Northern State-Can I Keep This Pen? (2007)

 


Artist: Northern State

Title: Can I Keep This Pen?

Label: Ipecac

Format: CD

Catalog Number: IPC92

Year of Release: 2007

Country and Year of Edition: US 2007

Sell Price: $2.99

Sell Date: 6/23/26

Condition: VG+/VG+ deleted library edition, 2 large stickers on cover

Discogs Last Sold: 6/9/26 M/M $17.60

Low: $0.16

Median: $1.51

Average: $3.03

High: $17.60

Current low price: $0.51

Current Number on Sale at Discogs: 54

Have/Want: 203/19

Where Sold: Indianapolis, IN

Time It Took To Sell:  16 years

Where and When Bought: internet early aughts

Gwiz-gau Letter Grade: B-

Sad To See It Go: No 

The further adventures and group swan song of Hesta Prynn, Spero and Sprout kinda grew on me. This album is a peculiar blend of nursery rhyme chants and (self-described in the opener "Mic Tester") white girl problems circa 2007.  You work so hard to get it done but you are still broke and want to have fun. A Columbia Records contract was in the rear view window and not even the Dean of Music Criticism was on board anymore to give this a blanket A.  This came out though Mike Patton's Ipecac label, an odd turn of events.  

Christgau noted in his 3 star review (is that B-level?) that they were singing now.  This was in the style of the post-Le Tigre times of 2007 with "Cold War."  Obama wasn't even elected yet and "Sucka Mofo" pleaded for the Democrats to come correct.   The best track on the record is still in their rap style.  Get off your high horse Don Qui-xo-teeeeeeeey!   Otherwise the infusion of Amerindie and adulthood turned off the Dean.  He prefered adults like mod housewife Amy Rigby to professional DJ's and mental health careerists.

As far as listenability goes, this one is a cut above All City in terms of variety though that one might have had more memorable rap songs.  I'm glad to get both of these out of my random shuffle preview cue where with two albums I've been getting a double dose of their music.  The other two songs that stand out are the opposite ends of the Long Island spectrum.  Either you are working the ratrace ("Good Distance") or you are domesticated like a job ("Things I'll Do").  Mother May I?

Yes You May!

FOR FURTHER REVIEW:

All City (2004)


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