The (International) Noise Conspiracy - A New Morning (2001)

Elliott has still vanished. I briefly considered doing a spin-off blog called "Where In The World Is Elliott Lindamood?" where I post from various countries whilst trying to find him, looking at the top of the Eiffel Tower and such, but I didn't want to give the impression that I care.

Anyway, the point is he hasn't come back. If he is indeed dead or something, I'll be sure to rename the blog to "Elliott Sucked" in his honor.

I'm going to continue reviewing drivel until he returns. There's only so much I can break this blog before he'll have to come crying back to save it (or destroy it, opinions pending).

ANYWAY.

The (International) Noise Consipiracy - A New Morning

1. A Northwest Passage

2. Up For Sale

3. Bigger Cages, Longer Chains

4. Breakout 2001

5. A Body Treatise

6. Born Into A Mess

7. New Empire Blues

8. Capitalism Stole My Virginity

9. Last Century Promise

10. Dead Language Of Love

11. A New Morning, Changing Weather

 Look at that tracklist. What the fuck is this, a politcal album? Oh no, the rabbit hole runs much deeper my friend, this is a political band.

I'm more than happy to throw my hands up and say I have a problem with political bands, and my problem is this - more often than not I know they're a political band before I've even heard a song. So when the band are throwing meanings at you without even hearing the first note, you have to wonder if music is the best route. Admittedly, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, with their silly name, aren't all that bad about it. I only figured out their songs had a political edge to them when researching for this review, although that may have been related to the fact that I also turned the album off after not long.

Anyway, the band play a sort of garage rock, slightly-punk-but-only-if-you-squint type music, mostly upbeat and easily dancable. The intro track is actually a good song, driven by the bass and drums with catchy vocals overlayed and never outstaying its welcome. There's some interesting use of random instruments you wouldn't expect from this sort of band, electric organs, horns and keyboards which work well to pad out the music. The songs are never guitar driven, which I have a soft spot for.

Songs like "Bigger Cages, Longer Chains" sound almost ska, which I hate and is probably where most of the dislike for this band stems from on my part. I can't make peace with it, at all. It's worth noting that while it sounds like it has a ska elements (the horns and the punk vocals, primarily) the songs are actually much slower and funkier than the drivel you'd expect from a ska band.

The songs walk back and forth between punk and rock, some being fairly light and others having more of a punk orientated guitar rhythm. Actually, listening to it now I don't mind it. I'm pretty sure I was going to hate this. Fuck sake.

According the Wikipedia, this album is actually called "A New Morning, Changing Weather", but where the fuck does it say that on the cover? It's the sort of shit that sends HMV employees into fits of rage. What sort of prat doesn't even have the correct details on an album cover?

"Bricklayer Anthems, Vol 1"

I'm pretty sure I hated this band half an hour ago. What the hell?

I guess the moral of the story is don't listen to politically motivated bands kids, 'cause they'll brainwash you. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to stand outside the local town hall quoting Rage Against the Machine for reasons I can't comprehend.