World/Inferno Friendship Society

World/Inferno Friendship Society: Hallowmas 2010 [7-inch]Hallowmas 2010 [7-inch] (2010)
Chunksaah Records

Reviewer Rating: 5

Contributed by: RastidRastid
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on November 23rd 2010The World/Inferno Friendship Society is the best live band I have ever seen. And this is a relatively common opinion among those who have had the pleasure. Their records are all seriously wonderful, but they had never quite made the perfect recording that does their live show justice. This Hallow.

The World/Inferno Friendship Society is the best live band I have ever seen. And this is a relatively common opinion among those who have had the pleasure. Their records are all seriously wonderful, but they had never quite made the perfect recording that does their live show justice.

This Halloween, World/Inferno hosted their annual Hallowmas. They promised that "The first couple hundred people at each show who bring large bags of confetti or large bags of candy will be very glad they did so." The band followed through, awarding a ticket later redeemable for a single-track 7". The track, "Canonize Philip K. Dick, OK?", is phenomenal. It has everything you could want in a song: A catchy chorus with a message ("You can't change the system from within / the system changes you"), plenty of good advice ("Learn to burn bridges / get good at it"; "Use your imagination / learn to keep secrets too"), rabble-rousing warnings ("Spite and rage will age you, girl / but sitting in your office is killing you"), lovely backing female vocals, swing time and more.

The band has undergone some major lineup changes since their last recording. Most notably, the band had employed Brian Viglione (Dresden Dolls) as the drummer for their previous tours. While I thought he did a great job, he was certainly controversial. This recording sees the return of original drummer Ben Kotch, and his performance really makes this recording what it is. He swings through the song in a manner reminiscent of fan-favorite "All the World Is a Stage (Dive)" and does a great job going from soft to hard-hitting as the song requires.

The song is classic Inferno: danceable and subversive.

This is without exaggeration the best recorded song I have heard in the last several years. The physical 7" might be hard to get your hands on at this point, but I highly recommend you track down the MP3 at least.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Rastid (November 25, 2010)

wow... that sounds....... amazing.

found the song on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3yoAr17n8Q

if you manage to mash something up, please please post it, haha

wyzo (November 25, 2010)

"you dont change the system, the system changes you"
frodus, from too big a lie - off there new 7 inch

"You can't change the system from within / the system changes you"
World Inferno Friendship Society, this new 7 inch

I was listening to the frodus song on headphones while reading this review. (insert spooky sounds).

Can you even fathom what a frodus, World inferno double header would be like?

You take the whole theater and spectacle of world inferno, the style of music they play.

Add to it the whole frodus conglomerate international mojo and there style of music.

What two utterly different bands who would meld so well together. Such contrasts but both bands hit similar nerves for me. That show would be amazing. If only the honor system would get back together, or throw propagandhi on that bill.

Frodus/World Inferno/Propagandhi

Adult men can still have boyish musical dreams long after music has lost most of its relevance to people his age (see above 3 bands for making me think music still can fulfill complex, thoughtful, fun and inspiring purposes). I am going to find this world inferno song and play both songs simultaneously, possibly, yes, possibly while also trying to have it sync up with various movies.

Rastid (November 24, 2010)

The most hyperbolic band in the history of music (yes, I know). No one "likes" this band; they ejaculate at the mere mention of them. Maybe this is why I can't stand them or their fans.

i guess this is an understandable sentiment, but i think there's a good reason for it. have you seen them live? i felt the same way until i did.

xchemicalx (November 24, 2010)

The most hyperbolic band in the history of music (yes, I know). No one "likes" this band; they ejaculate at the mere mention of them. Maybe this is why I can't stand them or their fans.

johngentile (November 23, 2010)

Also, if anyone wants to sell me their copy of this, let me know. I'll be willing spend a generous amount for it.

johngentile (November 23, 2010)

This band is awesome. This song is awesome. It flips between smooth 40's jazz and piano smashing. Kick ass.

Problematiclogic (November 23, 2010)

These guys may just be my favourite band and I still knew NOTHING about this. Can't wait for the new record.