Customer Reviews

Northern Star

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I'm a US-based middle-aged male who (quite sheepishly) can name all five Spice Girls. Chalk it up to pop culture awareness rather than anything musical. I never really cared for their tunes. However, I got hooked on the soundtrack to "Bend It Like Beckham" and I was struck by Mel C's excellent contribution to that effort, "Independence Day" (especially when compared to ex-bandmate's Victoria Beckhams's "I Wish," included only probably as a quid pro quo favor for getting husband David's name up on the marquee).

You can't find "Independence Day" on any Mel C stateside album (or import for that matter), but given her reputation as "the only Spice Girl that can acutally sing," I thought it was worth the effort to track down one of the erstwhile Sporty Spice's solo efforts. This import version of 'Northern Star' is worth seeking out. It's widely acclaimed as the best post-Spice Girls outing.

Okay, that's not exactly like comparing Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison's post-breakup efforts, but still - 'Northern Star' stands on its own merits. Favorites are leadoff tune "Go!," dance club fav "I Turn to You," and Garbage-influenced (as noted elsewhere) "Ga Ga." One complaint - echoed elsewhere on these pages - is that the mix of styles is *so* diverse (Mel's desire to please, I guess), that someone's bound to be disappointed along the way. For example, fans drawn to "I Turn to You" will do their utmost to skip the ballady title track and the handful of others like it.

All in all, a very good effort.

While four of the past and present Spice Girls have released solo projects, none has been as ambitious as that of Melanie C's first outing NORTHERN STAR. Distancing herself from her group's penchant for cheesy yet catchy hooks, Mel covers a wide array of musical styles here--industrial-strength rock('Goin Down'), ambient disco('I Turn To You'), and hip-hop balladry('Never Be The Same Again'). A wise move was getting a clutch of strong producers(William Orbit, Rick Nowels, Rick Rubin, to name a few)
--even when the lyrics border sophomoric and insipid('Ga Ga', though incessantly catchy, suffers from this), the first-rate production and Mel's strong vocal work manage to save the situation. We all knew she was the only Spice that could carry a tune(with the possible exception of Emma Bunton), but she goes far and above on alot of the tracks, turning in first-rate work throughout. If the set loses some of its steam toward the end (as filler begins to rear it's head), it's still highly listenable. A promising solo start.

Ah the first 'Solo Spice who was still a Spice' CD to be release! Geri may have beat her but Melanie C really showed her up with her musical skills. 'Northern Star' is a VERY ecclectic CD. Almost every other track is a different genre and Melanie does well on all of them! This CD I do believe didn't crack the top 200 in the US *but* it spawned several #1's in the UK. I have no clue why it didn't succeed here, a lot of the stuff was good US material! I'm gonna bet its the accent...some American's like it some don't but either way its there and unchangeable.

'Northern Star' kicks off with 'Go' a bass heavy adrenaline rush that would probably give the impression that this is going to be a pretty 'rock' CD. I wouldn't call 'Go' fully 'rock' but its along those lines. Beautiful!

Next is the title track a mellow AC (adult contemprary) sounding warning tune. It takes aim at society and most likely the music industry but its very veiled so I cant say for sure.

From there comes what can officially be described as 'Rock' track: 'Goin down'. It's an ass kicking anthem rumored to be aimed at Robbie Williams. Lovely!

'I turn to you' sets out to confuse the first time listener further by going all 'dance' on them. Very sweet sounding though and it was one of her American hits. 'If that were me' goes back to 'Northern Stars' sound and thoughtful vibe. The theme of being homeless is actually really touching.

Next up is one of my favorite of all time tracks 'Never be the same again'. Left Eye did a rap on this and its one of my favorites by her! Very 'rnb' and why this wasn't a US hit (I dont believe it was even release as a single here) I have no clue...it COULD have been.

'Why' goes into a heavy 'rock' mesh. You can almost feel the sadness pushing in on you its that sincere! 'Suddenly Monday' feels like you just popped a prozac...LOL why that tracks follows 'Why' I have no clue but its intriguing! 'Suddenly Monday' is the '50's pop' sounding song. I love it to bits and the rough edit (with a 3rd verse) is even better...hard to believe but true!

By this point in the CD Melanie seems to have made up her mind genre wise: hints of rock and AC. 'Ga Ga' goes rock, 'Be the one' goes AC, 'Closer' goes a bit instrumental and AC, and 'Feel the sun' mixes rock and AC.

So to give this CD a genre I'd reaaallly say Adult Contemprary but thats just not truly fair when over half the tracks are something that doesn't belong with the other genre wise. However its all blended so well that by the time 'Ga Ga' kicks in and goes all Rock/AC your wishing she was experimenting more! 'Northern Star' is pure gold and really worth the $! One of the best Solo Spice CD's ever!

Melanie,s Northern star blew me away.Its soft and edgy with great rock ballads.With her debut single goin down it,s quite clear that Mel can really become a great solo artist.Another great rock song is GA GA its about loving someone who hurts you but you always go back to them ''STUPID CUPID''. She also does a song with the late Lisa''Left Eye''Lopes called never be the same again. Great debut.

