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Street Dogs - State of Grace
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Can anyone believe that it has been 4 years since the last (International) Noise Conspiracy full-length? To speak the truth, this album is LONG overdue. Dennis Lyxzén and crew kick out the jams on this CD, recorded in February of 2004 with rock guru Rick Rubin. The release date had been set back month upon month because of distribution problems. I gasped in anguish every time I read an update on Burning Heart pushing back Armed Love’s release date.

Another thing I heard was that the band had parted with their former organist/guitarist Sara Almgren, so I was expecting different organ work than the one displayed on the band’s 2001 release A New Morning, Changing Weather. The organ is definitely more of a force on Armed Love, where it seems that the entire album is driven by the pulsating beat of the organ.

After the first go-round of Armed Love (U.S.A. Bonus Tracks edition) in my CD player, I noticed less of the overtly political songwriting on A New Morning that is replaced by more positive songs about love and empowerment. This is most evident in songs like "Let's Make History;"

But it is hard having the energy to fight when everything is spinning around in my head. Sure enough seems simple, but what can I do? There's a million songs about politics, related to you!!! You can call me romantic, you can call me what you will, but when I think about the revolution you're still in my dreams!
There is not a weak track on the album, and each track has its own little groove that will have you dancing during each and every listen (which got me several queer looks on my semi-weekly jaunts down to my local independent record store). Having never seen the (International) Noise Conspiracy live, I can’t wait 'till they come to my hometown; my mind can only begin to contemplate the insanity and energy that must brim from their live sets!!!

If I could say one thing that really blemishes this album, it is the bonus track “A Voice of Our Own,” which seems like it was forced rather than the sincerity of the rest of the album's tracks.

I will agree with many complaints that I have heard about this album: It lacks the bite that filled releases such as Bigger Cages, Longer Chains and The First Conspiracy. The rawness of their “old” sound allowed for the (International) Noise Conspiracy to experiment, but not here on Armed Love. The (International) Noise Conspiracy trade that for a more uniform rock sound that makes for a fuller sound that will hopefully equate more new fans for this more than deserving group. High-profile gigs with bands like the Bravery and Turbonegro recently may help persuade Rick Rubin and his cronies at American Recordings to bring another producer into the mix that will bring the best of both worlds to the next recordings from these guys.



People who liked this also liked:
A Wilhelm Scream - RuinerJimmy Eat World - Chase This LightTiger Army - Music from Regions BeyondThe Aggrolites - Reggae Hit L.A.Against Me! - White People for Peace [7 inch]Discover America - Discover AmericaRelient K - Five Score and Seven Years AgoInspection 12 - Get RadDonots - Amplify the Good TimesThe Fall of Troy - Manipulator



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    Posted by DiscoFucker on 2006-06-15 17:28:46

    Who cares if Dennis sold out or is a whore?

    If we believe in it, isn't that enough? As long as we are still true and believe in what he is saying, even if he doesen't, does it really take away from the greater good? No.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 8, 2005 at 12:37 AM (EST)

    because all we need is love
    email me if you need a copy of this album

    i'll share mine with you, I bought it a week after is came out - it turns out that Blockbuster is a naxi corporation that will not care if you're dead or loving it - as long as your customer is paying for his rewards.

    I bought this record after a year of owning it by downloading the european release, now its better than ever, cause there is a point here that allows every man to groove. ARMED LOVE - email me at andrewstanek@yahoo.com if you want it.

    fucking punks

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 6, 2005 at 11:25 PM (EST)

    "This guy's gotta know what a whore he is by now... Come on, class war colors on a major label? Pathetic."

    If the poor/chandala pay any attention to that attitude - then no one would hear them say, 'Hey, you guys have us by the cornhole - we need respect!'

    Punk must infiltrate the majors - the whole point is to destroy thier boundaries. I may sound preachy, but its true, and I can't help but get in this groove - "oh can't you see, oh can't you see this world belongs to you and me."

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, November 6, 2005 at 1:47 PM (EST)

    When the fuck did T(I)NC sign to Reprise? Or have I just not been paying attention?

    Posted by localh on 2005-11-05 23:46:14

    *cough* Refused was way fucking better *cough* *cough*

    Posted by Xine on 2005-11-05 23:38:16
    My Score:

    I've had this album for over a year, the UK version of course, and I haven't really been able to stop listening to it. "Let's Make History" and "Black Mask" seal the deal for me on this album but all in all, this is an excellent disc by one of my favorite bands.

    Posted by xblakeyoung on 2005-11-05 23:02:06

    I've had this for about a year now. Is the bonus track worth it?

    Posted by GreenVandal on 2005-11-05 19:58:48

    Dennis should stop crapping out all these moneymaker albums and start eating.

    He should spend some of his growing fortune on some nutrition or something so that he is healthy enough to start sucking more money out of his naive little followers wallets.

    I feel so used....

