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The other day when I got home from work I opened my mailbox and was totally shocked to see a package containing the new Fugazi records. I had only heard vague reports that an album and single had been recorded; I had no idea that it was ready to come out, and what's more I hadn't spoken to my contact at Dischord for months, another reason for this package being completely unanticipated. As I stared at the two CDs sitting on my coffee table, I realized that my web site has already achieved pretty much everything I set out to do. Just a few days earlier I received BYO's reissue of Leatherface's The Last, and here is the new Fugazi sitting on my table, without me paying for it or even specifically asking for it. The world truly is a beautiful place.

When I put on the disc, though, the feeling only grew more intense. Fugazi has long been one of my all-time favourite bands, but on End Hits I thought that they got a bit too jammy and forgot that they can write really great songs. Sure, I could listen to Ian and Guy play crazy guitar leads all day, but that will never equal the feeling of identification and elation when listening to songs like "Shut the Door" or "Suggestion." On The Argument, however, Fugazi give us the best of both early and later periods of the band, simultaneously expanding their sonic palette and getting back to basics as far as simple, elegant song structures go.

The guitar playing in particular on this record is nothing short of phenomenal. Ian and Guy both wield their instruments with a precise, delicate balance of power and pop sensibility with which there is no real worthy comparison. Similarly, the percussion has been expanded and developed far beyond what is expected from your standard rock band, the recorded debut of longtime tour percussionist Jerry Busher giving the band even more dimension and diversity, two things they never really lacked in the first place.

After all these years and all these records, Fugazi are still one of the most vibrant, exciting bands in all of rock music. Despite their seniority, their modesty remains intact; one of the most understated, tasteful press releases I've ever received accompanied the record, which is truly unique and admirable when every label touts every release as the next big thing. For Fugazi, this is just another record, but for those of us who are lucky enough to hear it, it's a reaffirmation that music, and punk rock in particular, are still worth listening to.

More reviews like this at deepfrybonanza.com



People who liked this also liked:
Fugazi - 13 SongsThe Lawrence Arms - Oh! Calcutta!Jawbreaker - 24 Hour Revenge TherapyFugazi - In On The Kill TakerOperation Ivy - Operation IvyFugazi - Red MedicineFugazi - Repeater + 3 SongsMinor Threat - Complete DiscographyThe Clash - London CallingRefused - The Shape of Punk to Come



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    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 at 2:20 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Listen to Tamil music! It's much better!

    hahahahaha

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, May 27, 2004 at 2:37 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    epic problem is a great song, but cashout and the argument are simply amazing

    i love this cd

    Posted by Analog_Boy on 2003-12-28 16:35:30
    My Score:

    I agree with Epic Problem being a really amazing song. Just can't get enough of it. This alblum rules, just got it yesterday.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 6, 2003 at 10:36 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    LOL, favorite album while high

    hey, I heard Fred Durst was going to do a cover of Waiting Room...

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 6, 2003 at 7:35 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    OVERRATED, theyre ok but overall pretty boring

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, March 28, 2003 at 1:08 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This thing just sounded like Jesus the first time I heard it. I hadn't heard much cool music before and I thought FUCK YEAH! Epic problem is the coolest song ive ever heard, ever.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 4, 2002 at 4:50 PM (EST)
    My Score:

    This album hauls some serious ass. - bigjerk

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 28, 2002 at 4:41 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Oh the irony...

    This is my favorite album to listen to while high.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 24, 2002 at 8:49 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    the pixies fucking rule. surfer rosa is one of my favorite records.

    oh yeah, fugazi is awesome too.

    Posted by YellowTrash on 2002-04-07 22:56:49
    My Score:

    This album is awesome. Epic Problem is the best song on this record!

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 22, 2001 at 1:45 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Usually people who don't think Fugazi are that great haven't listened to one or two albums more than once (if at all through the whole thing)

    I didn't take much notice of them for years. Then when I finally did I was like "What the FUCK" It is amazing for a band as a whole (their politics, their music, their ethics, their live show) to have the ability to consistently put out good records without getting stale or boring.

    I did the same thing with the Pixies
    (ignored them and didn't really check them out) and I hate myself for it now since I could have seen them live had I taken notice earlier.

    Posted by sickboi on 2001-10-22 11:40:38
    My Score:

    I like how you support your opinion so well, "jeez", who are you, the beaver?

    Posted by CONsumer on 2001-10-21 10:22:40
    My Score:

    seeing all these comments and scores i felt oddly isolated. sure they sing about good stuff but jeez, they arent that good. instead of keeping my opinion to myself i will share it. so there

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 20, 2001 at 3:15 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    where the hell can you download this album. i'm poor and currently dont have the money to get it. i've searched on both morpheus and kazza, and cant find it

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, October 20, 2001 at 12:39 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "Waiting Room" is a fucking rad song, no matter what fuck heads like it.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 19, 2001 at 6:50 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i got them both yesterday. the back of the argument says "$10 p.p." and the ep says "$4 p.p." (but maybe the website's different?)

    i'm happy to say that they were priced the same at my local indpendent record store. i can't imagine a place besides the wherehouse or virgin or some other huge chain selling a fugazi album for 15 dollars

    oh yeah, they're both excellent

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 19, 2001 at 5:01 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    There is no best.

    If you are new to them I'd start off with In On the Killtaker, Repeater, or End Hits.

    Waiting Room is the song all the fratboys who listen to Fugazi like.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 19, 2001 at 3:38 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    What would you all consider THE BEST Fugazi album? I need some advice

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 19, 2001 at 3:38 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "Bed for Sleeping"... Haha

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 19, 2001 at 11:31 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Well, I'd rather have it in hand the second i buy it, and the manager of the store i go to hooks me up all the time (he recently sold me his personally copies of the first 2 lillingtons albums for 10$ total, and one is out of print!) so i don't really mind paying 15$. The band probably gets the same exact amount anyway. I guess I'll be a god damn idiot for a day!

    Repeater is hard most of the way through, with one of the best songs of all time, that being Styrofoam,. 'Waiting Room' is an all-time classic as well.- fathead

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, October 19, 2001 at 11:08 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Omigawd...this album is the greatest.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 18, 2001 at 1:42 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Fuck.. I forgot a few others:

    Great Cop (In On the Killtaker)
    Bed for the Scraping (Red Medicine)
    Downed City (Red Medicine)

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 18, 2001 at 1:38 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Good "hard" fugazi songs:

    Public Witness Program (In On the Killtaker)
    Smallpox Champion (In On the Killtaker)
    Margin Walker (10 Songs)
    Five Corporations (End Hits)
    Caustic Acrostic (End Hits)
    Merchandise (Repeater)
    Exit Only (Steady Diet of Nothing)
    Epic Problem (The Argument)

    Those are the ones I can think off the top of my head.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 18, 2001 at 1:32 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    P.S. Anybody that pays 15 bucks for this is a god damn idiot.

    You can order it POST PAID from dischord for 9 dollars.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 18, 2001 at 1:31 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Somebody tell that kid that the song is called "Bed for the Scraping" not "Bed for Sleeping"

    Posted by deepfrybonanza on 2001-10-18 11:47:19
    My Score:

    Just for the record, I never said I was special for having a zine. There are free web hosting services all over the place, so if you're so concerned about it start your own... It's just satisfying when all of my hard work pays off, and I get such a great record for free. I wasn't trying to brag... if anything I would like to inspire more people to do well-written zines.

    Daniel
    http://www.deepfrybonanza.com

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 18, 2001 at 10:14 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    My fav. "hard" song of Fugazi's is, at the moment, "Bed for Sleeping", the second track off of "Red Medicine", i believe.

    Also, the whole "Repeater" album is pretty fucking great and is probably one of, if not the, best Fugazi albums.

    --Cos

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 18, 2001 at 12:59 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Can anyone recommend some of Fugazi's harder songs, I haven't heard many....

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 18, 2001 at 12:28 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    That was an awesome review...

    Fugazi is an awesome band....

    The "furniture" 7" is amazing as well...just the song furniture is reason enough to buy it...although it kind of reminds me of "waiting room..." but that could be a good thing?

    Jimi

    Posted by sickboi on 2001-10-17 21:43:31
    My Score:

    Bragging? What the fuck are you talking about junior? Dan-the-man writes some bomb-ass shit.
    Oh yeah, this album rocks out with its cock out.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 at 8:03 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    HAHA FUNNY STUFF

    You are so cool and awesome because you have a zine.

    I love how you brag, its so funny.

    Posted by ncg1 on 2001-10-17 16:13:51
    My Score:

    Yep. I'm mad. I went to the local record store on the night of October 15th. Went in, went to the indie section, flipped back the Fugazi tab, and saw nothing. I thought, okay, all of them are probably on the new release shelf. So, I went to the new release shelf. It wasn't there either. So I asked the guy. He said, "Oh, uh, we don't get it until the 23rd." Idiot. This is why we need a GOOD indie store in my area.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 at 4:07 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    God what a fucking awesome band. This a great album. Period.

    Posted by imabigjerk on 2001-10-17 13:51:48
    My Score:

    gotta get it....now.

    Posted by coldjuly on 2001-10-17 13:51:45
    My Score:

    Im glad I get a lot of CDs free, or else I would be in some debt right now.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 17, 2001 at 1:41 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    you got it for free!!!you bastard. oh well, great review, looks like i'm gonna be out 15 bucks.- fathead

    Posted by coldjuly on 2001-10-17 13:31:28
    My Score:

    I just heard this yesterday...fugazi lives on!!! Good album to say the least.