Over their career, the group has been very influential on American electropop and freestyle artists from both their music and their strident, colorful visuals, being best known for their 1988 self-titled album. The band was formed in Minneapolis in the early 80s, and they performed avant-garde electronic music with flourishes of hip-hop. In 1983, they independently released two albums, 'The InSoc EP' and 'Creatures Of Influence'. Two years later, they released "Running", their first single, which became a hit popular in New York City's Latino nightclubs and "put them on the map". That song, a 7-minute effort that touched on contemporary techno, was written and sung by Murat Konar, who left the band soon after. Their growing success led them from their native Minneapolis to NYC, and the ensuing revenues and contacts, as well as the addition of Amanda Kramer to the lineup, led them to record their proper debut album.
Their first major release album. 1988's 'Information Society', received critical acclaim, giving the group breakout commercial success as the album hiked up to #25 on the Billboard 200. In addition to "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (which hit #3 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart), the album also had other hits in "Walking Away" (#9 on that chart) and a cover of ABBA's "Lay All Your Love On Me" (#12 on the Hot Dance Music chart). The disc was one of the few to use CD+G, which included digital graphics on the compact disc version in addition to the music. The audio samples from Star Trek were authorized for use on the album partially thanks to the efforts of Adam Nimoy, a fan of the band and son of Star Trek's Leonard Nimoy.
The second release, Hack (1990), wasn't as successful, but had small hits with Think and How Long but still managed to sell quite well in the fall of 1990.
Kurt was also the owner of the heavily-modified The Road Warrior-inspired art car named "Vector" featured on the cover of Hack. The car sported a functioning ranging laser, among other unusual features. Vector was eventually given to a friend at Burning Man in the mid-1990s.
The third release, Peace & Love, Inc. (1992), proved to be more powerful and critically acclaimed, although their label failed to do much to promote them. Their first single Peace & Love, Inc. reached #1 on the 'Billboard Dance Chart'. A music video was produced for the track, but MTV declined to play it. The album is also notable for being perhaps the first album ever produced to contain a track of modem tones, which when played into a telephone connected to a computer resulted in a bonus text message from the band.
The fourth album, Don't Be Afraid (1997), written and performed by Kurt Harland alone and produced by Steven Seibold, was more industrial-driven. Cleopatra Records released the album, but - like Tommy Boy Records - did little to promote it. Harland's love of computer-related materials continued to be evident, as the album included a CD-ROM filled with bonus material, not yet a common occurrence in 1997.
There was also a carefully-orchestrated digital scavenger hunt culminating in the discovery of a bonus track called White Roses. The scavenger hunt began with decoding a modem's signal recorded at the end of the audio CD, resulting in a text message from Kurt which pointed the way to a website where the search began. There is also a cover included of Gary Numan's Are 'Friends' Electric?. Also included is Ozar Midrashim, a track which was later used as the main theme for the videogame Legacy of Kain - Soul Reaver.
During the course of those four albums and about a dozen remix singles from them, Information Society's sound went from more electronic pop music to a darker industrial type, though they will always be remembered for their first hit song and the cardboard guitars they wielded in its music video.
However, in 2006 Paul Robb and James Cassidy announced their intention to re-form Information Society, and began working on a new album. They also performed live at several venues across the US with Christopher Anton as lead vocalist. The Ep "Oscillator" was released in early 2007 followed by the album Synthesizer in late 2007. Christopher Anton provided the vocals on Oscillator, and Synthesizer and was the co-writer on several of the tracks as well.
http://informationsociety.us/
1000000 Waits of Love
Information Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You need a good friend
But all that you have
Is that glowing screen
You know you could fly
Your hate a run high
But you've been squeezed in
You know what I mean
Turn up the power
This is the hour
From every tower
Shout it from above
Turn up the power
This is the hour
From every tower
A million watts of love
By turning that switch
You're finding your niche
And you could tell then
Where to put the advice
You should get back in
It's time to jack in
We'll help you hack in
To that glowing life
You won't have to think twice
The song "1000000 Waits of Love" by Information Society explores the theme of isolation and loneliness in an increasingly digital world. The lyrics describe a person who feels disconnected from others and seeks a friend, but all they have is their computer screen. The verse "You know you could fly, your hate a run high, but you've been squeezed in, to that same old scene, you know what I mean" suggests that the person feels confined and stuck in their current situation. In this sense, the glowing screen becomes their only source of comfort and connection to others.
The chorus of the song urges the person to "turn up the power" and embrace the digital world as a way to connect with others. The lyrics "From every tower, a million watts of love" suggest that there is potential for great love and connection in the online world. By turning on their computer and connecting with others, the person can find their place and niche in the digital world.
The bridge of the song encourages the person to embrace the digital world fully and not be afraid to ask for help. The lyrics "You should get back in, it's time to jack in, we'll help you hack in, to that glowing life, you won't have to think twice" suggest that there are people who are willing to help them navigate the digital world and connect with others online.
Overall, the song "1000000 Waits of Love" explores the themes of loneliness, isolation, and the potential for connection in the digital world.
Line by Line Meaning
There comes a time when
Sometimes, there is a moment in life when one needs a good friend.
You need a good friend
A person might require someone to talk to, connect with and understand them.
But all that you have
However, in some cases, all that is available is a computer screen as communication means.
Is that glowing screen
The screen being the only thing from which they can expect to receive any support.
You know you could fly
You have greatness within you.
Your hate a run high
But sometimes your anger might be affecting your ability to reason.
But you've been squeezed in
A lot of things going on might be affecting the way you see things.
To that same old scene
The same pattern of your routine every day.
You know what I mean
It’s something that is obvious for you to recognize.
Turn up the power
Enhance and improve on your abilities.
This is the hour
The present is an excellent time to start making a change.
From every tower
From every point, in every direction and area.
Shout it from above
Broadcast your message loudly, let everyone hear what you have to say.
A million watts of love
Channel all possible energy of positivity and love, let it uplift everyone.
By turning that switch
By taking the necessary steps to make a change.
You're finding your niche
You start to detect that where you belonged all along is where you're headed.
And you could tell then
You can express others what to do or where to go.
Where to put the advice
Suggesting how they should proceed with and apply your advice.
You should get back in
You should get back to working on improving yourself.
It's time to jack in
The time is now, and you do the best you can while you still can.
We'll help you hack in
We will support you and help you overcome any obstacles.
To that glowing life
The prosperous and happy life you've always wanted.
You won't have to think twice
You will finally achieve that standard of living, and you won't think twice about it.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL ROBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind