All City (Northern State album)
All City is the second full-length album by New York City-based hip hop group Northern State, released on August 17, 2004 on Columbia Records. It is also their major-label debut, as it was their first album released for Columbia.[1][2] It has also been described as their first "real record", because some do not consider their debut album Dying in Stereo to be a full-length album, but an EP.[3] The album's first single was "Girl for All Seasons", for which a music video was made at the Siberia club in New York City.[4]
All City | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 17, 2004 | |||
Genre | Pop rap | |||
Length | 41:34 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Northern State chronology | ||||
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Recording
All City was recorded in Philadelphia with a handful of guest artists, including Martin Luther McCoy (on "Siren Song"), Har Mar Superstar (on "Summer Never Ends"),[5] and the High & Mighty (on "Think Twice").[4] Also contributing to the album's recording were ?uestlove, as well as DJ Muggs of Cypress Hill, and Pete Rock, both of whom helped produce the album.[6][7]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 69/100[8] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [9] |
Elle Girl | 3.5/4[10] |
The New York Times | mixed[11] |
Rolling Stone | [12] |
Spin | C+[13] |
Stylus Magazine | A[14] |
The Village Voice | A[15] |
All City received generally favorable reviews from music critics[8] and was named one of the 50 best albums of 2004 by Rolling Stone.[1]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Ignite" | 3:51 |
2. | "Girl for All Seasons" | 2:56 |
3. | "Nice With It" | 3:45 |
4. | "Last Night" | 3:28 |
5. | "Think Twice" | 4:13 |
6. | "Don’t Look Down" | 4:00 |
7. | "Siren Song" | 3:39 |
8. | "Style I Bring" | 3:58 |
9. | "Time To Rhyme" | 4:30 |
10. | "Speaking for Me" | 3:33 |
11. | "Summer Never Ends" | 3:38 |
Personnel
- Jim Bottari – engineer, mixing
- Chuck Brody – engineer
- Katie Cassidy – additional personnel, guitar, harp, photography
- Thera L. Choice – beat box, drum programming, organ, piano
- Fusako Chubachi – design
- Chris Conway – engineer
- DJ Drez – additional personnel, cut
- DJ Mighty Mi – audio production, producer
- Chris Fargo – additional personnel, guitar
- John Fields – acoustic bass guitar, additional personnel, bass, beats, guitar (electric), producer, synthesizer, wurlitzer, wurlitzer piano
- Mark Grant – engineer
- Mike Halpern – additional personnel, drums, percussion
- Steven Halpern – additional personnel, bass, drum programming, guitar, guitar (bass), keyboards, organ, piano, programming
- Michael Halsband – cover photo, photography
- Har Mar Superstar – additional personnel, featured artist, guest artist, primary artist, vocals
- The High & Mighty – additional personnel, featured artist, guest artist, vocals
- Rob Hill – additional personnel, bass, engineer, guitar, keyboards, mixing, programming, strings, synthesizer
- Dana Klein – additional personnel, vocals
- Thera L – additional personnel, drum programming, organ, piano
- Alice Lord – additional personnel, violin
- Rogelio Lozano – bass, guitar
- Colin Malley – interpretation
- Manifest – audio production, producer
- Mr. Eon – additional personnel, vocals
- Mister Wohlsen – engineer
- Muggs – audio production, producer
- Peter Phillips – mixing, producer
- Hesta Prynn – group member, member of attributed artist, piano, vocals
- Damian Quiñones – additional personnel, piano, reproduction, sound effects, vocals
- Geoffrey Rice – assistant engineer
- Pete Rock – additional personnel, audio production, vocals
- Johnny Rodeo – engineer
- Sami Ryan – assistant engineer
- Skotch Rockie – bass
- Spero – engineer, member of attributed artist, vocals
- Sprout – drum machine, drums, group member, member of attributed artist, photography, vocals
- Jamey Staub – engineer, mixing
- Yutakha – engineer
- Grover Zinn – engineer
References
- Roberts, Michael (1 November 2007). "Northern State". Westword. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- Draper, Jimmy (13 October 2004). "Girl heroes". Metro Times. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- Williams, Darona (11 March 2007). "Beastie Girls: Northern State". The Washington Post. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- "Northern State Hits The 'City'". Billboard. 20 July 2004. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- LeRoy, Dan (2 June 2004). "Where the Boys Aren't". Clevescene. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- McCabe, Bret (28 August 2007). "Finding a Northern State of Grace". The New York Sun. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- Goldstein, Jeremy P. (20 July 2004). "Northern State Rope In Heavy Hitters For Columbia Debut". The Fader. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
- "All City". Metacritic. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- Loftus, Johnny. "All City - Northern State". AllMusic. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- "Platter Party". Elle Girl. 3 (6): 114. September 2004.
- Sanneh, Kelefa (August 30, 2004). "Critic's Choice/New CD's; Rap Beats: Preachy, Snarly or Sweet". The New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2019.
- "All City Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 21, 2007. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- "Breakdown". Spin. 20 (9): 120. September 2004.
- Timmermann, Josh (September 16, 2004). "Northern State - All City - Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on February 13, 2005. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
- Christgau, Robert (August 31, 2004). "Inter-Century Freundschaft". The Village Voice. Retrieved July 3, 2017.