Information Society

This greatest-hits set prepared for the Brazilian market collects Information Society favorites from the Minneapolis dance-pop combo's first three albums. Obviously, "What's on Your Mind (Pure Energy)" is the highlight here; its stuttering and proud synthesized rhythms never fail to set up the triumphant chorus (dig those tingling keyboards!). That said, InfoSoc had some ability beyond its five minutes of fame. "Running" could be Paul Carrack covering Dead or Alive, while "How Long" features some robust harmony work and a rush of giddy synthesized percussion. The darker synths and power-drill sound effects of "1,000,000 Watts of Love" are also a standout, accessing some grayed-out and dusty pop-industrial motherboard. Information Society wasn't able to muster much staying power past its initial burst, but this retrospective does a great job of trimming its considerable fat to showcase the best cuts. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide