Fugazi Song by Song

[version sound]

The plan is for me (and all of you, to the extent that you want to chime in) to go through the entire Fugazi catalog, song by song, album by album. I plan to do a song a day. I’m starting with the demo because it obviously came first chronologically, and enough people passed it around in the 80s that it was pretty widely heard long before it was officially released. I will be following the track list and running order of the official release, which differs from the tape I got from Ian in 1988.

[version sound]

First Demo recorded in 1988, officially released in 2014.



Personal background: I saw Fugazi for the first time in the Summer of 1988 (July 16th at the Beach Theater to be exact). I don’t remember how long after that I got the demo, but it was definitely before the first EP came out. Fugazi was definitely a bit of a surprise. I guess I expected them to sound more like Embrace, if not Minor Threat, and it was weird to see Ian on guitar. I fell for the demo fast and hard, regardless.

Waiting Room

This song weirdly became a staple of NFL games at some point, which is still kind of unbelievable. BITD, it was a pretty good intro to the early Fugazi sound: a prominent rhythm section with sparse guitar (only Ian at this point) over top. Ian’s vocals have moved on from the anguished wails of Embrace and angry shouts of Minor Threat to more of a sing/speak rhythmic approach, with Guy interjecting here and there. It’s hard to not consider this song a classic, some might even call it an anthem.

[jaybird]

go through the entire Fugazi catalog, song by song, album by album.

[lewdd]

You can end the thread after that song because I don't think they made another song that comes close to being as good as that one.

[xxxMidgexxx]

This thread is not mandatory, is it?

[version sound]

This thread is not mandatory, is it?

.

YES

[version sound]

You can end the thread after that song because I don't think they made another song that comes close to being as good as that one.

Duuuude, it’s not even the best song on the demo.

[pedro]

There is going to be a whole lot of “I have never heard it” from me in this thread. Of course Repeater will be more like “I don’t remember it.”

I enjoyed the demo and the first two records though. So my review of the demo version of “Waiting Room” is as follows: Good song, but not really a favorite. I like the version on the first record better.

[SamDBL]

go through the entire Fugazi catalog, song by song, album by album.

[FormerLurker]

go through the entire Fugazi catalog, song by song, album by album.

[xxxMidgexxx]

You can end the thread after that song because I don't think they made another song that comes close to being as good as that one.

Duuuude, it’s not even the best song on the demo.

Why do you even bother with Lewdd?

1) He doesn't like rock and roll and/or anything else.
2) He can't make good BBQ to save his life. Or else he can't prove it
3) He drinks too much (or not enough, depending on how you look at it)
4) Other stuff.

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Merchandise

An early Fugazi classic with imminently quotable lyrics for us lefty pinko types. This one is a more straightforward rocker with some nice piano jamming during the intro. A 10 out of 10 Fugazi jam.

[xxxMidgexxx]

I have never heard the demo. Prolly not worth it at this point. There's a reason that they are called demos.

[pedro]

I think the music on this song is great. I have always found the lyrics to be kind of dumb and condescending. I have never thought a rock band owes me anything or that I have any control of that rock band. I certainly don’t think I am what I own.

And for the record, I kind of like(d) t-shirts from obscure rock bands. I also didn’t mind spending $8-$10 on a t-shirt that helped the band get to the next gig or put out the next record.

[version sound]

I think the music on this song is great. I have always found the lyrics to be kind of dumb and condescending. I have never thought a rock band owes me anything or that I have any control of that rock band. I certainly don’t think I am what I own.

And for the record, I kind of like(d) t-shirts from obscure rock bands. I also didn’t mind spending $8-$10 on a t-shirt that helped the band get to the next gig or put out the next record.

I always assumed that “we owe you nothing” was aimed at the capitalist power structure, not their audience. When you look at what rare punk records go for these days (especially early Dischords), it’s clear that capitalism won out with a lot of the punx...

[pedro]

I have heard that take on the song, but it goes against what was said from the stage. In the early days, this song was almost always preceded by a speech about the evils of t-shirts.

[lewdd]

I have heard that take on the song, but it goes against what was said from the stage. In the early days, this song was almost always preceded by a speech about the evils of t-shirts.

