North Side Kings--Organizing the Neighborhood
Yes, this is the band whose singer knocked Glenn Danzig down in a "fight." Are they incredible tough guy hardcore or just a poor man's Madball?
Packaging--
The good:
We have a busy, cartoony cover that looks fun loving at first...then you look closer and people are getting stabbed, their asses kicked (literally), and I believe someone is holding a gun. The booklet has a bright red background throughout with easily legible lyrics, thank yous, and other information. This has some solid artwork.
The bad:
Simply out of curiosity, I'd like to know where this band is from. It's not on their album or the press sheet. You'd think that would be mentioned. While I like the whole art style, I think there's probably a bit too much going on on the cover.
The music:
The good:
There are three types of "thug core" from my viewpoint...and ironically, the thug core categories I have are the same categories I have for performances of Shakespeare's works. Allow me to explain
The good thugcore--entertaining, well done, catchy songs, a good band all around (see Madball). Just like a really good production of Othello, this can be entertaining.
The bad thugcore--entertaining because it's so poorly done, the songs may be catchy but there's something about them...be in the repetitiveness or moronic lyrics...that make them hilarious. You can listen to it, but you can't with a straight face. I choose not to name any bands out of fear for my personal well being. This is just like a piss poor version of Hamlet where you can't help but laugh at the horrendous accents, stage props, and line delivery. I'm chuckling just thinking about it...ho ho ho.
The average thugcore--this really is the worst thugcore of them all. It's good. The production is good. The lyrics make be entertaining. The songs are alright. Everything about it is "okay" which really makes for an all around uninteresting listening experience. Just like a mediocre college production of The Tempest where everything is done so dry you can't possibly be entertained.
North Side Kings, unfortunately, fall into the "average" category, though I'd put them at the high end of average. They're certainly listenable, I can't say anything bad about them other than they just don't capture my interest. The production is great...everything sounds great, the mix is fine, the whole presentation is nice, and for the most part the songs are catchy and good, but there's just something missing.
The music is pretty standard. Madball play the same style of music, but there's something about "Demonstrating My Style" that works...that makes you want to listen to it over and over that this is missing. When I first got "Look My Way," I played the hell out of it. After listening to this, it made me want to go back and listen to "Look My Way" again.
What this means, is that if you like "thugcore"...if that is one of your genres of choice...if you own 200 bands of this style, then you will probably eat this right up.
The songs are for the most part faster, with heavy grooves...lots of dancing parts, and certainly not a band I'd be anywhere near the pit for. Music like this is genuinely entertaining in a live setting...and I'd bet seeing them live would sell them on me, but for now they're just one of many thugcore bands that don't really do it for me.
The bad--
I really have to criticize this band's lyrics. Allow me to point out some things...
The first person thanked is "God."
The entire song "Point the Finger" is about how the world is going to hell and that our kids are going to inherit this fucked up place...things criticized include pollution, unemployment, war for oil, and drugs among others.
This sounds pretty positive, right? But every other song is about beating the shit out of someone. "Call the fucking cops I'll come back when I get freed, I'll take a hammer to your skull and watch as you bleed." or how about "it's me who fuels the fire when things aren't going so well."
What's the gripe? Are you a tough guy who hates everyone and is ready to beat the shit out of everyone? Or are you someone who loves God and is concerned about our children's future? Wouldn't mindless thug violence be an issue to worry about?
Fury of Five have the same contradictions in their lyrics...they're tough guys, they're beat the shit out of you, but they care about the children and mourn the loss of Princess Di and Mother Theresa, It's strange.
And here we have another thing...I can listen to Cannibal Corpse because they're lyrics, while violent, are obviously not "real." When Corpsegrinder sings about killing, he's not actually going to do it, or singing about something he's done. It's not glorifying violence anymore than a horror movie. This however, certainly is glorifying violence. It's nothing more than chest puffing, macho, tough guy rants...which is fine, it's certainly better than whining about your girlfriend dumping you...but I guess I just don't "get" it as I don't necessarily relate. And I think these lyrics are something that some people can relate to...they're not fantasy, they're real and they're honest and I respect that.
I suppose these guys could be an interesting sociological experiment...tough guys who hate all the PC crap, who cover "Fuck The Middle East" by SOD (a band I love), and who just seem pissed off, yet at the same time are concerned about the future and respect their maker.
Recap�
If you love this style of music, you'll enjoy this. If you're a casual fan, you may. If you like the style but are a bit more discriminating, then I'm not sure you'd be into this. Madball does it better.
Want more info?
Thorp Records
Review by Chris