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/
The Seeds Of Pain
Information Society Lyrics
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I plant them in everyone I love
The flowers that grow are dark and lonely
I'm reaching for heaven
Be careful of what makes you happy
And you should know this well by now
You can be bruised on top of bruises
I'm scaling your walls
I'm pushing down your doors
I'm not even knocking
I'm crashing your gate
I'm storming your keep
And I am not asking
Be careful of what makes you happy
And you should know this well by now
You can be bruised on top of bruises
I'm reaching for heaven
After all the things we've been through
We'll never be the same again
Our pain is the only thing that binds us
We're reaching for heaven
The lyrics of Information Society's song "The Seeds Of Pain" speak of the pain that the singer carries within them and how they plant those seeds in the form of hurt into everyone they love. The flowers that grow from these seeds are described as "dark and lonely", reflecting the negative impact and emotional turmoil that the pain brings. Despite this, the singer is determined to reach for heaven, perhaps seeking solace and comfort from a higher power to alleviate their suffering.
The chorus warns listeners to be careful of what makes them happy, indicating that even things that bring joy can also bring pain. The lines "You can be bruised on top of bruises" depict the accumulation of emotional wounds that can build up over time, leading to a sense of overwhelming hurt. The singer then goes on to describe their assertive behavior towards others, with their determination to push through barriers and crash gates suggesting a desire to be heard and understood.
The final verse suggests that the pain is a binding force between the singer and their loved ones. It implies that despite the hurt and turmoil that is experienced, it is also a shared experience that has brought them closer together. The line "We'll never be the same again" reflects the fact that once we experience pain, we can never completely return to our previous state. Overall, the song explores the complex nature of pain and its impact on our relationships and personal growth.
Line by Line Meaning
I carry the seeds of pain within me
I bear the emotional burden of past pain and hurt within myself.
I plant them in everyone I love
I unconsciously inflict my past pain onto the people closest to me.
The flowers that grow are dark and lonely
The result of my actions is sadness and isolation for those I care about.
I'm reaching for heaven
Despite my past and my actions, I still strive for something better.
Be careful of what makes you happy
Beware of the things that bring you joy, as they may come with a cost.
And you should know this well by now
By this point in our lives, we should understand the consequences of our actions.
You can be bruised on top of bruises
Continued pain can compound and exacerbate existing wounds.
I'm scaling your walls
I am breaching the boundaries of those around me.
I'm pushing down your doors
I am forcing myself into a space where I may not be welcome.
I'm not even knocking
I am being rude and disrespectful by not asking for permission to enter.
I'm crashing your gate
I am breaking through the barriers that you have put in place.
I'm storming your keep
I will not be deterred from my goal of getting what I want.
And I am not asking
I do not care about your boundaries or feelings, and will do what I please.
After all the things we've been through
Despite everything we have faced together.
We'll never be the same again
Our shared experiences have irrevocably changed us.
Our pain is the only thing that binds us
The only connection we have is through the mutual experience of suffering.
We're reaching for heaven
Despite the pain and suffering, we still seek something better for ourselves.
Contributed by Addison J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.