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 5, 2005 at 6:29 PM (EST)

    lets make history is sweet.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 5, 2005 at 11:55 AM (EST)

    This record is awesome. Of course I can see people turned off by the politics, but the songs themselves totally fucking rule.

    Posted by weisenflap on 2005-11-05 11:09:12

    i like this cd alot.
    im not as much of a fan of their older stuff..
    i think the production makes the songs more rockin, and i dont feel its overproduced..

    Posted by bjr on 2005-11-05 09:50:49

    Common idiots, every person has the right to their own opinion, and not a single person is going to take you seriously if all you do is talk nonsense. I would wager that some of you guys haven't even listened to the CD, and when i mean listen i mean really listened. I had an opinion similar to your, but I was open and now i don't think the Cd is too shabby. It is not as good as New Morning, but I think it is more of a rock sound, and if you can't take that, then thats too bad, because I think this band is worth paying attention to at the moment.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 5, 2005 at 1:14 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    too bad this didn't get reviewed the same day as propagandhi.

    Posted by maverick on 2005-11-05 00:38:48

    "There is not a weak track on the album."

    Today must be opposite day, then. This record blows.

    -Scott

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 11:20 PM (EST)

    i bought 'armed love' in november/04.
    hooray for brazil.

    Posted by iheartadam on 2005-11-04 23:03:23
    My Score:

    Series 7 is starting right now on IFC. I love this movie.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 10:25 PM (EST)

    what happened to Tramlaw?

    Posted by stricken on 2005-11-04 21:59:33

    never liked them.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 9:55 PM (EST)

    "This guy's gotta know what a whore he is by now... Come on, class war colors on a major label? Pathetic."

    The message is a cartoon, but the music is good. It is what it is. Take it or leave it. It's not really worth staying up all night and crying about.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 9:53 PM (EST)

    "Refused totally ruined me from ever taking this band very seriously. They will always be compared and always be worse."

    I dunno. I was huge into Refused in 99/00. Then I heard Survival Sickness and First Conspiracy and was totally won over. I guess I've just been more of a rockn'roll fan as opposed to a hardcore fan. Besides, Refused only put out two good albums. Sure one of those albums ended up being one of the most influential albums of the last 6 years, but it was just one album.

    Posted by darkstarm on 2005-11-04 19:50:01

    Holy shit.

    My car gets horrible gas mileage, oh well.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 5:21 PM (EST)

    I like this band much more than refused.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 5:16 PM (EST)

    This guy's gotta know what a whore he is by now... Come on, class war colors on a major label? Pathetic.

    -Will

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 4:48 PM (EST)

    refused is fucking dead. this is not refused. this is indeed not the new noise. i wish refused were still alive.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 4:28 PM (EST)

    Why have we had this for months (years?) in Europe on Burning Heart.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 4:27 PM (EST)

    Wow. I hope that in every town these benedict arnolds travel to, some syndicalist kid will fill their evian bottles with enough visine to make these fuckers shit hot bloody streams of crap(ital) all over their "proletarian" tour busses.

    Eat shit and die. This aint the new noise.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 3:42 PM (EST)

    Refused totally ruined me from ever taking this band very seriously. They will always be compared and always be worse

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 3:42 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    haha the riony of the album cover relase on a maojr lable.

    Posted by projectactive on 2005-11-04 15:16:35

    oh i get it, the album is supposed to be hypocrytical.

    Posted by CallingLondon on 2005-11-04 14:31:21

    that last post was me, btw. stupid work computers.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 2:30 PM (EST)

    someone touches on this point a few posts down, but marxist socialism is not anti-commerical. if you read marx, you'll see that he considers industry to be a good thing. according to him socialism cannot really succeed without the a somewhat advanced society already being in place, which means commercial success. it's after the capitalist society is developed that the "revolution" should take place. communism is a distortion of marx's beliefs. it skips the whole capitalism stage, and the revolution for that matter, and goes straight to "equal" society. that's why it has never worked. a socialist is someone who wants an actual revolution to take place, and that doesn't necessarily mean a revolutionary war.

    Posted by Sirens on 2005-11-04 13:29:24

    Seriously, this sucks. Fuck it. Stop trying to be cool by liking this, this is radio friendly alternative. Make your capital Dennis, make it plenty.

    Dude below me, exactly, dude below him, exactly.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 1:15 PM (EST)

    Everyone knows the best way to "screw" capitalism is to sign to a major and stage a Coast to Coast tour of the US with your merch box.

    Make mine a large, please. I'm messing with the system fifteen dollars at a time.

    As for this record: I wasn't a big fan of it at all. At least their other full-lengths were decent tributes to Make-Up (Not that they were anywhere near as good), but this one was weak.

    Way to go guys.

    -ObeyYourParents

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 11:52 AM (EST)

    punknews is so generous with thier reviews. It seems as if they are afraid to bash/talk shit about any record that is released. C'mon, lagwagon? now this? this shit fucking sucks.

