FUGAZI – THE ARGUMENT (DISCHORD)
It would look like for the best that this is/was the final Fugazi album and one that I always felt saw as something of a hic-cup in proceedings considering that the previous two studio albums (Red Medicine and End Hits) saw the band at their absolute pinnacle of their powers.
Perhaps the politics took over and the craft moved to more focused on the lyrics than the music (as with what would eventually be depressingly bland The Evens). After something of a revitalisation in the “scene” as Nirvana and grunge became a distant memory and this brand of alternative music returned cleansed, maybe the expectations were too high as a fresher and wider audience began to expect more.
It is not until “Full Disclosure”, three tracks in, that you feel the powers have be have even woken up. One song later however the record feels as if it is faltering once more.
I remembering heading into town from work at lunchtime on the day of release of the record very excited. This was before internet leaks and after I stopped receiving promos from Southern. When I finally got it home I was presented with something that was sedate, bordering on weak, when I was expecting something to rock my world, to spring me up into action to do something to improve the world and myself.
The record was released in Oct 2001 which represented a tough period for me as early into counselling (including a dream about seeing Guy beat up a fan onstage during a gig) I was sailing out the final days of some kind of relationship with a future lesbian and my increasing lack of involvement in my own record label (Gringo Records). So perhaps the record was received into the environment of the time and as a result personally judged by me on merit based on poor reasoning. That said though, at a time when feeling angry at the world and desiring and requiring some kind of outlet, there is very little overt anger, energy or aggression to this album as it seldom lets loose and gives the listener little opportunity to act out in response.
The saving graces of the record come too late in the form of half of “Oh” (the latter half ruined by Mackaye’s appearance on vocals) and Blonde Redhead-esqe “Ex-Spectator”.
Eventually it came to represent the Fugazi record I have listened to least even despite the fact for ingenuity it probably betters the early records. The band officially jumped the shark when someone decided it was a good idea to include whistling into a song.
Thank you for the memories.
Thesaurus moment: adieu
Fugazi
Fugazi interview
Fugazi live
Dischord
It would look like for the best that this is/was the final Fugazi album and one that I always felt saw as something of a hic-cup in proceedings considering that the previous two studio albums (Red Medicine and End Hits) saw the band at their absolute pinnacle of their powers.
Perhaps the politics took over and the craft moved to more focused on the lyrics than the music (as with what would eventually be depressingly bland The Evens). After something of a revitalisation in the “scene” as Nirvana and grunge became a distant memory and this brand of alternative music returned cleansed, maybe the expectations were too high as a fresher and wider audience began to expect more.
It is not until “Full Disclosure”, three tracks in, that you feel the powers have be have even woken up. One song later however the record feels as if it is faltering once more.
I remembering heading into town from work at lunchtime on the day of release of the record very excited. This was before internet leaks and after I stopped receiving promos from Southern. When I finally got it home I was presented with something that was sedate, bordering on weak, when I was expecting something to rock my world, to spring me up into action to do something to improve the world and myself.
The record was released in Oct 2001 which represented a tough period for me as early into counselling (including a dream about seeing Guy beat up a fan onstage during a gig) I was sailing out the final days of some kind of relationship with a future lesbian and my increasing lack of involvement in my own record label (Gringo Records). So perhaps the record was received into the environment of the time and as a result personally judged by me on merit based on poor reasoning. That said though, at a time when feeling angry at the world and desiring and requiring some kind of outlet, there is very little overt anger, energy or aggression to this album as it seldom lets loose and gives the listener little opportunity to act out in response.
The saving graces of the record come too late in the form of half of “Oh” (the latter half ruined by Mackaye’s appearance on vocals) and Blonde Redhead-esqe “Ex-Spectator”.
Eventually it came to represent the Fugazi record I have listened to least even despite the fact for ingenuity it probably betters the early records. The band officially jumped the shark when someone decided it was a good idea to include whistling into a song.
Thank you for the memories.
Thesaurus moment: adieu
Fugazi
Fugazi interview
Fugazi live
Dischord
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