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/
Where Would I Be Without IBM
Information Society Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To do what I had to do.
And now that I am scared enough,
It all comes back to you.
Communication's rarely open
For messages to get through.
I would speak; I'd be outspoken
If I could think of anything new.
Where would I be without my radio?
Where would I be without birth control?
Where would I be without fair-weather friends?
Where would I be -- without IBM?
You tell me what I should need.
Advice is your specialty.
But could I ever need enough
For you to set me free?
I'm afraid to make decisions,
That's where you come in.
In the case of chance collisions,
I look at you as my friend.
Where would I be without my PC?
Where would I be without MTV?
Where would I be without CNN?
Where would I be -- without IBM?
Where would I be without all my toys?
Where would I be without sampled noise?
Where would I be without seeing you again?
Where would I be -- without IBM?
The lyrics of Information Society's song "Where Would I Be Without IBM" explore the idea of the dependence of modern society on technology and how it can affect personal relationships. The first verse acknowledges the singer's lack of motivation and apathy towards responsibility, but also how fear and anxiety can lead to dependence on someone else. The lack of effective communication and creativity is highlighted, implying that technology may contribute to a lack of originality in ideas and expression.
The chorus of the song shifts focus to the question of where the singer would be without various technologies and companies that have become integrated into modern society - radio, birth control, fair-weather friends, PC, MTV, CNN, toys, sampled noise, and IBM. These questions imply a level of dependence on these things and the impact they have on the singer's life. The final verse, however, questions the necessity of advice and guidance from someone else, and how it can hinder the ability to make decisions and take responsibility.
Overall, the lyrics of "Where Would I Be Without IBM" serve as a commentary on the role of technology in society and personal relationships, and the potential for it to shape and influence individual lives and decisions.
Line by Line Meaning
I could never care enough
I never had enough motivation or interest to do something.
To do what I had to do.
To do what was needed or necessary.
And now that I am scared enough,
Now that I am afraid and feeling vulnerable.
It all comes back to you.
I rely on you to help me in difficult times.
Communication's rarely open
It is rare that we have open and honest conversations.
For messages to get through.
For messages to be transmitted effectively without any barriers.
I would speak; I'd be outspoken
I would be more vocal and expressive.
If I could think of anything new.
If I could come up with fresh and innovative ideas.
You tell me what I should need.
You advise or guide me on what I require or should want.
Advice is your specialty.
Providing guidance and counseling is your expertise.
But could I ever need enough
But will I ever have the capacity to require enough.
For you to set me free?
For you to grant me complete independence or freedom.
I'm afraid to make decisions,
I lack the confidence or courage to make choices.
That's where you come in.
That's where your help or support is needed.
In the case of chance collisions,
In unexpected or unplanned events or circumstances.
I look at you as my friend.
I perceive you as a companion or ally.
Where would I be without my radio?
How different would my life be without my radio?
Where would I be without birth control?
How would my life be impacted without the use of birth control?
Where would I be without fair-weather friends?
How would my life be without people who are only friends when circumstances are pleasant?
Where would I be -- without IBM?
How would my life be without International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)?
Where would I be without my PC?
What would my life be like without my personal computer?
Where would I be without MTV?
How would my life differ without Music Television (MTV)?
Where would I be without CNN?
What would my life be if Cable News Network (CNN) didn't exist?
Where would I be without all my toys?
What if I didn't have all my possessions or gadgets?
Where would I be without sampled noise?
How would my life be without recorded sound material?
Where would I be without seeing you again?
What would my life be without ever seeing you again?
Where would I be -- without IBM?
How pivotal is IBMs role in my life?
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL ROBB
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jorge Paniagua
Estou adorando esse álbum! Essa faixa é única, como também a canção Still here :)
christdragon
I love this song and this album so very much. I used to listen to this over and over again on my Sony boom box and CD walkman. This is the soundtrack to my generation, Generation X. Thank you.
fabio Cars
I remind, I put This song on the maximum volume on my car's sound... its so cool...
Jane Cardoso
I love it!!!!!!
Ildebrando González
The Best Song of Peace and Love Inc. Album
Ivar Lira
Love this track
SuperBoomshack
Best album of theirs
christdragon
Amen!
Bruno Gualberto
The sound of the crowd screaming at the end was from a show they did in Brazil, at Rock In Rio II, 1991.
Vavo Barbosa
Awesome