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Epitaph Records -- Millencolin

Since the release of the [International] Noise Conspiracy's last album in October of 2001, a lot has happened. First off, that album in question was on a lot of writer's top 10 lists [yours truly among them]. Their patented sound of socio-political garage rock infected many of us critics, but not many in the mainstream, due to their extremist slant. So what does the mainstream do, then? They embrace bands like the Hives, the Vines, and the White Stripes, who can play garage rock without any message behind it.

So where does that leave this band? In a bit of a tight spot, I'm afraid. Why would someone want to listen to garage rock that is very, very similar to their peers but that contains a message that's pretty hard to swallow if you don't already support it? Sadly, this is getting to be how I feel. I love this band's first 2 albums [3 if you count the singles collection], but their rhetoric seems to be getting a little tired on this release.

"Bigger Cages, Longer Chains" kicks off with the title track, taken from their last full-length. I personally loathe EPs that are based around a previously released album track, but what can you do? Anyway, the song sounds as funky and fresh as it did a year and a half ago. Out of the 5 other songs on this EP, 4 were leftovers from the "NM,CW" sessions, and it's pretty obvious. Each of the tracks could have been exchanged for one of the songs that made the album, and you never would've known. They're all on par with the band's prior work, although it gets a bit repetitive towards the end of the EP. Dennis' voice just seems a bit weak on these, but that could just be me going through Refused withdrawal.

And then there's the cover everyone's talking about - the band's rendition of N.E.R.D.'s "Baby Doll." I've never heard the original [just call me a cracker], but the song is pretty good on it's own merit. It slinks past the 5 minute mark with a spastic drumbeat counteracting the silky guitars. I like it, but it can't save the entire CD.

So even though the audio on the disc might be lacking some bite, the videos contained on it more than make up for it. You get all 4 of the band's videos ["Smash It Up, "The Reproduction Of Death," "Capitalism Stole My Virginity," and "Up For Sale], as well as a short video on Noam Chomsky. The band has always come across incredibly visually, and these videos are definitely some of the better I've ever seen coming out of the punk rock scene.

Even though I really haven't been digging on this CD, I would still recommend it to people who are fans of the band and people who have wanted to hear them for a while. You get a good sampling of what they're about, and some great videos to boot.

MP3
Baby Doll



People who liked this also liked:
Foo Fighters - In Your HonorThe Movielife - Forty Hour Train Back to PennThursday - War All the TimeTaking Back Sunday - Tell All Your FriendsBoy Sets Fire - The Misery Index: Notes from the Plague YearsBoy Sets Fire - After the EulogyGood Clean Fun - Between Christian Rock and a Hard PlaceOnly Crime - To The NinesThe Falcon - God Don't Make No Trash Or Up Your Ass With Broken GlassBouncing Souls - The Gold Record



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    Posted by turdcorn on 2003-01-27 01:30:50
    My Score:

    This is no Survival Sickness, but it isn't bad. There ain't many punk records you can make luv too, but T(I)N C is Sexy! Buy a record and score some booty!

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2003-01-26 21:58:13
    My Score:

    TINC is decent but theyre no Refused.

    Posted by pwfanatic on 2003-01-25 18:59:03
    My Score:

    yeah, they are better.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 24, 2003 at 12:11 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    They're no Randy.

    Posted by AtomicGarden on 2003-01-24 03:28:39
    My Score:

    I agree, this band rocks life.. but hey, all I can say is that I miss Refused.

    Posted by soulbleed on 2003-01-24 01:57:01
    My Score:

    i agree, this is a huge letdown considering how good their last album was

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 24, 2003 at 1:51 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    refused is dead, burn your cd's

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 23, 2003 at 3:11 AM (EST)
    My Score:

    What, exactly, does this have to do with This Bike Is A Pipebomb?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 8:56 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    INC is much better than a strict garage rock band. I thought these songs were recorded after the last album by the amount of b-sides already out from those sessions (weighing war on coma, written on the bourgeous [mispelled] body, united by haircuts, ever felt cheated?).

    Anyway, its a good EP, I thought it was better than the last LP which went on for too long in my opinion.

    Dennis is supposedly recording more lost patrol soon, cant wait.

    wyzo

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 8:40 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    Good politics, good music. But they're no Refused. Sniffle....

    -El Vaquero (still waiting for a reunion)

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 8:10 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    By far, the greatest band currently in existence.

    Posted by Steve_Bennett on 2003-01-21 19:10:30
    My Score:

    is the deal with chomsky any good?

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 6:59 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    t(I)nc kick ass. i like the hives, even tho theyre overrated, the vines suck cock, and the white stripes are good, but theyre songs are far too similar.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 5:33 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    The white stripes are better than the bands they get grouped with.

    Posted by CallingLondon on 2003-01-21 16:34:06
    My Score:

    i wouldn't say the noise conspiracy sound all that similar to the the white stripes or the hives. This band is more doors influenced and a bunch more funky. also the white stripes don't have as much of a message, but they're more creative and take more risks with the music i think. that's all.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 4:06 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    they released a limited edition live cd and it kicks a lot of ass. try to find it online somewhere.

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2003-01-21 15:54:43
    My Score:

    cracker

    i wish that the (I)NC could get the spirit of thier live shows onto record. they're a great, great live band, but i just don't like thier records all that much.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 21, 2003 at 3:26 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    i'll say! i'm gonna go start a paper route right now!
    -Pee Wee Herman