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/
Closing In 2.0
Information Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm on a raft in a river that's roaring away with me
What good does it do me to have what I want
When I'm in no shape to enjoy what I have
Boiling
I'm burning
I'm losing my hold
Running
I'm hiding
I'm telling myself
That these things aren't so bad
I can see there's just no way out of this (one)
I can feel the walls closing in on me
The door at the end of the tunnel is far too small
And there's 24 metric tons of fear closing in on me
The lyrics of Information Society's song Closing In 2.0 express a sense of hopelessness and desperation. The singer is overwhelmed by life's difficulties and feels like they're stuck in a situation they can't escape. They describe themselves as being on a raft in a river that's carrying them away, unable to enjoy what they have even though they have what they want. The imagery of the boiling, burning, and losing their hold on life creates a sense of being consumed by one's problems.
The singer attempts to reassure themselves that things aren't so bad, but the repetition of the words "running" and "hiding" give a sense of avoidance and denial. Ultimately, the singer sees no way out of the situation they're in and feels like the walls are closing in on them, with fear weighing heavily on their mind. The door at the end of the tunnel is too small, leaving them trapped in their predicament.
Overall, the lyrics of Closing In 2.0 convey a sense of despair and feeling trapped, with the singer unable to find a way out of their difficulties.
Line by Line Meaning
I can't see ever feeling right again
I am unable to foresee experiencing happiness or satisfaction once more
I'm on a raft in a river that's roaring away with me
Life feels like being carried away by a powerful river with no way to steer or control it
What good does it do me to have what I want
The things I desire hold no value when I am not in the appropriate mindset to cherish them
When I'm in no shape to enjoy what I have
I am not equipped to appreciate my current state or possessions
Boiling
Experiencing overwhelming emotions internally
I'm burning
Suffering through intense pain or discomfort
I'm losing my hold
Losing grip on personal stability and control
On the life that I had
On the previous version of myself and lifestyle
Running
Attempting to escape or avoid problems
I'm hiding
Attempting to conceal and suppress true feelings or thoughts
I'm telling myself
Persuading oneself in an attempt to lessen the impact of distress
That these things aren't so bad
Trying to convince oneself that the current situation is not as severe as it seems
I can see there's just no way out of this (one)
Comprehending that there is no escape from the current situation
I can feel the walls closing in on me
Feeling confined and trapped, with situations becoming increasingly dire
The door at the end of the tunnel is far too small
The solution to the issue appears unattainable, with no feasible path forward
And there's 24 metric tons of fear closing in on me
Being mentally and emotionally suffocated by oppressive fear and anxiety
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRIS CHENEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MÁRCIO GOMES
It's always out there, just past the 7-11, around the cloverleaf. The darkness that waits for me. Can't see it unless I turn away. It's not there when I don't look. Waits for me to come back. Waits for me to come sink in. Just waiting
I can't see ever feeling right again
I'm on a raft in a river that's roaring away with me
What good does it do me to have what I want
When I'm in no shape to enjoy what I have
Boiling
I'm burning
I'm losing my hold on the life that I had
Running
I'm hiding
I'm telling myself that these things aren't so bad
I can see there's just no way out of this one
I can feel the walls closing in on me
The door at the end of the tunnel is far too small
And there's 24 metric tons of fear closing in on me
Boiling
I'm burning
I'm losing my hold on the life that I had
Running
I'm hiding
I'm telling myself that these things aren't so bad
Cardboard Box
this song is epic, this album is amazing. it really fit the nightmarish place my life was in at the time. and it is noted on the album package that this album is packed full of back-masking, subliminal suggestion and all sorts of crazy sonic trickery that some believe can make you much worse in the head when listening.
MÁRCIO GOMES
It's always out there, just past the 7-11, around the cloverleaf. The darkness that waits for me. Can't see it unless I turn away. It's not there when I don't look. Waits for me to come back. Waits for me to come sink in. Just waiting
I can't see ever feeling right again
I'm on a raft in a river that's roaring away with me
What good does it do me to have what I want
When I'm in no shape to enjoy what I have
Boiling
I'm burning
I'm losing my hold on the life that I had
Running
I'm hiding
I'm telling myself that these things aren't so bad
I can see there's just no way out of this one
I can feel the walls closing in on me
The door at the end of the tunnel is far too small
And there's 24 metric tons of fear closing in on me
Boiling
I'm burning
I'm losing my hold on the life that I had
Running
I'm hiding
I'm telling myself that these things aren't so bad
gnarly slur
MÁRCIO GOMES awesome
Enivaldo Coelho
Ótima postagem, parabéns ! 👍
Roberto Niñoles Alfaro
Esto es una obra maestra!!!! siempre geniales Info.Society ;)
SkullFacedBeauty
My favorite song from their "Don't Be Afraid" album. Thanks for sharing.
LILLy JOPLIN
HOW I LOVE IT!!
Gluupor
I love it, works especially well as a 'battle' track. Where is the pic from btw?
Unenthusiast
indeed it does - reminds me of final fantasy's battle themes, actually.
on that note, you made this comment before the final fantasy 7 remake came out.
you still with us, friend?
The Shiny Object
How can you NOT love this cheesy stuff.