Armed Love was my nickname in high school.

Artist: The (International) Noise Conspiracy
Album: Armed Love
Label: American Records
Tracks: 10
Length: 39:27
Review By: Christopher Thomas!

Lots of people love filmmaker Michael Moore. Most people hate him. Moore makes political documentaries and opinion-based films about American politics, most notably Fahrenheit 9/11, an incendiary film about current President Bush and what Moore spotlights as inadequate handling of the terrorist attacks on America.

What would happen if Michael Moore’s next film were, say, a romantic comedy starring Kate Hudson and Ashton Kutcher and featuring that adorable little Dakota Fanning as Kutcher’s wise-cracking younger sibling? Maybe there would be a cameo by Tom Hanks, the king of romantic comedies (see: Sleepless in Seattle, You’ve Got Mail, Joe Vs. the Volcano, etc.). I’ll tell you what would happen: an atrocity, that’s what.

So what happens when a politically-themed garage rock band moves up to a major label and writes a record called Armed Love? Well, it’s not an atrocity, but it is a disappointment. When I listen to The (International) Noise Conspiracy, I expect to hear plenty of angry rants about government-approved slavery and Big Brother watching our every move. What I don’t want to hear is songs of lovesick longing or sappy tunes about how wonderful it is to be in love.

Armed Love isn’t devoid of political themes and references, but there is absolutely no bite or conviction in the lyrics. This lack of urgency and importance only further highlights what is lacking musically throughout the album. The musical depth in each song is uncharacteristically limited. In the past, even the simplest songs – like my personal favorite, “Smash It Up” – feel thick and impressive despite their simplicity. What we have here is a collection of songs that border on cliché retro-rock. T(I)NC has always had a good deal of 70s garage rock in their sound, but gone is the lo-fi urgency. Instead we hear cleaner, clearer production and riffs taken from your local bar band’s bag of tricks.

Far be it from me to imply that moving to a major label might be detrimental to a band’s sound, but there are only a few changes to the band’s inner workings that might contribute to a dramatic shift in their sound. One such factor may be the departure of keyboardist Sara Almgren. Whatever the reason, T(I)NC has taken a disappointing step back musically.