Product Description

Combining the band's first two EPs, Fugazi's 13 SONGS is nothing less than a landmark hardcore album. From the unmistakable opening bass line of "Waiting Room" to the cathartic finale of "Promises", the record is DIY post-punk at its finest. And though the quartet would become known for its anti-corporate/consumerism stance, 13 SONGS is all about unapologetically intense music.
Founded by ex-Minor Threat and Embrace frontman Ian MacKaye, Joe Lally, Guy Picciotto and Brendan Canty (the latter two from Rites of Spring), Fugazi had aremarkably fully formed sound on this set of songs, with alternately fierce and chiming guitars exploding over fluid bass grooves and tight, propulsive rhythms. Already a revered figure on the Washington D.C. hardcore scene at the time of this 1989 release, MacKaye opted to share lyric, vocal, and guitar duties with Picciotto, giving the group an even greater sense of dynamics. "Bad Mouth" boasts an almost ska-like vibe, and "Margin Walker" is angular aggro-rock, while "Provisional" carries elements of atmospheric pop. True, the roots of emo-rock are present, but as Fugazi proves here, they are a band whose music transcends labels.

Track Listing

1. Waiting Room
2. Bulldog Front
3. Bad Mouth
4. Burning
5. Give Me The Cure
6. Suggestion
7. Glue Man
8. Margin Walker
9. And The Same
10. Burning Too
11. Provisional
12. Lockdown
13. Promises

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28507 in Music
• Released on: 2002-10-07
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import

Customer Reviews

Above it All
Not being a massive follower of punk/hardcore, whether through ignorance or otherwise, I only heard about this band about 6 months ago.
However, after a few listens I quickly realised that this album is above and beyond any particular genre.
This band shows such diversity throughout the album but one song that stands out from the rest is the Waiting Room, which is one of the greatest punk songs ever written. After every listen the song is still alive and refreshing with an absolute superb bassline - something which occurs throughout the album.
Basically, this is an album that would apply to any rock fan.

definitive
For my money 13 Songs is the definitive Fugazi album - the collection that would start off the following of Fugazi and their amazing future transgressions to the band they are today.

Waiting Room, the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" of this album is an obvious pick for a highlight but unlike "Smells Like Teen Spirit" it doesn't lose any of it's shine or allure after endless and endless listening.

From start to end this album highlights Fugazi's politics and diversity. It's a hard collection to kind of place into a genre - is it post rock, post-hardcore, punk...whatever labels it may be given I think it would appeal to all sorts of rock fans as it doesn't typecast itself to conventions. It basically chunders through 13 tracks of sparse aggressive rock music with sublime subtlties thrown in.

An essential.

great compilation
This album excels - there are no weak tracks. I saw Fugazi in concert in Birmingham after lapping up their first 2 EPs which are contained within '13 songs'. I cannot describe myself as a punk fan per se but Fugazi manage to strike the right chord every time. Such tracks as 'Margin Walker' and 'Give me the Cure' force you to mouth the words as the music sucks you in and the beat takes over.

This type of music may have reached its peak and has long since retreated but this album is as fresh as the day it was made. The production quality is excellent without sounding 'over produced' as some bands did after their first releases (Half Man Half Biscuit springs to mind). If you are interested in Fugazi this is the album to buy although 'Repeater' was an excellent follow up album.

If you like this style of music I would also recommend getting hold of some 'Spermbirds' music who are like Fugazi but a lot faster!