The North - Stars
  • Band Name: Stars
  • Record Label: ATO
  • Release Date: Sep 4, 2012
The North Image
Metascore

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critics What's this?

User Score

Generally favorable reviews- based on 9 Ratings

  • Summary: The sixth full-length album for the Canadian indie rock band was produced with Graham Lessard and Marcus Paquin.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 22
  2. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. Sep 24, 2012
    85
    This is an album that proves that Stars are fully themselves, confident in their genre experimentation and fearless in the emotions they express.
  2. 80
    Punchier production and more energetic songwriting point The North in the right direction. [Oct 2012, p.92]
  3. Nov 5, 2012
    80
    Even if you weren't a fan of their last couple [of albums], there's definitely going to be something for you here. As soon as the synth kicks in for opener 'The Theory Of Relativity', you know you're in for a treat.
  4. Dec 11, 2012
    60
    Fans of Prefab Sprout, The Go-Betweens and Saint Etienne could do a lot worse than give their cerebral Canadian counterparts a go. [Jan 2013, p.110]

See all 22 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Some songs have very strong influences coming through - New Order specifically at times, for instance, but all in all, another solid effort. Not as emotionally fierce as "Set Yourself on Fire" or as strongly themed as "The Five Ghosts," but the album has enough variety, sweeping instrument sounds, and poignant moments to please Stars fans recent or long-standing. Expand
  2. Stars are a very talented group of musicians and they prove it again this time. A variety of indie rock songs and they've all got very good lyrics. The first half isn't as entertaining as the 2nd one and all in all it was somehow too stained. Anways, this is a album you have to hear because it's just so chilling, whether the song is happy or sad. They can do better, but this is definitely one of their best releases yet. Expand