Tell me more about these speeches about the evils of t-shirts.

[pedro]

For the first time in years, I just listened to the song. Of course VS is correct, Ian is trying to make a larger point, but I will never disassociate the song from the evils of t-shirts speeches. Therefore it will forever, in my mind, remain the rant against t-shirts.

Lewdd, as the intro to this song, Ian would always point out that they did not have t-shirts or any other kind of merchandise (other than records) for sale at their shows. He would talk about how it was supposed to be about the music instead of who has what t-shirt or trinket or whatever. They weren't interested in making t-shirts and they weren't going to make t-shirts. Which is all fine, but it got a bit redundant and over the top.

[xxxMidgexxx]

[xxxMidgexxx]

Terrific. For Fugazi who never had to worry about making ends meet by selling shit other than their records.

Puhleeze.

[version sound]

...as the intro to this song, Ian would always point out that they did not have t-shirts or any other kind of merchandise (other than records) for sale at their shows. He would talk about how it was supposed to be about the music instead of who has what t-shirt or trinket or whatever. They weren't interested in making t-shirts and they weren't going to make t-shirts. Which is all fine, but it got a bit redundant and over the top.

Must’ve been a DC thing? I only saw them once around this time, but there was definitely no anti-Tee rant when I saw them in Virginia Beach. I love and respect Ian, but he definitely goes overboard. It’s great that Fugazi were so anti-corporate, but wasn’t Ian making plenty of money from licensed Minor Threat t-shirts? Minor Threat definitely sold and licensed (I believe) shirts going back to the early 80s. Makes me want to print some Fugazi tees...

[lewdd]

You should make some that have the lyrics to "Merchandise" on the back.

[SamDBL]

...as the intro to this song, Ian would always point out that they did not have t-shirts or any other kind of merchandise (other than records) for sale at their shows. He would talk about how it was supposed to be about the music instead of who has what t-shirt or trinket or whatever. They weren't interested in making t-shirts and they weren't going to make t-shirts. Which is all fine, but it got a bit redundant and over the top.

Must’ve been a DC thing? I only saw them once around this time, but there was definitely no anti-Tee rant when I saw them in Virginia Beach. I love and respect Ian, but he definitely goes overboard. It’s great that Fugazi were so anti-corporate, but wasn’t Ian making plenty of money from licensed Minor Threat t-shirts? Minor Threat definitely sold and licensed (I believe) shirts going back to the early 80s. Makes me want to print some Fugazi tees...

Yeah, it's always super easy to be anti-capitalism when you've already secured yourself financially through capitalist means. Look at Bernie Sanders. But I never took Ian's lyrics to be quite that shallow. More like maybe pointing out the faults of capitalism rather than condemning it outright in favor of socialism. I appreciate that Fugazi, which I'd guess were generally extremely left, had more nuanced messages on issues like that.

[xxxMidgexxx]

Yeah, it's always super easy to be anti-capitalism when you've already secured yourself financially through capitalist means. Look at Bernie Sanders. But I never took Ian's lyrics to be quite that shallow. More like maybe pointing out the faults of capitalism rather than condemning it outright in favor of socialism. I appreciate that Fugazi, which I'd guess were generally extremely left, had more nuanced messages on issues like that.

Agreed on this for the most part. As far as Fugazi is concerned.

[scannest]

I'm pretty certain that the no t-shirt thing had at least as much to do with making their life easier on the road as anything else. They didn't have to lug shirts around and deal with clubs taking a percentage of their merch sales (which also meant counting in with the club at the beginning of the night, counting out at closing, etc. What a pain in the ass that must be). And I don't think their decision was ever intended as a slag against bands who sold merch, but people always take these things personally.

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Furniture

This is pretty much the closest they ever came to straight dub/reggae. I knew this song even better than the others on the demo because the guy who promoted their show in VB released a tape comp less than two weeks later that included Furniture and a few other songs recorded at that show. These were the first Fugazi recordings that I actually owned, and I listened to those songs over and over. Even though I think Furniture is one of the weaker songs on the demo, it has a special place in my heart because of that tape. Listen for yourself below courtesy of Chunklet.

https://www.chunklet.com/when-the-bow-breaks-dc-athens-bands-live-in-va-beach-86-88/

[scannest]

This is pretty much the closest they ever came to straight dub/reggae.

