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Rating:
When, in 2001, Dischord released the seventh (yes, I consider 13 Songs an album) work of Fugazi, they didn't know it would be the last; or maybe they did. The fact is, we surely would have hoped for another one, and maybe even one more. Unfortunately, that didn't happen, and now I find myself reviewing the last album of the legendary Washington DC band, still formed by the two guitar-vocalists Picciotto and MacKaye, bassist Lally, and drummer Canty. Additionally, the sound engineer Busher collaborates on percussion or a secondary drum set in some tracks.
The album opens with an intro of less than a minute that leads us to the first real track “Cashout,” a sufficiently calm piece that announces a fearsome one-two punch: “Full Disclosure” and “Epic Problem.” The first alternates a verse painfully sung by Picciotto with one of the most emotional and melodic choruses of all their production, culminating in the literally goosebump-inducing solo/interlude. The second features typical group breaks and concludes with a part, initially instrumental and then sung, which is probably one of the album's high points. The album slows down and tones down in the middle section, notable “The Kill” where Joe Lally takes the vocal spotlight. Towards the end of the album, we find more masterpieces: “Ex-spectator” manages to create a unique atmosphere with both guitars pounding during the chorus, making listening to the track a challenge to remain still while MacKaye strains to keep up with the imposing rhythm section supported by Canty’s percussion and sound engineer Busher. “Nightshop” offers us the last song sung by Picciotto’s falsetto, with a unique interlude, among clean and distorted guitars.
Probably this is the album I would let someone listen to first if they wanted to dive into Fugazi’s work, it is very melodic and less "difficult" than many other works, yet staying on par with previous masterpieces, without dropping in tone.
As the album concludes, we hear the title track that could not have ended the album better, with a choked scream from MacKaye putting an end to a perfect story, which began with him stating “I'm a patient boy” accompanied by all of us shouting “I wait” four times, and reaching the epilogue with the yet another masterpiece from one of the greatest bands in history.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
02 Cashout (04:24)
On the morning of the first eviction
They carried out the wishes of the landlord and his son
Furniture's out on the sidewalk next to the family
That little piggie went to market,
So they're kicking out everyone
Talking about process and dismissal
Forced removal of the people on the corner
Shelter and location
Everybody wants somewhere
The elected are such willing partners
Look who's buying all their tickets to the game
Development wants, development gets
It's official
Development wants this neighborhood gone
So the city just wants the same
Talking about process and dismissal
Forced removal of the people on the corner
Shelter and location
Everybody wants somewhere
Everybody wants somewhere, somewhere!
Everybody wants somewhere, somewhere!
Everybody wants somewhere, somewhere!
Everybody wants somewhere!
Process and dismissal. Process and dismissal.
Shelter and location.
Everybody wants somewhere.
Everybody wants somewhere, somewhere!
Everybody wants somewhere, somewhere!
Everybody wants somewhere, somewhere!
Everybody wants...
03 Full Disclosure (03:53)
oh, i don't want one
i don't want one
i don't want one
(x7)
i want a mutally assured destructive life
seizing separate culture
to take me over
moving silent like radar
take me over, and blow out my mind now
full disclosure, coming sponsered by no one
take me over, and blow out my mind now
ejected
oh, i don't want one
i don't want one
i don't want one
(x3)
i want a mutally assured destructive life
seizing separate culture
to take me over
moving silent like radar
take me over, and blow out my mind now
full disclosure, coming sponsered by no one
take me over, and blow out my mind now
blow out my mind now (x2)
full disclosure (x3)
ejected
04 Epic Problem (03:59)
Congradulations. Stop.
Wish I could be there. Stop.
Tell me something that I don't know
Is there anything left to know?
Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop.
Accesory, accesory, accesory
We regret to inform. Stop.
Miss you dearly, signed sincerely. Stop.
Tell me something that I don't know
Is there anything left to know?
Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop.
