Information Society “Information Society” 1988. Tommy Boy Records. Dancey synthpop, the Minneapolis-based band’s debut album. It went to #25 on the US charts, mostly on the strength of their first single, the massive hit “What’s On Your Mind (Pure Energy).” I loved this song so much when it came out the spring of ’88. It’s high (pure) energy electronic dance music; it went to #3 on the US single chart and to #1 on the dance charts. It also samples Leonard Nimoy’s Spock from the Star Trek episode “Errand of Mercy” (1967). The rest of the LP is mostly OK! especially when InSoc sticks to the dancey synth pop stuff. The single “Walking Away” is one I vaguely remember from ’88 – it went to #9 in the US and also samples Stark Trek (William Shatner: “It is useless to resist us”  and Scotty saying “Let’s go see!.” I’m fairly certain the song “Over the Sea” (another upbeat synthpop ass-shaker) has Star Trek samples but I’m no Trekkie so can’t say who/what episode; same with the funky “Something in the Air” (probably Spock) which hilariously includes a sneaky sample of KC and the Sunshine Band’s “That’s the Way (I Like It).” When they stray from their formula, like on the electro-ballady stuff (like the single “Repetition” which charted at #76), the record drags and feels very dated.