International Noise Conspiracy
Armed Love
American/Epitaph
The controversial Marxist-minded political garage rock band from Sweden team with Rick Rubin to produce Armed Love, their third and perhaps best full-length release to date.
Their sound is cleaned up a bit – Rubin-ized to a slick polish – but the dirty ’60s garage element, similar to the Detroit Cobras or The Hentchmen, can thankfully still be heard. Songs like “Let’s Make History,” and “The Dream Is Over” immediately latch onto the brain and could easily be hits in a more daring radio-free world.
Underneath the keyboards and guitars and vocals of former Refused vocalist Dennis Lyxzén are the politics of revolution and social equality. “O bailan todos O No baila Nadie” reads an inscription on the inner sleeve. Translation: “Either everyone dances, or no one dances.” The quote is 30 years old and from the Tupamaros, who were urban guerilla revolutionaries seeking social justice through the merging of poetics and politics; art and action.
In other words, the politics are on the table, but they’re dressed up with good music and a good time.
International Noise Conspiracy: http://www.internationalnoise.com
