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/
I Love It When...
Information Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Downtown
Dark brown
Pierced lips
Bruised hips
Guest list
Back way
Payday
Ginza
Robots
Red rope
Gray smoke
Black hair
Black eyes
Raw fish
White rice
(Ahh) I love it when you're with me
(Ahh) I love it when we kiss
(Ahh) I wish I had you near me
(Ahh) Each day could be like this
Zona
Rosa
Fishnets
Dress sets
Strobe lights
Girl fights
Half-lit
Tight fit
Ipa-
Nema
Sharp knife
Cheap life
Beijing
Hutong
Back door
Dirt floor
(Ahh) I love it when you're with me
(Ahh) I love it when we touch
(Ahh) I wish I had you near me
(Ahh) Why does it hurt so much?
"You."
"You!"
"You."
"Do you know that bad girls go to hell?"
"Too much! Too often! Too much!"
(Ahh) I love it when you're with me
(Ahh) I love it when we kiss
(Ahh) I wish I had you near me
(Ahh) Each day could be like this
(Ahh) I love it when you're with me
(Ahh) I love it when we touch
(Ahh) I wish I had you near me
(Ahh) Why does it hurt so much?
The lyrics of Information Society's song "I Love It When..." seem to describe an urban nightlife scene of a large city where the singer finds pleasure and excitement with a lover. The opening line "Here are the thrill-seekers. Corrupt and immoral" sets the tone for the rest of the lyrics, implying that the encounters are perhaps not entirely healthy or desirable, but still seductive and captivating. The descriptions of different areas in large cities, such as Downtown, Ginza, Zona Rosa, and Ipanema, suggest a sense of familiarity with cosmopolitan locations and indulgent lifestyles.
The lyrics also mention various sensual and sometimes dangerous elements that could be associated with nightlife, such as pierced lips, bruised hips, guest lists, red rope, smoke, girl fights, sharp knives, and dirt floors. The repeated refrain of "Ahh, I love it when you're with me" suggests that the singer's experience of these sensual elements is enhanced by the presence of a lover, although the question "Why does it hurt so much?" towards the end of the song injects a note of ambiguity into the interpretation.
Overall, the lyrics of "I Love It When..." seem to suggest an ambivalent attitude towards a certain kind of urban hedonism that mixes pleasure and danger. The singer seems to be aware of the risks involved in such an experience, but still finds it irresistible and thrilling.
Line by Line Meaning
Here are the thrill-seekers. Corrupt and immoral.
These are the people who crave for excitement and pleasure despite being dishonest and unethical.
Downtown, dark brown, pierced lips, bruised hips, guest list, back way, doorman, payday
A place with dimmed lights where people with tattoos and abusive upbringing enters through the backdoor and pays the doorman to enter a privileged and popular location.
Ginza, robots, red rope, gray smoke, black hair, black eyes, raw fish, white rice
An area in Japan known for its robotic products and sushi bars where exclusive people are in black clothes and somewhat pale.
(Ahh) I love it when you're with me
The feeling of great happiness and warmth when you are around.
(Ahh) I love it when we kiss
The joy and pleasure felt when lips meet with affection.
(Ahh) I wish I had you near me
A deep longing to be around you.
(Ahh) Each day could be like this
Desiring every day to be as enjoyable and fulfilling as it is right now.
Zona, rosa, fishnets, dress sets, strobe lights, girl fights, half-lit, tight fit
A place where there are girls in lingerie fighting and there are bright flashing lights that makes it look like everything is in slow motion
Ipa-, nema-, sharp knife, cheap life, Beijing, hutong, back door, dirt floor
A part in Asia where you can find a cheap and dangerous way of life and there are even illegal activities with unconventional means of getting in.
(Ahh) I love it when we touch
The pleasurable sensation of physical contact.
(Ahh) Why does it hurt so much?
Curious about the pain and wonder if it is worth it.
"You."
"You!"
"You."
"Do you know that bad girls go to hell?"
"Too much! Too often! Too much!"
A confrontational situation calling out an individual and mentioning that people with questionable morality will suffer in the afterlife.
Contributed by Samantha L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.