Accesory, accesory, accesory
To the time time time time
I've got this epic problem
This epic problem's not a problem for me
And inside, I know I'm broken
But I'm working as far as you can see
And outside, it's all production
It's all illusion, set scenery
I've got this epic problem
This epic problem's not a problem for me
06 The Kill (05:27)
born into race and nation accept family and obligation
i'm not a citizen i'm not a citizen
embrace tradition and occupation
cull memory for assimilation secure for future generations
secure for future generations
i'm not a citizen i'm not a citizen laying in this cold field
waiting for the call feeling right here in this uniform i think i got
them all academic or street education obtain degree in annihilation i'm not
a citizen i'm not a citizen laying down in chambers waiting for the call
seen your kind so many imes you got no chance at all laid out immobile
hoping for that call it's in my mouth, under my skin sodium pentathol
07 Strangelight (05:53)
The sun's a strange light nothing grows right anymore
Scars on every stalk
Whose mouth should I use to talk?
The force that marks the routine
Temperature whatever degrees create the bad thing
And lay our heads in it now
It's hard to punch the clock on the site where production stopped
I'm just a warehouse filled with junk
Some somethings for some someones tacking
Time with tracking eye tectonic shifts one nerve at a time
I lay my head in it a hundred plans to fortify beige concrete foes on for miles
Hiding cities under it fill my mouth with with non-mouth spit there was a light at
The window there was light under the door but it's not there anymore
(Come on over get your shoes on put your feet on baby come on over)
08 Oh (04:29)
Number one is aqcuisitions
There is no foreign soil
Go global like a round thing
Go global like a hole
Every money matchmaker
Splicing green as fast as you can
Let's break it down and start again
Memo to the partners
I'm changing all the locks
I'm pissing on your modems
I'm shredding all the stocks
Choose a color for your ceiling
I'm waiting for the bottom to drop
In a room so brightly lit
I can't see in
You would never say you were out of time
Your secret's out
Comming with the fiction all the time
Your secret's out
But there's a call comming on the other line
Your secret's out
Lapse of luxury
Lapping waste
Cruising towards a bruising crash
Thread held anvil's gonna break
When the letter returns to the sender
I can't hardley wait
God, this room's so brightley lit
I can't see shit
You would never say you were out of time
Your secret's out
Comming with the fiction all the time
Your secret's out
But there's a call comming on the other line
Your secret's out
Thank you may I have another?
I would be your eagle driver
Your service provider
Your matre'd
Thank you, sir, may I have another?
Please
10 Nightshop (04:02)
Fuck your fucked directives god I want a new invective
Custom built to form fit you say it to your face
If I get to choose I'll take something real
The fight to feel while your next meal is
Calling loosely trademarked as the best fucking thing you've ever had
Inside your mouth all comet cleaned and scrubbed down landscaping
For a ghost town while that deficient platform for your head
Causing you to mistake yourself for dead and all that you would issue
Is capital's incontinence causing you embarrassment?
The wet spot on the carpet that you leave as the reminder
That you need of all that it did to you adjusting your reception a welcome
Self correction make it quick make it soon make it something I can do all by
Myself cos there's a brain inside it there's a brain deciding there's a
Brain inside the brain there's a brain inside the brain deciding there's a
Brain inside the brain there's a brain inside the brain deciding time to make
Or break find me somewhere else time to make or break how about it?
I've got no patience no way stationed hanging at the nightshop eating shit who
Works for who?
Every asshole says side saluting emptiness instead but if I get to choose
I'll take something real who works for who who you working for?
Who works for who who you working for?
11 Argument (04:27)
When they start falling executions will commence
Sides will not matter now matter makes no sense
How did a difference become a disease?
I'm sure you have reasons a rational defense
Weapons and motives bloody fingerprints
But I can't help thinking it's still all disease
Here comes the argument
Folderol it's all about strikes now
So here's what's striking me
That some punk could argue some moral abc's
When people are catching what bombers release
I'm on a mission to never agree here comes the argument
Here comes the argument here comes the argument here it comes
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Other reviews
By Rivo
Label enthusiasts call it Emo-Core, which means a more emotional Hard Core.
Life And Limb, which reminds me of the best of Sonic Youth’s Dirty and the supreme Strangelight, a melodic song that almost sounds like a demo.
By Funeral For A Friend
Classifying Fugazi would be a crime, and secondly an offense to them.
'Epic Problem' is the most beautiful song of the entire album, a crescendo of guitars reminiscent of the Fugazi of the past.
