Fugazi

Fugazi: The ArgumentThe Argument (2001)
Dischord Records

Reviewer Rating: 5

User Rating:

Contributed by: deepfrybonanzadeepfrybonanza
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on October 15th 2001The 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 contac.

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

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

Please login or register to post comments.What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (June 16, 2004)

Listen to Tamil music! It's much better!

hahahahaha

Anonymous (May 27, 2004)

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

i love this cd

Analog_Boy (December 28, 2003)

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

Anonymous (April 6, 2003)

LOL, favorite album while high

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

Anonymous (April 6, 2003)

OVERRATED, theyre ok but overall pretty boring

Anonymous (March 28, 2003)

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.

Anonymous (November 4, 2002)

This album hauls some serious ass. - bigjerk

Anonymous (April 28, 2002)

Oh the irony...

This is my favorite album to listen to while high.

Anonymous (April 24, 2002)

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

oh yeah, fugazi is awesome too.

YellowTrash (April 7, 2002)

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

Anonymous (October 22, 2001)

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.

sickboi (October 22, 2001)

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

CONsumer (October 21, 2001)

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

Anonymous (October 20, 2001)

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

Anonymous (October 20, 2001)

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

Anonymous (October 19, 2001)

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

Anonymous (October 19, 2001)

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.

Anonymous (October 19, 2001)

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

Anonymous (October 19, 2001)

"Bed for Sleeping"... Haha

Anonymous (October 19, 2001)

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

Anonymous (October 19, 2001)

Omigawd...this album is the greatest.