Customer Reviews

Information Society

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The timing couldn't have been better. It was my senior year in HS, and "What's on Your Mind" came out as I was prepping for the debate tourney season. I think this was the first song I ever proudly blared out my car windows, probably much to the annoyance of other motorists (but I didn't care). Then I bought the remix version, and that forever hooked me on 12" remixes. And then I finally bought the entire album, and that solidified my love for InSoc and my passion for electronic dance music. This CD is a must have for those who enjoy layered dance electronica with cutting edge sampling (for the time), great vocal harmonics, and thought-provoking lyrics.

The album starts off on a high-paced, high-energy note with "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" with its throbbing drum-n-bass, deep orchestrations, and brilliant samples from Star Trek. If you haven't heard this song, you're at the wrong clubs. [And if you like this song, the remix CD is a must have!] The energy continues (slightly more upbeat) with "Tomorrow," featuring fantastic orchestration, lyrics, and vocal harmonies. InSoc brilliantly remade the Abba classic "Lay All Your Love on Me." At the time, I didn't even know this was an Abba song (it sounds every bit of InSoc), and I absolutely love this version of the dance classic. [Yet another single released with remixes that kick butt!] "Repetition" slows down to ballad mode, but it has fantastic orchestration and lyrics. "Walking Away" is another dance masterpiece that capitalizes on more Star Trek samples amid the sensory barrage that forces you to dance. [This was also released as a remix single, which is AWESOME... get it if you can!] You'll continue to bounce around the dance floor with the bright yet deep "Over the Sea." Appropriately titled, "Attitude" departs some from electronica and introduces a bit of funk and an r&b groove attitude. "Something in the Air" continues with a slow funky groove that utilizes more great samples from Star Trek. "Running" is a long (7:41) electronica infused minimalist piece of art; the angst-filled vocals sound like David Bowie, some backing orchestration is reminiscent of older Depeche Mode, and the ending is filled with creative sampling. [This song also had remixes released.] The release ends with "Make It Funky," which is a very short (1:11), slow, minimalist funk piece with some cool computerized samples.

I give InSoc's debut release a low 5 star rating. While it falls within my top 100 releases of all time, I must admit that I tend to only listen to the first 6 tracks. Also, if I want to listen to InSoc, I tend to prefer to listen to my remix singles from this release, or listen to Hack instead (InSoc's second album, which is brilliant). But I must pay this release its proper respect, because it did solidify my love for electronic and dance music (as well as a desire to program my own music).

If you like late 80s dance-pop-electronica, or if you merely remember liking "What's on Your Mind," you will not be disappointed with purchasing this release. It is full of body-moving, mind-blowing, thought-provoking beats, orchestration and lyrics that will satisfy even the most finicky dance floor diva. For their time, InSoc were musical visionaries that showed where music could move, both in sound and in content.

It was 1988. After years of playing in small clubs, Kurt Harland (who was known as Kurt Valaquen back then), Jim Cassidy, Paul Robb and, later on, Amanda Kramer, struck a record deal with Tommy Boy/Warner Bros and recorded their first album without realizing that it would be their ticket to this crazy roller coaster ride called fame. Of course, they had to make some sacrifices : their electronic, Kraftwerk-influenced music, in order to be more top-40, radio-friendly, was turned into a brilliant blend of pop, funk and dance that would propel Information Society to the top of the charts. The first single off their eponymous effort, What's on your mind (which has one of the catchiest choruses ever in my opinion), was an instant success in the summer of '88 and still remains one of the most memorable songs from the synth-pop era. With a profusion of Star Trek samples and infectious beats, the rest of the album is equally satisfying, with Walking Away and Something in the Air among the highlights. InSoc was never able to repeat the success of their first album, but it was enough to give them a loyal and still surprisingly-large fan base and make people dance for decades to come.

If you are buying this cd for the song "what's on your mind" you will be very pleased to know that the rest of the album is on par with that song. "Tomorrow" has an excelent beat and melody, so does "Repetition", wich is an extraordinary synth pop ballad. Worth to mention is the song "Make It Funky", great use of samples and a particular beat. "Walking away", also included, was the second single of the album. Recommended if you love synth pop and are building a synth pop collection. Better than this album is Information Society?s next album called Hack. It is Information Society at its peak of performance and inspiration.
Interesting Fact: Paul Robb, member of Information Society, also was the producer for the first synth pop band Red Flag album, wich, believe, it is a dance synth pop gem. Be sure to check out Red Flag's N?ive Art then.

