The Fall / The Infotainment Scan
Artist The Fall
Album Title: The Infotainment Scan
Album Cover:
Primary Genre Alternative & Punk: Post-Punk
Format Vinyl 180 gm
Released 04/26/1993
Label Demon Records
Catalog No DEMREC747
Bar Code No 5 014797 903364 >
Packaging LP Sleeve
Tracks
A1. Ladybird (Green Grass) (3:59)
A2. Lost in Music (3:49)
A3. Glam-Racket (3:12)
A4. I'm Going to Spain (3:27)
A5. It's a Curse (5:19)
B1. Paranoia Man in Cheap Sh*t Room (4:27)
B2. Service (4:11)
B3. The League of Bald-Headed Men (4:07)
B4. A Past Gone Mad (4:19)
B5. Light/Fireworks (3:46)
Date Acquired 09/25/2023
Personal Rating
Acquired from Juno Records
Purchase Price 25.49

Web Links

All Music Guide Entry:
Discogs Entry:
The Fall online - Discography: singles & albums

Notes

Notes:
One of three new releases from Demon Records, all presented on 180gm clear vinyl. These reissues comprise the Permanent Records output--27 Points, The Infotainment Scan and Middle-Class Revolt, following on from their 2020 Record Store Day reissue of Cerebral Caustic.
Manufactured in the EU.
© 2021 Demon Music Group Ltd.
℗ 1993 Permanent Records.

Credits:
Artwork By [Cover] – Pascal Le Gras
Producer – Mark E. Smith (tracks: A2, B5), Rex Sargeant, Simon Rogers (tracks: A3)

Companies, etc.:
Copyright © – Demon Music Group Ltd.
Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Permanent Records
Licensed From – Fullfill UK Ltd.
Marketed By – Demon Records
Pressed By – GZ Media – 208849E
Published By – BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Published By – Warner/Chappell North America Ltd.
Published By – Sony/ATV Music Publishing (UK) Ltd.
Published By – Intersong Music Ltd.

Barcode and other Identifiers:
Barcode (Text): 5 014797 903364 >
Barcode (Scanned): 5014797903364
Label Code: LC13218
Matrix / Runout (Runout Side A, stamped): 208849E1/A
Matrix / Runout (Runout Side B, stamped): 208849E2/A

Reviews
All Music Guide Review:

Review by Ned Raggett
Returning to the indie label world with a bang, the Fall unleashed a winner and a half with Infotainment Scan, one of the band's most playful yet sharp-edged releases. The choice of covers alone gives a sense of where Smith's head was at -- tackling Lee Perry's "Why Are People Grudgeful?" is one tall order to start with, while a cover of the novelty tripe "I'm Going to Spain" is just silly fun (even if the guitar does sound like early Cure!). Even more astounding, though, is what the band does to the Sister Sledge disco classic "Lost in Music" -- nobody will ever mistake Smith's singing for that of the threesome, but the band's overall performance is an honest-to-god tribute to the tight but full Chic Organization sound. Craig Scanlon throws in some scratchy work around the edges, but otherwise the group takes it as it is and does a great job. As for the originals, Smith and crew are in fine form once again, Scanlon, Steve Hanley, Dave Bush, and Simon Wolstencroft once again a dynamic, inventive unit. After the explicitly techno nods of the recent past, Infotainment balances that off with more straight-ahead rock, though with Wolstencroft's strong, sharp drumming still setting a brisk, danceable pace while Scanlon whips up his usual brand of tight, memorable riffing and Bush adds subtle textures and catchy melodies. One of the best numbers is the explicitly Gary Glitter-styled romp "Glam-Racket," a great shout-along, while the beat-crazy "A Past Gone Mad" wins for this line alone: "And if I ever end up like U2/slit my throat with a garden vegetable." "The League of Bald Headed Men" also deserves note, as does another strong motorik-inspired number, "It's a Curse." Best song title of the bunch? "Paranoia Man in Cheap Shit Room," with a high-strung and aggressive arrangement to boot.


Mark Prindle Review:

The Infotainment Scan - Matador/Atlantic 1993.
7 out of 10
(He is wrong about this -aa)

STUDIO ALBUM #15 - Supposedly their "comeback" album, but actually shorter and less interesting than the last two. "Ladybird (Green Grass)" starts off the extravaganza with a wonderful almost-Brixish note-based melody (albeit with an awfully stupid drum line), and "Service" and "A Past Gone Mad" are the danciest tracks they've ever done (and good, too!), but the rest of this just doesn't kick up any dirt. A couple of weak covers, a few generic riffs, and a boring "experimental" track do not a comeback make.
Cover 1
Cover 2
Cover 3
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Cover 5
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Cover 8