Search - Fugazi :: Argument

Todd B. from PASCOAG, RI
Reviewed on 6/11/2007...

legendary post hardocre

Definitely not repeating

Wheelchair Assassin | The Great Concavity | 12/03/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The Argument is my fourth Fugazi album, and while it's not to be confused with the incendiary Gang of Four-aping Repeater, the thoroughly confrontational In On the Kill Taker, or the wildly experimental noise rock of Red Medicine, it is an interesting conclusion to the career of a band that had obviously outgrown the post-hardcore genre that it helped to define. "Maturity" is often a loaded term in music, especially alternative music-it often just means a band has lost their edge and become safe and inoffensive-but The Argument really does feel like a natural progression from the band's earlier work. Ian MacKaye and Guy Picciotto obviously have a long-standing reputation as iconoclasts in their field, and The Argument saw them expanding their sonic palette well outside Fugazi's aggressive origins. Even the angriest, most in-your-face tunes here have some melody and catchiness stitched in, making the band's traditional tricky arrangements and genre-bending structures go down a little bit easier. The result is an album that's at times raging, at times reflective, and always distinctive.



Most importantly, though, the songs here are simply better written than what you'll find pretty much anywhere else. With the exception of the brief intro track, everything here has something to offer. Cashout switches from quietly reflective to righteously angry in the blink of an eye, befitting its indignant anti-gentrification lyrics; the shouted mantra of "Everybody wants somewhere!" easily pushes the song from good to great. Full Disclosure interrupts its whiplash-inducing guitars and maniacal screams long enough to inject some sunny vocal harmonies (check out those "oooh"'s in the chorus!). Epic Problem and Ex-Spectator are taut, angry numbers, filled with screeching guitar noise and abrupt time changes, that wouldn't sound too out of place on Repeater. The eerie, late-period Sonic Youth-esque Life and Limb is built on surprisingly clean and expansive guitar tones, Guy's trademark sneer, and some gently insinuating melodies. The album's best song, Strangelight, is almost shoegazerish in its first half, driven by hushed vocals and droning rhythms, before flexing its rock muscles for the denouement. For its part, the dub-inflected Oh, while not Fugazi's best moment, is one of its catchiest, owing to its jarring, mathy rhythm section and jagged guitars. Nightshop could easily be called an indie-pop tunebecause, well, that's basically what it is, even if it's a little bit more foreboding than what usually falls into that category. The title track ends the album on a philosophical note, with a guitar-driven lament about the reality of human disagreement that burns slowly before exploding at its conclusion.



So, is The Argument Fugazi's best album (of the four I've heard, anyway)? Well, that depends. If you want an album exploding with righteous indignation, try Repeater. If you want hardcore fury to come bursting out of your speakers, In On the Kill Taker should be right up your alley. And for originality and unpredictability, Red Medicine is probably the best place to start. However, the best advice this reviewer can provide is to get them all. Depending on your preferences, some might take longer to "get" than others, but all are essential documents of one of the most bold and important bands of the past 15 years. Even if (like me) you're somewhat of a latecomer, Fugazi more than deserve the investment it will take to appreciate the full range of their sound.

"

Inventive, genre-defying, purely brilliant.

The Wickerman | Austin, TX | 08/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Fugazi is one of my favorite types of bands, that being one who spits in the face of such tawdry things as "labels", or "genres". These guys take the rawness of punk and indie rock, and the complexity of jazz and prog, and strike a seemingly impossible balance between the two. This album is a wild roller coaster of layered complex rhythms, jarring time changes, loud, crashing walls of noise, and plaintive, tranquil melodies.



Nowhere is this diversity more evident than on "Nightshop" and "Ex-Spectator", both full of wild, unpredictable dynamics, all brought together seamlessly. Elsewhere, the band is ever dynamic, from loud punk anthems ("Full Disclosure", "Epic Problem"), to softer, ambient ballads ("Strangelight", "The Kill"). "Cashout" and "Life and Limb" are equally bizarre and catchy, with singable melodies superimposing odd, offbeat rhythms, once again showcasing this band's tremendous songwriting talent. Anybody can do all of these things, but to bring them together as they do is truly special.



Most bands that fall into the punk or indie genres are not well-known for their technical prowess, but Fugazi are undoubtedly an exception. The drumming is dizzyingly dynamic, going from wild and erratic to subtle and subdued, sounding completely natural either way. The guitar and bass are both raw and stylish (and "Ex-Spectator" even features some cool finger-tapping from both), and frontman Guy Piccioto is the perfect vocalist to match it all, going from hair-raising howls to Beatle-like choruses.



Simply put, Fugazi is one of the best rock bands there is, and a must for any music-lover. And better yet, the band works to keep the prices of their CD's low, so you have no excuse. Buy all their stuff."