Northern Star is by far one of the best albums I have listened too. I'm not just saying this because I play it non-stop all day, no, thats not it and I'm not saying it because I love the Spice Girls. Nope, not at all. Even though I bought this CD because of Mel C's background and hadn't heard one track off of it, I knew it wasn't exactly her Spicey image sound. But what I hadn't expected was something this fantastic! She never used to be one of my top fav's, but now, she's one of my most favorite solo artists! Northern Star, the title track, is so great! Each track on this album has an unbelievable way of touching you. From "Go!" (which, in some twisted way sounds like a horrifying split-song, ie. G. Halliwell's "Look at me", who is also awesome! Get her new single, It's Raining Men - out soon!) to "I turn to you" (a very well-done dancey-type love/friendship song) to "Feel the Sun" (I can't even describe it!) it is a non-stop thrill and enjoyment. "Never be the same again" is also very good. But popster be warned - although Mel C's roots may be in "Spice World", she's breaking out into a new sound that has made her an admirable and more-so then ever possible solo artist. The sounds are much more acoustic and simple, served with a twist of base and electronica. She's seemed to have somehow intertwined the sounds of Madonna's Ray of Light Album, No Doubt and the Britney Spears pop world into one great album. I play This album non-stop (even when I'm driving!), and even though I hate to admit it, more so then the Spice Girl's recent "Forever" Album. Melanie C, I thouhgt, couldn't make it on her own but she's stopped me dead from ever doubting her again and all these songs are now favorites of mine. I've gotta go-my CD player is repeating the album for the fifth time, and I think it's gonna melt if I don't let it rest :) Get this, and you will not be disappointed. And who knows, maybe you'll be genuinely surprised of what she is capable of...

I have to admit, I was a bit hesitant to buy this CD, even after I had heard "Never Be the Same Again". But I gave in, and what a pleasant surprise. Critics have always said that Mel C was the one Spice Girl with real vocal talent, and I think this CD proves they were right. What I like most about this CD is how varied the songs are. Mel runs the gamut from soft ballads ("Northern Star") to midtempo soul ("Never Be the Same Again") to hard rock ("Goin' Down"). The songs are melodic, memorable, and fun. My favorite is "Suddenly Monday," a sixties-sounding midtempo summer song about falling in love and wondering if the object of her affection feels the same way. It's my favorite song of the whole year, in fact. I also love "Northern Star," "Be the One," "Feel the Sun," and "If That Were Me." Her only missteps are the hard-rocking "Goin' Down" and the shrill "Why," a song much better in concept than in execution. But those are minor missteps. If you have like pop music, well-written and sung, take a chance on this CD. I've kept in my CD player pretty regularly for the last six months.

Melanie c always had the best voice out of all of the spice girls and it stands out on her first solo album Northern Star. The opening track Go sets the pace for the whole of the album, its full of radio friendly songs such as Never be the same and I turn to you. Going down is the only song that seems out of place on this album as the rest of the songs seem more chilled out. Going down shows what a vocal range mel has, and shows what an all round performer she is and that she is not afraid to use her own influences rather than folowing the trend. if all the other spice girls produce an album as ranged and altogether as complete as this it will be a pleasant suprise but i some how doubt it. this album wil appeal to all people even to those who cant stand the spice girls as she has progressed so much that she almost shoves the girl band label right off and puts it firmly in the past.

Although this is her first album(solo), it was the last one I've heard. I've had it in my closet for a long time but the only tracks I listened to were 'I turn to you' and 'Never be the same again'. When I heard some tracks from her third album, I decided to listen to some more. It impressed me. I also checked her second album out and it was very differend but still good. I decided to give 'Northern Star' a chance, and I am glad I did.

The opener, Go, is a real 'Melanie C' song. Although the opening of the song might make it seem like a rock-track; don't be fooled because it is not. It turns catchier whole the time. The second track, Northern Star, is the first single. Again the opening of the song is decieving, because it seems like a ballad. Although it is a little like a ballad, it's chorus is more then just a slow ballad. It's not one of my favorits. Goin' down gives the album a twist. This is really a rock track and Melanie's voice does well. It was also chosen as second single and although the album has a lot of stronger/catchier tracks, this is the albums highlight to me. I turn to you definatly is one of those stronger and catchier tracks, which also has that 'Melanie C' feeling which I can't describe. It's been on the radio loads of times and I am sure you know it, even if you don't know it's name. 'If that were me' gives a nice touch to the album, and the track is OK. Lyrics are nice. Don't listen to it too much though; you will get bored of it. 'Never be the same again' is probably the best track on the album. It featered 'Left Eye' some sort of female rapper. Normally I don't like it when other people 'rap along' but in this song, I can honestly say it does not annoy me one bit. 'Why' is a filler to me, but it's not that bad. Give it a try. 'Suddenly Monday' really is a stand-out track to me and not because it's catchy, has powerfull lyrics, but just because it gives a special touch to the album that cannot be missed. It really gives an 70/80 feeling. One of the tracks that makes this album worth 4 stars. 'Ga Ga' is just like 'why', another filler. Altough I do think it's better than 'Why'. 'Be the one' gives me a happy feeling and I just like the song. It could have had more instruments, etc. But anyway it does fine without all that too. 'Closer' is almost like a copy of Northern Star, and almost as good. 'Feel the sun' is a perfect way to end the album. The chorus is stunning and I want to listen to it over and over.

I was a big fan and still am a big fan of the spice girls. But I really love this album. It wasn't what I expected to hear from Mel, but I really liked it. It is very very different from the music she made with the Spice Girls. I would highly recomend this album.
My Fav songs are
Go
Northern Star
Never be the same again
suddenly monday
ga ga
i turn to you

I love this CD! I've worn it out!! EVERY song is amazing. The mix of beats and lyrics is awesome. My favorite song of this album is number 6, Never be the Same Again. I can't tell you how increble this CD is. Please buy it! I highly recommend it..!