Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 17
  2. Negative: 1 out of 17
  1. Mojo
    60
    Sounds like an all-girl early Beastie Boys.... The politics, though, are somewhat sounder. [May 2003, p.99]
  2. With their brattish Long Island manners, spiky wit and (middle-class) B-Girl 'tood, it mightn't be all that lazy to re-baptise them The Beastie Girls.
  3. It's like taking hip-hop of the early '80s and jettisoning it into the now: update the metaphors, the references, and the technology but not the beats, the flows, or the vocal stylings.
  4. Both old-school and totally original, both literate and full of unpretentious New Yawk sass, both deeply catchy and underground in spirit.
  5. Q Magazine
    80
    An all-conquering white female rap crew? It's been a long time coming and, on the strength of this debut, may be arriving sooner than you think. [Jun 2003, p.105]
  6. Dying In Stereo holds out a lot of promise without falling prey to the solemnity that haunts so much underground hip-hop.
  7. It's as important to women in hip-hop as Joni Mitchell, Madonna and Sleater-Kinney were to their respective genres.
  8. Uncut
    70
    Inpressive stuff, but like the Beastie Boys' tinnitus-inducing whines, Northern State's gonzoid yelps suffer from diminishing returns. [Jun 2003, p.110]
  9. Alternative Press
    80
    It's still early to see if they'll transcend the hype, but Dying In Stereo bodes well by keeping it real over simple old-school beats. [Aug 2003, p.108]
  10. Utilitarian beats, charmingly lumpy flow, and some of the more amusingly literate rhymes around.
  11. Blender
    80
    Refreshingly... [Northern State] would rather rhyme about feminism and softball than about hip-hop's tired polarities. [#17, p.139]
  12. Urb
    80
    All it takes is a spin of their high-steppin' full-length debut to realize that these ladies are worthy of the praise. [Sep 2003, p.101]
  13. Juvenile, simpering, weak, preachy, pointless and accidentally snooty, Dying in Stereo is about as empowering as Legally Blonde 2.
  14. Spin
    83
    Northern State's skills and we-can-do-this exuberance transcend what otherwise might be shtick. [Aug 2003, p.116]
  15. Under The Radar
    60
    Their flow and their confidence argue against them being just a novelty act. [#5, p.114]
  16. The ladies of Northern State deliver funky breaks and tight grooves on Dying in Stereo, and keep the hip-hop flavor without being vulgar and crass.
User Score
5.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 14 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 14
  2. Negative: 5 out of 14
  1. MichaelD
    Jul 30, 2005
    9
    This album, is fantastic-i dont get why people say otherwise. Not just the brilliant beats and lyrics but what it stands for!
  2. nigsbig
    Jan 28, 2005
    10
    damn fine up beat
  3. JoelT
    Aug 31, 2004
    0
    Although I don't usually agree with Pitckforkmedia.com's reviews, their assessment of Northern State is spot on. The only reason Although I don't usually agree with Pitckforkmedia.com's reviews, their assessment of Northern State is spot on. The only reason this band is popular is because 1. they are all female. 2. they are white I hate to say this but it's true. On the surface they are something easily marketable, a bunch of new england liberal arts college girls busting into the scene. But listen to the lyrics (unimaginative and forced) and their beats (same), and you'll see there isn't much under the surface. I have seen them in the concert before the CD came out and was shocked to see all the good reviews they got. Did any of the critics actually listen to the CD? Or just look at the press kit that fell on the desk? When I saw them in concert I really thought I was seeing some B-level college band that was lucky enough to get the show. Even the other musicians in the band had a look that said "what the heck are WE doing here?" If you are hard pressed for some hip-hop that fits a bill similar to this band, do yourself a favor and get Luscious Jackson or some old Beastie Boys. And if you want a fun party band, well get some 80s compilations, probably be a lot cheaper and won't piss you off in the end. In short, this band lowers the quality of hip-hop by being so highly accoladed. Full Review »