a band that deserves it at the same time. Who knows, it may just move you like you’ve got new feet (buy the CD or check them out at purevolume.com and you’ll catch on to my ridiculously lame joke).