Can I Keep This Pen?
by Northern State

Album details

US: 28 August 2007 on Ipecac
UK: 27 August 2007 on Ipecac

The all-female, Long Island rap outfit’s third album mixes alt-rock with hip hop, and was produced by Adrock (Beastie Boys) and Chuck Brody (Shitake Monkey).

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The critical consensus

"For all its detours, this is unmistakably a Northern State release," concludes Harp Magazine, and indeed, the trio retain elements of their sound (such as their often tongue-in-cheek but literate lyrics and early Beastie Boys-style rapping) while branching out into additional genres (including real rock songs with singing rather than rapping, and even electro). The Hartford Courant says that Northern State has rebounded nicely from a disappointing second album: "The beats are tight, the rhymes are tighter and the ladies seem like they’re having fun without trying too hard or taking themselves too seriously." Entertainment Weekly calls the album "an audacious leap forward," while Uncut concludes that Pen will "leave you with a big, stupid smile on your face."

All Music Guide likes the girls’ singing but not their rapping, and describes the album thusly: "If you could mesh Luscious Jackson’s Fever in Fever Out with the Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill this album would be the result." Rolling Stone is getting tired of the trio, arguing that "three albums in, the shtick wears thin." Lost At Sea notes that the band has good intentions, but can’t yet find the execution to match: "They can’t be accused of not making spirited music, but Northern State are still looking for the right words to express their sensible worldview." Now Magazine entirely agrees, stating, "Northern State’s heart is in the right place – they just seem to have no concept of their strengths and weaknesses," resulting in songs that vary from "insipid" to "perfect storms of concept, beat and lyrical cleverness." PopMatters says that, at least, things are looking up for the band: "Like all their albums, it’s haphazard, but never before have the highs been this high." And Pitchfork hears "music that sounds like it was made in a void: heart in the right place, perforated with off-key singing and C-grade rapping."

Northern State might be the only chicks in their niche, but they still beat the competition with a giddy, witty, rocksteady spirit that makes you say, Yes, yes, y’all.

- Amy Linden, Village Voice

Review roundup

Tracklisting and media

1. Mic Tester
2. Better Already
   
   
3. Oooh Girl
4. Mother May I?
5. Away Away
6. Good Distance
7. Iluvitwhenya
8. Sucka Mofo
9. Cold War
10. Run off the Road
11. Things I’ll Do
12. Cowboy Man
13. Murray Hill
14. Fall Apart

Also on the web

• Official Artist Site
• Northern State @ MySpace