Fugazi - Repeater

Dischord

April 19th, 1990.

D.C.'s finest Fugazi made their full-length debut on this day in 1990. It was preceded by, and built-up to, with the 1988 self-titled EP - the one with all-timer "Waiting Room" on the tracklist as well as the picture of Guy Picciotto in a sort of handstand position on the cover - and the 1989 Margin Walker EP - the one with Ian McKaye on the cover looking like he got slapped with a hand full of a funny substance - which would be joined and compiled as the 13 Songs EP in September of 1989. The band would also release the 3 Songs EP in late 1989/early 1990. To say that the debut was warmed up to would be an understatement. To say that the album lived up to any expectation that it may have had would also be an major understatement. 

Members of Minor Threat - Ian McKaye - and Rites of Spring - Guy Piciotto and Brendan Canty - joined forces with Joe Lally and converged on the creative feats of Fugazi. Repeater was released on Ian McKaye's(as well as fellow Minor Threat member Jeff Nelson's) Dischord Records - a label that was setup to put friend's albums in fans hands.

Fuelled by dense and oftentime funky rhythms, Fugazi set forth. The tracklist often seamlessly links track to track - when one ends, another begins again; they fall off of themselves. The flow is a state in which Fugazi find their feet in. Like a train on its tracks, there aren't many directions to head in other than forwards.

Repeater is home to playful, though ever-so- serious, guitar interplay. Guitars ruggedly dance with one another - it takes two to tango. Bumping elbows and the occasional forehead, Repeater rustles you up to gently sit you down.

There's a sharp intellect - set of intellects - behind the Fugazi ethos. Near scathing, but for the betterment of the all involved whether they realise it or not. Uncompromising in mission and code. A solid foundation through which the message is spearheaded. A conduit for the real thing. Sprinkle your sugar shite elsewhere. Hold your tongue and forever choke on your words, you deserve it. You are not what you own. How can you be that which owns you? See for yourself. Spread that cheddar far and wide. You may not have money problems, but you've opened a can of worms, my friend. The deeper it goes, the deeper it gets. See for yourself. It has no problem showing you the ways in which it will trip you up. The truth, it speaks. Never mind what's been selling, it's what you're buying. 

I broke the surface so I can breathe. I close my eyes so I can see. I tie my arms to be free.  

Shut the door.