Customer Reviews

Survival Sickness

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Tired of musical charlatans and third rate entertainers permeating the airwaves around you? How can you not be! But in the midst of drowning in an industry who thrives on hypeing the uninspired, along comes The (International) Noise Conspiracy to save us from our own bad taste. Survival Sickness is a collection of songs that speak for themselves without the need of industry target marketing and bad press. More Dead Kennedys in attitude than the Make Up in sound, its the soundtrack for a revolution!

Finally an album which has something to say. Dennis had something to say with Refused too, but his words were overshadowed by the powerful music and the audience it attracted. Here, you can easily get grasp of what he is trying to say and I have to say it is refreshing that they get some attention. I am so fed up with meaningless lyrics and predesigned artists. This is art. This uses music as a medium in a productive way. The sleeve gives you the background of each song, what is intended etc. Whether you are a revolutionary, socialist or whatever doesn't matter. This album makes you THINK on your own a little and that is more important than anything. Oh, the songs are great, a little bit MC 5, The Kinks and some Nymphet Noodlers.

Well,maybe I exxagerated just a bit.The REfused album "Shape of Punk To Come" is an amazing album that takes hardcore/punk and mixes it with knowledge.Think Rage Against The Machine,minus rap,mixed with hardcore punk.They kidn of are taking that whoel Fugazi route.Well same goes for International Noise Conspiracy.This is a VERY impressive debut.Can they get better?Yes but this albu mis amazing.Forget whatever you know about punk/hardcore,forget anarchy,forget EVERYTHING,because INC is incredible and will change your viewpoint on the world,it will change your viewpoint on ur hometown,on everything.The vocals(of coruse Denis is amazing) are fantastic for a hardcore band.Think Rotten meet Boyd(of Incubs) sounds strange right,well its incredible stuff.AAnd their the only HARDCORE/PUNK(not ska) band I know of that can use keyboards/organ and stil lbe ful lblown punk.

Tired of musical charlatans and third rate entertainers permeating the airwaves around you? How can you not be! But in the midst of drowning in an industry who thrives on hypeing the uninspired, along comes The (International) Noise Conspiracy to save us from our own bad taste. Survival Sickness is a collection of songs that speak for themselves without the need of industry target marketing and bad press. More Dead Kennedys in attitude than the Make Up in sound, its the soundtrack for a revolution!

That Tod Nelson kid who wrote the Amazon.com review pegged two of the sonic sources when he located Seattle's Makers & Sweden's Nomads as influences on this little rocker (and you'd do well to buy something by either band). But these political subverts have been studying more than Marx & Chomsky: their secret society aesthetic picks up where The Nation Of Ulysses' 13 Point Program left off -- the organ riffs on the Make-Up's Cold Rice frenzy. Surprises? The new beat inspired straight ahead rockers, the respect paid to The Jam as well as the MC5 and the uptempo numbers intelligently penned but utterly lacking malice. Do I have to spell it out? It's the new, new, new breed, dig? Straight ahead, but played with feeling.

Just when you think good, meaningful punk really is completely dead a group like TINC releases an excellent political punk cd. Like a lot of other reviewers have said, TINC is in the same class as Refused, Nation of Ulysses, etc. The songs have points, which they explain in the cd booklet extensively. If you like the bands mentioned above and are really sick of the explosion of mindless "pop-punk", I recommend Survival Sickness. It is a great cd from a promising band.

Look, I understand that after doing something as amazing as Refused's "Shape..." it'd be hard to follow up, but this is still dissapointing. Instead of lyrics with slyness or character, INC include a bunch of played out, obnoxious sloganeering. Yeah, having a job is the same as slavery, and we're all just playing out lives in the corporate state. I find this annoying coming from anyone, but rock stars on MTV are going to tell me this with a straight face? As for the music, it's boring. Not bad, competently played, but it just sounds like retro soul-garage-rock that everybody with shaggy hair and a denim jacket was playing from 1998-2004. Pick up At The Drive In's "Relationship of Command" instead.