This is Indecision's first release written and produced with their new vocalist, Artie Philie. While Indecision has always been a progressive band, Artie seems to have brought more politically charged lyrics. This album will sound different to old Indecision fans. They redo "This Time Tomorrow," which doesn't sound quite right at first, but after a few listens it's as good as ever. "Release the Cure" has a more metallic sound and that new school flavor. While they seem to have lost some of the originality that made them stick out, the new album is still excellent. As always, they provide lots of opportunities to dance; songs like "At the Wake" have strong mosh potential.
"Release the Cure" refers to the conspiracy theories that the government created diseases such as AIDS and that they have the cure but refuse to release it because they use epidemics for population control and to make money off of the sick. Indecision points out that the medical economy would virtually collapse with the release of a cure for AIDS or cancer. In the song entitled "Release the Cure" they say, "One death is tragedy- / billions, the industry / and epidemics equal revenue." The album contains spooky images of a man with tubes in his nose in a hospital and his skin is printed with the image of a dollar bill. The band offers more detailed info on this subject by writing them and sending a stamp to:
Though we have yet to review this info, as the band states in their insert, these are conspiracy theories and not established fact. Whether or not it is true may not even be the most important issue. The thing is that it is believable. The fact that something like that is possible points to the inherent flaws in a system that places great value on power and profit. In a system that puts people first, medicine will be carried out to help people and not make money.
"May Be Monitored To Assure Quality Control," is a song about empty materialism (the greedy kind, not the Marxist kind) in our culture. The song asks, "But what do you have? What do you feel? What do you want besides more? What is your definition of what is real?" Indecision expands on this theme in the insert to the CD, "Make no mistake, that which is convenient, that which is made to be easy, is meant to control." They go on to talk about how modern electronic gizmos are able to keep people distracted from what is going on in the world. While this is true, they ignore the more important factor involved. In the U$ we get all these neat gizmos in addition to all of the everyday necessities that most people in the world aren't guaranteed. So what they bring up is really just an extension of the fact that people in this country are bought off, and that is why they don't step out of line and try to change the system.
Through the Wasteland is an environmentalist song about the dreams of youth being crushed through the destruction of the world around us.
"Burning Saints" puts forth a dialectical view of the world, specifically of U$ domination over it. "Empires are temporary. Every government is temporary. No standard prevails. Nothing lasts forever." While Indecision doesn't provide an analysis of how or why the United $tates is doomed, they are certainly correct that it is digging its own grave (see Karl Marx for an explanation of why capitalism will fall). The lyrics do prophesize some form of rebellion to destroy U.$. imperialism, "Reaching across the world and spreading like a cancer. Amputate it, sterilize and start all over." This is a nice analogy for the role of the oppressed all over the world who must cut off imperialist influence in their regions, as part of a worldwide struggle to destroy it.
"Dead" is a song about the 9 to 5 life style that robs one's life from oneself. This is a subject that must be treated carefully by revolutionaries in the imperialist countries. This is because it lends to the idea that workers in this country are exploited. This song is actually a fairly righteous song since it talks of breaking from the system that robs part of life. Marx wrote about the alienation of workers from their work under capitalism because of the fact that they are producing for someone else and merely renting out their time/labor. This is still true for many people in this country, and is a legitimate complaint. The problem is that most amerikan workers would rather just fight for more money, which they don' t even deserve, than try to change the system itself.
"Suspension of Disbelief" is a song about the maintenance of power through fear without having any right to rule. Indecision says that this song applies to everyone from governments, to bosses, to "tough guys." The song says, "When no one fears them, no one respects them, no one runs from them- watch them as they disappear. Their power is a lie." In The Simpsons Halloween Special VI, the townspeople are able to stop the giant advertisements turned monsters by just not paying attention to them. Unfortunately, real life is not quite as simple. The imperialists do have real military power that must be dealt with. Even dealing with tough guys requires a certain amount of organization and force. But the general sentiment of this song is true. Mao called the imperialist powers "paper tigers," because they looked tough, but were really easily defeated by a mass movement. Again this should not be interpreted to mean that a strong, organized effort is not required to bring down imperialism. The fact is that imperialism still rules 50 years after Chinese liberation.