While there is the obvious and impressive technical prowess evidenced by Rubin throughout Speak Through the White Noise, there is also a deeper current of noise, a buried transmission that broadcasts through the static, the Greek chorus unmasking a time and a place. “The album is a social commentary on the way the media, entertainment industry, and people in general instill fear and paranoia by exaggerating news and events either for the sake of an agenda or their own entertainment. The album title is a way of counter-broadcasting these themes in the form of an expansive and dynamic album,” Rubin says of his sophomore album, which he wrote, played, sang all parts, and recorded with his brother and manager Aaron Rubin.
Rubin’s journey to Speak Through the White Noise belies his years. Only 22 years old, Rubin has been involved in the music industry for most of his life, picking up the drums at 8, and in quick succession mastering the guitar, bass and piano. Armed with a veritable musical arsenal, Rubin was content to cut his teeth playing drums in numerous outfits, including stints drumming for Welsh rock act Lostprophets and industrial rock pioneers Nine Inch Nails, which he credits working with a musician, Trent Reznor, whose precision and discipline complemented his own. “When I joined the band, I finally felt like, ‘Yes, this is the kind of organization I want to be a part of.’ A lot of work, and a lot of making everything perfect,” Rubin says of the experience.
Nearly half of Speak Through the White Noise was completed prior to Rubin’s departure for the most recent NIN tours, having recorded four songs even before the mastering process for his debut Coup. What most people consider highly ambitious is standard operating procedure for Rubin, whose need to create is matched by his extraordinary discipline. While the process of recording all the instrumentation and vocals on the album was considerable, it also provided Rubin with a great deal of latitude, and a finished product at the end of some days. “Because I play everything, it was really refreshing to be able to play the drums to one song, then hop over to the guitar or bass, and at the end of the day actually have a whole song you can listen to, as opposed to twelve songs that are just drums. You can be more creative that way.”
Rubin has deftly created a climate of anxiety and discomfort on Speak Through the White Noise. For Rubin’s second album, he was highly interested in examining the current state of information dissemination, and how an economy of fear and anxiety has been created with the American public as the consumer. “A lot of the lyrics have to do with a manipulation through media, in the sense that things are exaggerated for the sake of entertainment, and it makes people paranoid. Manipulation is a strong word, and that’s exactly what it is.” “Live in Fear” is a call to arms, an argument for agency amidst searing guitars and hard-driving drums. At moments Rubin’s voice sounds unhinged as he questions where the madness comes from, fueling it as he tries to dismantle it. “Enjoy the Bitterness” showcases Rubin’s piano skills laced with effect-laden vocals, a pop song buoyed by melody and anchored by foreboding vocals. “Musically its very moody,” explains Rubin. Thick guitars give way to Rubin’s exorcism of an unknown entity, possibly proposing a cleansing of the aforementioned manipulation. “What Brings Us Down” – mainly recorded in one day at home and completed in various hotel rooms on days off during 2009's NIN/JA tour – is slower-paced, imbuing it with a more pensive vibe. Acoustic guitars ramble under Rubin’s higher register singing, building to the chorus that sees sadness give way to frustration.
Rubin was conscious to explore myriad types of music – both because his tastes can’t be confined to one genre, and because he wanted to provide fans with an album that will reflect the growth and change Rubin believes The New Regime will have. “Coup, the first album- those were the first ten songs I’d ever written. I had the mindset of opening up ten different stylistic doors. I was very conscious of laying it all out to begin with. With the second album, I went further through some of those doors.”
Take Control
The New Regime Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who will we have to question now?
Another moment wasted carelessly
Another lack of consequence
Oh no, no
What will be left of us now?
What can I see?
In case of all the lying tendencies
Who will there be to show the truth?
And thus the ignorance within them all
Here comes the end, it's creeping in
Oh no, no,
Call the help, cause now we're all in desperate need
Could we see at all?
When everything decides to fall apart slowly
Don't be the one putting it back now, yeah
If only anyone had taken control
There'd be no one to suffer, yeah
When everything decides to fall apart slowly
Don't be the one putting it back now, yeah
If only anyone had taken control
There'd be no one to suffer, yeah
All the words are taken
Because all fears are lost
We should've waited and listened
Now it's gone, now it's gone
When all the world before me disappears
Who will we have to question now?
And thus the ignorance within them all
Here comes the end, it's creeping in
When everything decides to fall apart slowly
Don't be the one putting it back now, yeah
If only anyone had taken control
There'd be no one to suffer, yeah
When everything decides to fall apart slowly
Don't be the one putting it back now, yeah
If only anyone had taken control
There'd be no one to suffer, yeah
All the words are taken
Because all fears are lost
We should've waited and listened
Now it's gone, now it's gone
The lyrics of "Take Control" by The New Regime speak to the uncertainty and chaos of the world, and the consequences of not stepping up to take control. The singer wonders who will be left to question when everything around them disappears, revealing a lack of direction and purpose. They lament the moments wasted carelessly and the ignorance within those who lie and deceive. As the end creeps in, the singer calls for help and realizes the desperate need for someone to step up and take control.
The chorus repeats the message that if anyone had taken control, there would be no suffering. In the face of everything falling apart, the singer urges against being the one to simply put it back together. They emphasize the importance of proactive action rather than reactive response. The final lines of the song, "all the words are taken, because all fears are lost, we should've waited and listened, now it's gone," suggest that the opportunity for action has passed, leaving only regret and the consequences of inaction.
Overall, "Take Control" is a powerful commentary on the importance of agency and leadership in the face of uncertainty and chaos. It encourages listeners to take responsibility for their lives and communities, rather than waiting for someone else to step up.
Line by Line Meaning
When all the world before me disappears
In times of uncertainty, when everything seems to fall apart, it becomes hard to trust one's reality.
Who will we have to question now?
It can be hard to look for answers when one's perception of reality is shaking.
Another moment wasted carelessly
Oftentimes, precious time is spent on things that don't matter in the grand scheme of things.
Another lack of consequence
When we don't act intentionally, the consequences that follow are usually not what we want or expect.
Oh no, no
Expressing a sense of disbelief and disappointment.
What will be left of us now?
In moments of crisis, it's easy to feel like everything is doomed and hopeless.
What can I see?
When everything is falling apart, it's natural to question one's perception and sense of reality.
In case of all the lying tendencies
When people are dishonest, it becomes challenging to discern the truth.
Who will there be to show the truth?
When everyone is lying, it's hard to find someone or something to trust.
And thus the ignorance within them all
When people choose to be dishonest, they reveal a lack of understanding and insight that undermines their credibility.
Here comes the end, it's creeping in
As the situation becomes more dire, it's important to take stock of what is happening and act accordingly.
Call the help, cause now we're all in desperate need
When things are falling apart, it's important to reach out for help and seek support.
Could we see at all?
In moments of crisis, it's easy to lose sight of what's important and become overwhelmed by fear and uncertainty.
When everything decides to fall apart slowly
In challenging times, it can feel like everything is gradually falling apart.
Don't be the one putting it back now, yeah
Rather than trying to fix everything on your own, it's important to seek support and work with others to come up with solutions.
If only anyone had taken control
When everyone is in crisis mode, it becomes easy to feel helpless and hopeless.
There'd be no one to suffer, yeah
If we all band together and work towards a common goal, we can create a more positive outcome that minimizes harm and suffering.
All the words are taken
In moments of crisis, it can be hard to find the right words to express what we're feeling.
Because all fears are lost
When we're in crisis mode, our fears can become amplified and make it hard to reason clearly.
We should've waited and listened
Reflecting on the past and recognizing that we could have made better decisions if we had approached the situation with more patience and wisdom.
Now it's gone, now it's gone
Once we've missed an opportunity, it's hard to get it back and make things right again.
Contributed by Alice F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Simon Hinton
finally a real rock band again, luvin this stuff
Pablo Martinez Egido
Must to say that ilan rubin is so f*cking good !! he would sing too in AvA, not only drums. (tom is the singer and matt makes the chorus but if they woud mix voices with ilan will be so good stuff). 5 starts band *****
Mariano Mattos
I really wanna know what cymbals use this guy in this performance!
Juan C. Robles
Sounds a lot like Thrice. Ilan is an awesome drummer, just saw another video of him playing with NIN.
gun superbig
is it live?
ztikmaen
Sounds like Radiohead and Wolfmother had a kid
PRCIzzy69
@theburningfield they're completely different things. The dot is a semi-hollow guitar (like a gibson 335 kind of). The casino is all hollow. Different sound.
th3p0p3
It's all ilan rubin, just the one guy. He can't play it all at the same time so thats his backing band for live shows and so on with him.
altheathepirate
Read the freaking title
CaptData
Ha, "emo"? Get out much?