Customer Reviews

Armed Love

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

 

 

Yeah, it's glam pop. Yeah, it doesn't come with a reading list of Marxist texts referenced in the lyrics. Yeah, it's not Refused raw or as in-your-face lyrically as "Capitalism Stole My Virginity". But who care! It's make me wanna shake my butt and do funky James Brown moves. Either everyone dances or no one dances! SCREW ART! LET'S DANCE!!!

This is another band that had some trouble releasing an album. The Noise Conspiracy is a band that ushered in the Swedish music craze but got little credit. Bands like The Hives garnered all the attention. They toured heavily, more than any band. People were there to see The Refused. The Noise Conspiracy always has had songs that made you think like "Capitalism Stole My Virginity." They may have seemed like party poopers, but that was part of the fun. A few years ago they lost a member and regrouped in Los Angeles. They got together with Rick Rubin and forced themselves to make a great rock and roll album. The first songs "Black Mask" and "The Way I Feel About You" are some of their best yet. They combine rock and roll and soul music in a powerful punch. This is mod music for a new generation. This is their most fun record ever. Every song has catchy memorable tunes. There is a reminder of the old days with songs like "Communist Moon" but even that doesnŐt hold them back. "A Small Demand" is a great song that you want to sing along to. This album is rhythmically complex. They have blown all their Swedish brothers out of the water. Finally we get the album they always promised. This album was delayed a year but it was worth the wait.

This album truly rocks!! It matches the energy and sexiness of their live shows and exceeds those of their previous stuff. Every single song on Armed Love is solid. Just like their live shows, this album never lets up. The long-awaited release in the U.S. should help I.N.C. pick up momentum again. If you haven't seen them live yet, get this album, listen to it everyday and for christ's sake go out and catch em live.

The Good
An infectious riff and catchy chorus commands "A Small Demand". There's a big build up to "The Way I Feel About You" that pays off with driving organ tones similar to the one's in seventies alt-rock songs. Vocalist Dennis Lyxzén's cocksure vocals help drive the track. Guitarist Lars Strömberg's solo is quite impressive. "The Dream Is Over" injects a little bit of rockabilly style piano to its swinging rhythms. Ludwig Dahlberg's pitter-patter percussive work accents "All in All". Forceful riffs and tuneful vocals are all "Black Mask" need to draw you in. "Armed Love" hits the listener with a heavy wall of distortion that Lyxzén breaks through with his forceful vocals.

The Bad
Some of the songs sound alike.

The Verdict
The only conspiracy is that the band has been hiding from U.S. audiences far too long. Armed Love oozes with 60s and 70s punk & rock influence. I can't deny the catchiness of the music, but it's not as diverse as it could be.

The Good
An infectious riff and catchy chorus commands "A Small Demand". There's a big build up to "The Way I Feel About You" that pays off with driving organ tones similar to the one's in seventies alt-rock songs. Vocalist Dennis Lyxzén's cocksure vocals help drive the track. Guitarist Lars Strömberg's solo is quite impressive. "The Dream Is Over" injects a little bit of rockabilly style piano to its swinging rhythms. Ludwig Dahlberg's pitter-patter percussive work accents "All in All". Forceful riffs and tuneful vocals are all "Black Mask" need to draw you in. "Armed Love" hits the listener with a heavy wall of distortion that Lyxzén breaks through with his forceful vocals.

The Bad
Some of the songs sound alike.

The Verdict
The only conspiracy is that the band has been hiding from U.S. audiences far too long. Armed Love oozes with 60s and 70s punk & rock influence. I can't deny the catchiness of the music, but it's not as diverse as it could be.

If you, like me, want to purchasing this album based on past experiences with (I)NC's music, then most likely you'll be disappointed. Their older albums tended to have a harder edge to them, sometimes coming off angry. With this album, it seems
(I)NC wanted to explore a different sound. This album will probably be easier for a wider audience to relate to then their older, hardcore stuff.

If you can get past the different sound, then you'll probably find that the album itself is thoroughly enjoyable. (I)NC's political messages are still the same and makes this album worth listening to.

one of my fave t(i)nc albums. wasnt a big fan of first conspiracy but this is right up there with new mornign changing weather and survival sickness. armed love and communist moon are the strongest singles

You would never suspect that The (International) Noise Conspiracy shares the same frontman as the renowned Swedish hardcore band Reufsed. Whereas the Refused had a harsh sound condemning the many sins of captialism, T(I)NC has a bright, happy, propulsive sound that, for the most part, extols the virtues of Socialism; in fact, almost al the music T(I)NC creates is essentially thinly-veiled Situationist propaganda. But its VERY GOOD propaganda. They make the prospect of having a moonlit party at the 'ol commune sound like a blast, as long as T(I)NC is the house band.

There are stand out tracks, such as "Black Mask" and the titular track, but more importantly there is zero filler present; this is an album which can be played from beginning to end (occcasionally I play it beginning to end to beginning to end to beginning to end...).

This album is a must-own for all fans of punk, garage, or just plain old rock and roll. There's no excuse for overlooking such a fine brand.

I love all the albums of the INC, and while "Armed Love" is a little more polished (giving it an unexpected glam feel), its a great, solid, and surprisingly catchy album.

The INC plays good garagey rock 'n' roll, with a slight punkish slant, but where some garage punk bands tend to be herky-jerky (the Hives) or bludgeoning (Rocket From The Crypt) the INC is a lot more mellow and groove oriented.

Which is awesome, honestly. The grooves and mellowness make it sound very hip and sexy, and I love it! A lot of it is very danceable, if "Let's Make History" doesn't get your hips shaking, check your pulse.

I don't care one way or the other about the socialist stance these guys take, they make top notch rock 'n' roll and you'd be a fool not to give this album a chance.

I've followed Lyxzen and company's career since first seeing Refused"s "New Noise" video and being blown away and his departure into TINC did not disappoint. I thought they were one of the coolest, most compelling and most original acts out there and I still do- notwithstanding the fact that I don't think Armed Love will be remembered as there monumental break-out album. But stacked up against everything else that's out there, it's catchy, it rocks and it takes a political stance that most bands are either too scared or not educated enough to go anywhere near. Lyxzen's vocals are great, they are amazing live. Can't wait to see what they do next! Bring back Sara!