I like Fugazi. Should I get albums from Embrace and Rites of Spring?

rites of spring, maybe. don't sound much like fugazi, really, but they have moments of brilliance. (and only a few embarassing ones.)

Try Ignitiion, a band fronted by Ian's brother Alec. Their song I know what Anger Means is classic!.

avoid Embrace, which sux, but sounds like fuckin Fun House compared to the godawful Egg Hunt 7".

Re Fugazi - no disrespect to the legend but Ian is the weak link, man.

Jawbox's albums "Novelty" and "For Your Own Special Sweetheart" are both pretty good and in a similar style. I actually think "Sweetheart..." is their best album, but many people began to hate them because they left Dischord. They were quite a good live band.

Unwound is another band that you might like, but their records are spotty and some can't stand the vocals. They are an aquired taste, but because of that you can often find their records used.

Drive Like Jehu's "Yank Crime" is a good recommendation.

but embrace and rites of spring were not the best bands of the label:try shudder to think's "funeral at the movies",it's a wonderful record and contains "red house",their best song.

about fugazi:after all,their REAL influences are more gang of 4,wire,sonic youth and dub.and probably you just heard them...

Rites of Spring - s/t (discography)
Shudder To Think - Funeral At The Movies
Drive Like Jehu - Yank Crime
Gang of Four - Entertainment!

I will try to hear Embrace first, just to see if it is THAT awful...
I love Unwound (at least the two albums I own, "Challenge..." and "Leaves...").
Guided by Voices is a tad too undeveloped, too "work in progress" for my taste (at least the albums I heard, "Bee Thousand" and "Alien Lanes") but it is nice.
Jawbox is a bit hard to find around here (Portugal), but that's what the internet is all about, ain't it? What about Bluetip? Is it any good?
Thanx for all your input.

Initially I read this as a command missing the comma after happy.

Happy Go Licky is a post-Rites of Spring DC band. The (brilliant) Soulside album is called Soon Come Happy.

I second the recommendation for Hoover's Lurid Traversal of Route 7, which is where Dischord really met the early-nineties concept of emocore--screaming breakdowns, harsh guitars, atmospheric grooves and total angst.

Why hasn't anyone mentioned Lungfish? Easily the most consistent band on Dischord--nearly all of their albums are fabulous. Get Rainbows From Atoms or Pass & Stow.

I'd say no to Embrace; it's an ok album but some of the lyrics are downright embarassing, and the second side wears pretty thin. Download the songs "Dance of Days" and "Building" and you'll get the idea of what the good stuff sounds like.

Go for Rites of Spring, definitely.

But I digress. Is the Black Eyes album that similar to the Rapture? I know BE has an ex-Rapture member, but their sound seems a lot punkier and less dancey, to me. But again, I've only heard the 7" and seen them live.

I don't think I quite "get" the El Guapo album, also. I've seen them live a few times and enjoyed it, but when I got Super/System it kind of bored the crap out of me. Maybe I ought to listen to that one again--what about it do you like?

Anyway, JP, stay away from Bluetip. Boring. Try Kerosene 454 instead, but I doubt you'll find it. Pony Express Record ist amazing, and Mr. Gentry (hi Brandon!) is OTM in regards to Hoover. Lovely stuff. Buy any Jawbox you can other than the first record. I think they're DC's best band ever.

Definately check out the Hoover family of bands:

Hoover, Radio Flyer, Regulator Watts, June of 44, The Crownhate Ruin.

Hell, just check out the Slowdime back catalog. (PS - Buy JO44 CDs used; Quarterstick's wholesale prices are INSANE for an indie.)

J. Robbins is a great producer.

new jersey's gern blandsten label also put out a load of great post-hardcore releases, including merel, iconoclast and chisel, who might appeal most to a fugazi fan. chisel, of course, was fronted by ted leo.

Rites of Spring "Six Song Demo" CD/10" EP + MP3

Rites of Spring were among the most important and beloved bands to emerge from the DC underground music scene in the mid-80s. Formed by Guy Picciotto (vocals/guitar), Mike Fellows (bass), Brendan Canty (drums), and Eddie Janney (guitar) in 1984, the quartet released a self-titled LP and a 7" single before disbanding in 1986. They were central to what came to be known as "Revolution Summer," a period of redefinition and creative burst from the DC scene in 1985. Before that - before they even played a show - the band recorded a six-song demo tape at Inner Ear with Don Zientara and Ian MacKaye.

Though widely bootlegged, this session has never been released and captures Rites of Spring in the band's earliest stages. Once the band started playing out, the songs gained velocity and intensity (see the 7-minute plus version of "End on End" that closes their LP), but many of the elements that defined their music - frenzied energy, sharp melodies, and introspective lyrics - were already very much in place. The release has been mastered from the original tapes and is presented exactly as it was on those cassettes in 1984 complete with the tape collages and assorted audio-graffiti. Members went on to play in Happy Go Licky, Fugazi, Royal Trux, and Silver Jews. Six Song Demo is available on CD and 10" + MP3.

Is there really a big demand for this?

I'd like to hear it, but I'd be surprised if it was a big seller.

Lots of nostalgia for this era in DC right now with two movie docs on the harDCore era in the works, so it will at least sell some copies here

the void thing seemed to get a lot of attention

also i don't think dischord does stuff because they think it's going to sell 500K or something, they probably know what the crowd is pretty well

The Void demos were pretty heavily bootlegged across the years so it's really cool Dischord are doing legit reissues of this type of thing IMO.

One Last Wish is an amazing record!

The band that most scratches the Fugazi itch for me without being a soundalike is Nation of Ulysses

I've always loved the One Last Wish album (and I don't really care for Rites of Spring, or those other related bands). I don't know what it is, the album just rips... the songs are fun, groovy, anthemic, (endearingly) corny, kinda poppy(??)... I guess it's sort of the only album in this style I feel like I need, but it also somehow stands apart of the rest of the crowd. Maybe I just haven't heard enough of the other stuff?