Nah, "Version" is their skankiest dub. This is way is pretty straight rock with a reggae bassline. You know, Fugazi-esque.

[version sound]

This is pretty much the closest they ever came to straight dub/reggae.

Nah, "Version" is their skankiest dub. This is way is pretty straight rock with a reggae bassline. You know, Fugazi-esque.

Revisit the demo version, which is much dubbier than the single version, then maybe just agree to disagree. “Version” sounds more like a This Heat homage to me.

[xxxMidgexxx]

Repeater will be more like “I don’t remember it.”

Really?? Wow. That album is like...in the top 50 greatest albums of all time. In ANY genre.

[scannest]

Revisit the demo version, which is much dubbier than the single version, then maybe just agree to disagree. “Version” sounds more like a This Heat homage to me.

Yes, the demo is definitely dubbier, but that instrumental chorus still hits pretty hard, and then when it picks up speed for a little while there.
I am not familiar with This Heat.

[version sound]

Revisit the demo version, which is much dubbier than the single version, then maybe just agree to disagree. “Version” sounds more like a This Heat homage to me.

Yes, the demo is definitely dubbier, but that instrumental chorus still hits pretty hard, and then when it picks up speed for a little while there.
I am not familiar with This Heat.

The chorus, even on the demo, is definitely straight rock.

This Heat:

[SamDBL]

I'm pretty certain that the no t-shirt thing had at least as much to do with making their life easier on the road as anything else. They didn't have to lug shirts around and deal with clubs taking a percentage of their merch sales (which also meant counting in with the club at the beginning of the night, counting out at closing, etc. What a pain in the ass that must be). And I don't think their decision was ever intended as a slag against bands who sold merch, but people always take these things personally.

I saw an interview with Ian where he explained it. I don't remember the whole thing, but there was a little more to it than them not wanting to lug merch around. It was some sort of philosophical statement. But he went out of his way to say that it was no judgement against bands that sell tshirts. And if they need that income to make tours work, then they should totally be doing s0. Also, the licensing of MT stuff to American Eagle Outfitters, which seemed totally out of character, was justified in that they were making them, anyway. And that if they were going to bootleg them on a large scale anyway, that he wanted them to be paying for them, at least. Then he could direct the money to yadda, yadda. The only reason I buy that story is that Minor Threat *could* be such a million dollar, Misfits style cash cow with anything from licensing designs and songs to huge corporations to half-assed reunions. And they have never really done any of that. Which is tangible evidence of their integrity, I guess. Though I'm sure serious money is being generated from MT's catalog, in any case.

[xxxMidgexxx]

AND....... peeps wound up bootlegging their T- shirts thus making money off of an anti capitalist band.

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Song #1

Another early classic. Musically, it features the classic Fugazi formula. The lyrics sound like they could be a comment on the Emo phenomenon and/or your basic scene politics. It’s really hard to believe Greg isn’t repping this demo harder. Great rocking rhythmic punk with sing along choruses - isn’t that your jam? I bet if you had heard it first instead of last you would be all over it.

[xxxMidgexxx]

Song #1

Another early classic. Musically, it features the classic Fugazi formula. The lyrics sound like they could be a comment on the Emo phenomenon and/or your basic scene politics. It’s really hard to believe Greg isn’t repping this demo harder. Great rocking rhythmic punk with sing along choruses - isn’t that your jam? I bet if you had heard it first instead of last you would be all over it.

Accurate. This.

[scannest]

Song #1

Starter Fugazi. Fugazi with training wheels. Great tune, but "Everybody's talking 'bout their hometown scenes and hurting people's feelings in their magazines" made me cringe then and still does.

[lewdd]

Song #1

Starter Fugazi. Fugazi with training wheels. Great tune, but "Everybody's talking 'bout their hometown scenes and hurting people's feelings in their magazines" made me cringe then and still does.

Were those lyrics a knock on MRR

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Song #1

Starter Fugazi. Fugazi with training wheels. Great tune, but "Everybody's talking 'bout their hometown scenes and hurting people's feelings in their magazines" made me cringe then and still does.

