Survival Sickness

International Noise Conspiracy | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 9, 2000)
• Original Release Date: May 9, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Burning Heart
• ASIN: B00004SWGK
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,807 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I Wanna Know About U

2. The Subversive Sound

3. Smash It Up

4. (I've Got) Suvival Sickness

5. The Reproduction of Death

6. Impostor Costume

7. Only Lovers Left Alive

8. Do I Have to Spell It Out?

9. Will It Ever Be Quiet?

10. Enslavement Blues

11. Sleeping Pills

12. Ready Steady Go!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 2000

The trailblazing American feminist Emma Goldman loved to say, "If I can't dance, I want no part in your revolution." Emma Goldman would love the International Noise Conspiracy. Combining radical anarchist politics and punk-mod-soul sounds, the International Noise Conspiracy's debut, Survival Sickness, reads like a manifesto but moves like a triple-bill featuring the Small Faces, Booker T and the MGs, and Fugazi. The revolution may not be televised, but at least now it has a soundtrack. --S. Duda

Amazon.com

What do you do after issuing the definitive punk rock manifesto? Self-implode. It's what all self-respecting revolutionary punk bands do (just ask the Sex Pistols). Soon after releasing The Shape of Punk to Come (which included the warning shot "The Refused Are Fuckin' Dead"), Refused frontman and mastermind Dennis Lyxzén disbanded the group in mid-tour. But he didn't give up his mission. With the (International) Noise Conspiracy, Lyxzén continues to seek an incendiary mesh of art, revolution, and music. While the Refused deconstructed pop conventions with jazzy ferocity and hardcore pathos, the Conspiracy's radical politics are hidden in the guise of soulful '60s punk rock mayhem, recalling the high-octane garage thrash of the Makers and fellow Swedes the Nomads. Perhaps they figured the best way to change the system is to crash the party. If the Refused were a combination of Derrida and Fugazi, the Conspiracy are Debord and the Who. "Smash It Up" is less a rowdy's rebel yell than a subversive call to arms, inciting "the creative urge to destroy bourguise [sic] culture" over an organ- and bass-heavy rock steady beat. When Lautreamont sings "My heart still hurts from last night" during "Survival Sickness," he's not a spurned lover--he's sick of the state of the world, from "smart bombs" to "easy listening." How does one continue to exist in a society in which the twin evils of capitalism and totalitarianism strip the world of its resources and the people of their dignity? "Won't you forget about me when I'm gone?" he implores in "The Reproduction of Death," but again it has nothing to do with love--he's speaking about the body enslaved as commodity. The liner notes breezily name-check Lautr&ecute;amont, Fourier, Durutti, Warhol, and Marx. Heavy stuff, but lightened by the shake-ass groove Lyxzén's co-Conspirators kick up. This is revolution with a backbeat, and the (International) Noise Conspiracy are the MC5 of the 21st century. --Tod Nelson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 'Smash'ing, December 21, 2000

By 

chad (flint, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Survival Sickness (Audio CD)

All the ancillary evidence would suggest that The (International) Noise Conspiracy is full of enough arch pretension to scare away even the most high-minded art rock fan. From the faux Japanese animation cover art to the liner notes' substitution of societal calls to arms in place of song lyrics, it seems like "Survival Sickness" serves as little more than a vehicle for a political agenda that's weightier than Ted Kaczynski's. It's an intimidating façade, to be sure. But, thankfully, it's one that gets thrown aside and smashed to bits the moment the punky surf guitar of "I Wanna Know About U" kicks in. After that, you can't help but fall in love with the Swedish collective's white-hot brand of noisy garage rock. Leaving behind the hardcore punk of singer Dennis Lyxzen's former band, Refused, The (International) Noise Conspiracy takes the best parts of bands like The Rolling Stones, The Stooges and The Delta 72 and fuses them into a high-power muscle car that shimmies and jives like a crazed go-go dancer. That said, "Survival Sickness" wouldn't be nearly as interesting as it is were the band content to play straight-ahead with its love of R&B-influenced rock. Instead Lyxzen and company slip post-punk nuances throughout the record. After listening to the angular guitar of "Do I Have To Spell It Out?" and "Imposter Costume" or the 30-second tug of war between the rhythm section and organ that punctuates "The Subversive Sound," it becomes obvious this is one band that takes its music as seriously as its attempts to foment mass anarchy. And what better way to hook people on a song about destroying bourgeois culture ("Smash It Up") than by basically aping the opening theme song from The Munsters television show? Ludicrous as that may sound, it's that kind of mad-genius synthesis of political ethos disguised by ace musicianship that makes "Survival Sickness" a triumph, one that will surely inspire impressionistic teens to give the band a three-fingered rock salute with one hand while hoisting a Molotov cocktail in the other.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Dennis - 2. Ian - 1., July 3, 2000

By 

James Burns (Bellingham, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Survival Sickness (Audio CD)

Comparisons, anyone?

The Nation Of Ulysses are one of my favorite bands. As cheesy as it sounds, they made me believe in punk rock again.

The Refused are a band I like a lot. Their last album, "The Shape Of Punk To Come," was certainly one of the most sincere, engaging hardcore albums of the last couple years, even if it did sport a rather obvious Nation Of Ulysses influence.

Okay, so the Nation Of Ulysses broke up, and three of them formed the Make-Up, who I dislike intensely. Don't get me wrong, they're nice kids, and all, and they're really not all that bad. It's just really disappointing to hear one of the greatest punk bands of all time crank out ear-candy for the retro-minded indie rocker. It makes me almost angry that Ian's gone from rebelling against retro-chic (listen to "N-Sub Ulysses" from "Plays Pretty For Baby") to becoming one of the guys he used to ridicule in his songs, listing "clothes" as his main influence in Flipside magazine.

Enter the (International) Noise Conspiracy. Taking the NOU influence a bit further, Dennis Lyxzen (? - I don't keep record sleeves around me often) formed a new band, playing soul-influenced punk, much like the Make-Up, with one difference: the songs actually mean something. Dennis may croon his fool heart out, but he still knows he's more Ian Mackaye than James Brown, and makes no excuse for it. Gone may be the angular guitars and the hardcore screams from the Refused days, but unlike the Make-Up, they actually retain the same power, the same energy, the same urgency of their impetus. Sure, it may not be NOU's "Plays Pretty For Baby," or even Refused's "The Shape Of Punk To Come," but "Survival Sickness" is one of the better records I've heard recently from a band that hasn't already been around several years.

Call it Make-Up with guts.

If I didn't know better, I'd say that THIS band is the logical successor to the NOU legacy.

Pass the torch, Ian.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Album, January 16, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Survival Sickness (Audio CD)

I first saw The International Noise Conspiracy over a year ago at a local show. They are one of the best bands I have seen live. Dennis is great and puts on a awesome performance. I don't know how one person can have so much energy. This album is great, and I think that they deserve more credit.Every single song is good and is sure to catch your attention. For anyone who is wondering on if they should get this album, the answer is yes, you will love it.Once you develop a liking for this band, you will be addicted, trust me.