I recently bought the CD to replace the vinyl I no longer play, and it's like revisiting an old friend after all these years. Think of Information Society as The Human League minus that band's "We're serious musicians. Please respect us!" attitude. While the album is best known for the hit "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)", that is actually one of the weaker tracks. Listen instead to I.S. taking on ABBA's "Lay All Your Love On Me", the stomping "Attitde" and the tongue-in-cheek final track "Make It Funky" (all 1 min 40 sec of it!). This is what great dance music in the late 80's was like.

For those people who like classic albums instead of "greatest hits" kind of albums this is one of them. I specially preffer the original albums with the classics on it. If you want to have an album part of that age of alternative and electronic reborn this is an acurate purchase. Problably is not a great album with a great sound but have a couple of great songs apart from "What's on your mind" such "over the sea" and tomorrow. For me is part of my first years high school soundtrack. Enjoy!!!

Information Society's self-titled debut album is a great example of the state of the New Wave genre circa 1988. InSoc's synth soundscapes and drum machine bursts were a prescient precursor to the house-music chart infection of the early 90s.

The first five tracks are all top-notch: the monster hit "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)", the superb "Tomorrow" (my favorite song on the CD), "Lay All Your Love On Me", an update on the Abba classic, the mellow, sad "Repetition", and the frenetic "Walking Away".

The rest of the material is middling, but the aformentioned tracks make the album worth its (modest) price. Anyone interested in late-80s New Wave should own this disc.

Being a huge insoc fan i think they are an excellent band and the best in techno funk. i highly recommend it

Anyone who hasn't heard of Information Society is to be pitied. Alas, the pitiable are many.

Information Society's first album is very worthy of Human League, too. Almost every track has a very strong percussive foundation.

Interestingly, and probably for the reason above, this is a CD that one is likely to appreciate a great deal on first hearing. On a large minority of the tracks, the other components of the song are not as impressive as the background, and one tends to notice these more after a few hearings. Perhaps in this regard, they differ a little from Human League, whose strengths are not in background to as great an extent.

"What's on your Mind" is very reminiscent of Human League (and, as someone pointed out, of Duran Duran) and a very good track indeed. But other fine contributions abound: "Over the Sea", "Running", "Walking Away" and the well-conceived version of Abba's "Lay all your Love on Me". (Indeed, it is instructive to compare their version of the last with Erasure's of 2 years later).

A final strength is that all tracks but one are over 3.5 minutes in length, with several well over 4 minutes. Well worth purchasing, especially 12 years later.

Anyone who hasn't heard of Information Society is to be pitied. Alas, the pitiable are many.

Information Society's first album is very worthy of Human League, too. Almost every track has a very strong percussive foundation.

Interestingly, and probably for the reason above, this is a CD that one is likely to appreciate a great deal on first hearing. On a large minority of the tracks, the other components of the song are not as impressive as the background, and one tends to notice these more after a few hearings. Perhaps in this regard, they differ a little from Human League, whose strengths are not in background to as great an extent.

"What's on your Mind" is very reminiscent of Human League (and, as someone pointed out, of Duran Duran) and a very good track indeed. But other fine contributions abound: "Over the Sea", "Running", "Walking Away" and the well-conceived version of Abba's "Lay all your Love on Me". (Indeed, it is instructive to compare their version of the last with Erasure's of 2 years later).

Well worth purchasing, especially 12 years later.

Okay what can you say about Information Society's first album that hasn't been said already?? Released in 1988, although the single "Running" was released earlier, it quickly became a top-selling album mainly due to the cool electronic "New Wave" sound. Although "What's on your mind?" is the more popular song - inner city club goers (New York City) can remember "Running" as their first hit.

I'm a huge fan of New Order, Depeche Mode, and Pet Shop Boys - and have always felt InfoSoc is more "New Wave/Electronic" rather than being categorized as "Freestyle" or "Techno"(not fast enough for techno). But since it's a release under Tommy Boy, InfoSoc tours with a lot of "Freestyle" artists. As you can see by the majority of the reviews, if you purchase this CD, you will NOT be disappointed; as one reviewer quite eloquently put it: "All the songs are in par with "What's on your mind?"" - I actually like "Walking Away" the most. For the price, it's a great album and a "key" collection from the late 80s' early 90's. A must have! -Socimer