Were those lyrics a knock on MRR

I never paid close attention to the lyrics until today. I read it as possibly being a reference to Flipside coining the term “emotional hardcore.” That line feels somewhat tongue in cheek if that is in fact what they were referencing. I don’t really see that as being an actual complaint about magazines hurting people’s feelings, regardless of what they are actually referring to.

[jaybird]

As long as we're doing this, I would like to see some discussion of Ian's unbearable privilege in thinking he could possibly have any idea of what it's like for a woman to be a target of catcalling and street harassment, as he blithely and ignorantly assumes to speak for women in the lyrics of "Suggestion". That sort of clueless appropriation of feminist narratives and lived experiences is just another hot garbage take from a white male who doesn't know how to sit down, shut up, and pass the mic to historically otherized and marginalized perspectives.

[FormerLurker]

[pedro]

As long as we're doing this, I would like to see some discussion of Ian's unbearable privilege in thinking he could possibly have any idea of what it's like for a woman to be a target of catcalling and street harassment, as he blithely and ignorantly assumes to speak for women in the lyrics of "Suggestion". That sort of clueless appropriation of feminist narratives and lived experiences is just another hot garbage take from a white male who doesn't know how to sit down, shut up, and pass the mic to historically otherized and marginalized perspectives.

Point of Parliamentary Procedure please.

"Suggestion" will be discussed in due time. Right now it's "Song #1".

[FormerLurker]

He's got you there, jay.

[pedro]

I don't know who is in charge around here now, but when I was the Duly Elected, All-Being, Master of Time, Space and Dimension (Affirmed) I ran a pretty tight fucking ship.

[jaybird]

Just so long as it's on the docket...

[SamDBL]

Just so long as it's on the docket...

Lol. Right next to the ‘guilty of being white’ cold case file.


I’d like to also submit a claim against any asshole that criticized the calls for the Super Bowl, considering it was the first female Ref for an SB. Misogyny

[JGJR]

Just so long as it's on the docket...

Lol. Right next to the ‘guilty of white’ cold case file.


I’d like to also submit a claim against any asshole that criticized the calls for the Super Bowl, considering it was the first female Ref for an SB. Misogyny

I must be an asshole then since I criticized those calls earlier in the week and since I have no issue with "Suggestion." I get the criticism, yes lived experience is important, and in many cases, it's best to let folks speak for themselves but OTOH there is a huge stigma in doing that and even more so back then, but ultimately who cares? There are far bigger problems in this world (like the one the song is addressing). Their hearts were in the right place and I don't think any harm was intentional (obviously), so I never really got all the hate for that song tbh, especially considering that songs about that topic weren't exactly de rigeur back then. I think also that it was sort of the early days of the political type topics that a lot of post-hardcore bands in the '90s (think the Ebulltion/Vermiform type stuff) and Ignition kinda stumbled upon it as well with "One-Sided" (but I love its earnestness and righteousness of belief and newfound youthful discovery of a social ill) but someone had to go there first, right? Oh yeah, "Not Just Boys Fun" from '84, too.

There are some opinions I strongly disagree with here (not just the above, but scannest's take on "Song No. 1") and in the Bad Brains thread, but I guess that's part of the rich tapestry of life or something in that regard.

[version sound]

Not to get too off topic, but early on, Amy used to sing “Suggestion.” Not sure who actually wrote the words, though (most likely Ian?). Hopefully, she at least had some input beyond being a mouthpiece...

[scannest]

I would consider giving jaybird a nice, slow clapback for some A+ trolling, but let's be honest - it isn't exactly difficult to get JGJR to respond to obvious shit-stirring with a painfully awkward yet sincere attempt to address a non-issue.
So, kudos to both of you I guess?

[jaybird]

Thank you. I do the best as I can to provide quality message-board amusement and distraction.

[version sound]

The Word

Another early Fuggo classic that rocks into a dubby breakdown. If my Discogs search can be trusted, this one didn’t see the light of day until the 30 Years of Dischord set. Apple Music claims the word is “dead.” I always heard it as “change.” Maybe it says both at different parts?