    Posted by sickboi on 2005-11-04 11:01:05

    This shit cracks me up. Dennis and his uber stance against capitalism, yet his record gets shelved because the label doesn't know how to market it? Hahahahaha....

    Posted by mjg on 2005-11-04 10:18:30

    i picked up this album in europe last year and the sleeve for it is kind of cool...the american version got fucked up

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 10:17 AM (EST)

    They are a fantastic live band, and I thought this album was just as good as the previous ones.

    It WAS released in Europe (via burningheart) in the summer of 2004. That's where I got my copy...

    Posted by rkl on 2005-11-04 09:10:24

    It lacks the bite that filled releases such as Bigger Cages, Longer Chains and The First Conspiracy.
    i never thought tinc had that much bite in the first place. to be honest, the vocals in this have always made it unlistenable imo.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 8:45 AM (EST)

    "wow, i didn't know they signed to reprise....that strikes me as odd, as i thought they were socialists."

    Look up socialist in a dictionary and then go look up communist.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 8:24 AM (EST)

    ooooo look at us! we're so cool and scene we put parantheses around one of the words in our name!!!!11
    lolrofl!!! lmaonaide!!!

    Posted by fallingupwards84 on 2005-11-04 08:23:24

    "Can anyone believe that it has been 4 years since the last (International) Noise Conspiracy full-length?"

    yes.

    Posted by AlmostPunkEnough on 2005-11-04 04:54:48
    My Score:

    really good, but somewhat lacking as others have said. some songs are great and the rest do nothing for me. maybe it will grow on me more.

    Posted by BrandonSideleau on 2005-11-04 03:44:04

    Weren't these the guys who were almost "Crass-like" in their anti-establishment stance....and now they're releasing a record on Reprise? Maybe I'm thinking of a different band.

    Posted by ElVaquero on 2005-11-04 02:40:55

    Where can I find these Sandstrom records?

    Posted by ElVaquero on 2005-11-04 02:39:05
    My Score:

    Meh. Not that bad.

    Dennis isn't the guy who did Refused, he's just another douche these days.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 2:28 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    denis is a guy who does things, makes a go, so bless him, and this couldn't be said to a nicer fellow, and really this of all statements is so trite and cliche to apply to denis since its one he could predict, but i have to say honestly, "I prefer their earlier work".

    I love the 1st lost patrol record, refused, the preceding INC albums, but his recent output in all his projects have been way too reserved.

    And denis, I blame david sandstrom's solo output, so its okay. When David puts out the series of records he has I wouldn't know what songs to write myself.

    David Sandstrom Overdrive, will I ever get to hear this 3rd record of his?

    Will David's parents continue releasing his records?

    Can i stop freaking out?

    wyzo

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 2:20 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    i know most people say that this album is horrible, but i actually really enjoy it. it's not groundbreaking but i think good for t(i)nc.

    when you pick it up, i do recommend lyxen's other project, the lost patrol band's new one too

    Posted by moneenerd on 2005-11-04 02:15:13

    Also, about the 4-years absence thing... Im not 100% sure, but I was told that ARMED LOVE was available in Europe for quite some time in 2004 and took that long to get here in North America.

    And is TINC not on Burning Heart anymore?

    Posted by moneenerd on 2005-11-04 02:13:49

    Anythigns better than the new Lost Patrol shit Dennis just vomited on us..

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 2:03 AM (EST)

    Someone on Conservative Punk made me a really funny remark about how the (I)NC are full of shit when it comes to believing one thing and displaying another. I wish I could find that article, it was pretty funny.

    Not to say I agree with Conservative Punk... fuck that website.

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-11-04 01:35:27

    I like it. I don't get why everybody is shitting on it so much.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 1:32 AM (EST)

    wow, i didn't know they signed to reprise....that strikes me as odd, as i thought they were socialists.

    Posted by iheartadam on 2005-11-04 01:31:58

    Hey..Hey......Uhh...Ya got any gum?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 12:56 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    Awesome recording. I can't say enough good things about this.

    Barkley

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 12:48 AM (EST)

    I seen dude in nothing but batman underoos backstage in dallas and I have to say it scared me a bit. Possibly the thinest man I've seen outside of holocaust photos.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 12:47 AM (EST)

    these dudes ragggg on our country..yet they are making dough off of us? what the fuck?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 12:30 AM (EST)

    Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the revolution*

    *brought to you by Reprise Records

    Posted by inagreendase on 2005-11-04 00:29:14
    My Score:

    I was a pretty big fan of New Morning, but actually did hold off until just recently to listen to this.

    No wonder; I can't even put my finger on what makes this so eh... it just is. The swagger? The production? The soul? Someone help me out here.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, November 4, 2005 at 12:28 AM (EST)

    I like the idea of liking this band more than I like this band.

    Know what I mean?

    All things considered, I think they are very hard-working, serious, considerate, thoughtful, and considered folk.

    But I don't really care for their music.