best release by Ian MacKaye?

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just kind of wondering, what is everyones favorite album that this prolific individual has been a part of? the new evens album kind of got me thinking about all the stages his music has gone through, and just kind of curious what was everyones favorite.

― j-dizzle, Thursday, 10 March 2005 02:17 (twenty years ago)

Pailhead "I Will Refuse/No Bunny" single

― donut debonair (donut), Thursday, 10 March 2005 02:20 (twenty years ago)

Egg Hunt

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 10 March 2005 02:51 (twenty years ago)

That Poison Idea EP.

Oh wait he's not on that.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 10 March 2005 02:52 (twenty years ago)

probably The Argument for me. I have not heard Pailhead or the Evens.

― M@tt He1geson (Matt Helgeson), Thursday, 10 March 2005 02:53 (twenty years ago)

That last Fugazi album was fantastic.

― Douglas (Douglas), Thursday, 10 March 2005 02:53 (twenty years ago)

Definitely Pailhead. Sposedly Ian dropped acid with Jourgensen during those sessions? Perhaps that is just an urban myth.

― BlastsOfStatic (BlastsofStatic), Thursday, 10 March 2005 03:50 (twenty years ago)

I loved "Youth Against Fascism" back in the day.

― green uno skip card (ex machina), Thursday, 10 March 2005 03:51 (twenty years ago)

you are all crazy. tho i did like pailhead and egghunt. or wait, are you not allowed to pick minor threat on this thread?

― scott seward (scott seward), Thursday, 10 March 2005 03:54 (twenty years ago)

Minor Threat's 'Salad Days' 7".

― Sasha (sgh), Thursday, 10 March 2005 03:54 (twenty years ago)

Minor Threat, Complete (and of that, yeah, "Salad Days")

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 10 March 2005 04:27 (twenty years ago)

13 Songs, Argument, Repeater, The Evens

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 10 March 2005 04:27 (twenty years ago)

I didn't answer seriously cuz I thought the answer was obvious. Ian never topped Minor Threat (and "Salad Days" EP is probably their best release although its all good.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 10 March 2005 04:28 (twenty years ago)

Red Medicine, by default. It's the best Fugazi album. And Guy sings on the majority of the tracks.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 10 March 2005 04:29 (twenty years ago)

I seriously don't get why The Argument gets so much love. It's a good record, but it's such a let down after that brilliant In On The Kill Taker/Red Medicine/End Hits three-peat.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 10 March 2005 04:31 (twenty years ago)

no it's not

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 10 March 2005 04:34 (twenty years ago)

The defense is usually centered on "it's so melodic!" but um, most of their music was already like that! Did everyone miss "Target" and "Do You Like Me" and "Forensic Scene" and pretty much every other great Guy-on-vocals song they ever did? It always seems that the critical focus is on Ian, so he does "Argument" and it's "oh look a melodic Fugazi album" when it's really "oh look it's a melodic song by IAN." And even still, hello, "Pink Frosty," it's not a big shocker or anything.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 10 March 2005 04:45 (twenty years ago)

Minor Threat bitches!

― Zack Richardson (teenagequiet), Thursday, 10 March 2005 05:40 (twenty years ago)

you're righter than your strawmen opponents, but still wrong about The Argument, Matthew. There's just MORE on the album than on the previous few, which had classic grab tracks but a lot more filler and monochrome.

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 10 March 2005 05:56 (twenty years ago)

it's actually a hard choice, but I only chose that Pailhead single because it was my first exposure to Ian MacKaye.. just months later, I'd heard "Waiting Room" and dig that..

I like Minor Threat, but they always seemed to reside in Husker Du's shadow for me.

― donut debonair (donut), Thursday, 10 March 2005 06:51 (twenty years ago)

The Argument is not as cohesive as Red Medicine or Repeater.

― green uno skip card (ex machina), Thursday, 10 March 2005 07:11 (twenty years ago)

I can see Repeater (or more I can see Repeater being "cohesive" too), but Red Medicine turns into an excruciating fart machine for a couple tracks in the middle before "Target" brings back those hated guitars (god bless).

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 10 March 2005 14:22 (twenty years ago)

I hope to God you don't mean "Version" ("By You" I'll allow)

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Thursday, 10 March 2005 14:25 (twenty years ago)

Minor Threat - Complete Discography

Greatest hardcore band ever.

― latebloomer: correspondingly more exaggerated mixing is a scarifying error. (lat, Thursday, 10 March 2005 14:32 (twenty years ago)

Tie between the Pailhead EP (not just the single; I like some of the other songs too) and the first Fugazi EP.

― pdf (Phil Freeman), Thursday, 10 March 2005 14:40 (twenty years ago)

Anthony, we'll never see on to eye on this. I see End Hits, Kill Taker, and especially Red Medicine as being extremely solid records, whereas I think of at least half of the material on The Argument as being so-so filler. That said, I'm a big fan of "Argument," "Full Disclosure," "Cashout," "Life and Limb," "Nightshop," and especially "Oh."

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:00 (twenty years ago)

"see eye to eye"

That was a strange typo.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:04 (twenty years ago)

"Epic Problem," "Strangelight" (that coda!), "Ex-Spectator". I'll admit Joe's track isn't as good as "Recap Mondotti."

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:04 (twenty years ago)

plus at least half can't be so-so filler if you just listed more than half the album as being great! It's a naked discrepancy based on your ignorance and beef with Ianheads. You go squish now.

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

x-post

And, uh, yeah, I was kidding about Pailhead. Definitely Fugazi's 13 Songs, or the Margin Walker EP thingydoo.

As far as Fugazi goes, I think it is really hard to beat Repeater. That blew a hole out the back of my head the first time I heard the title track, I can remember hearing it for the first time on a tape deck in my high school parking lot. It was sunny. There was a slight breeze...

― BlastsOfStatic (BlastsofStatic), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

i'd say that minor threat demos thing

― artdamages (artdamages), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:09 (twenty years ago)

I think that the very presence of "Epic Problem" and "Strangelight" brings down the average on The Argument quite a bit for me. "Epic Problem" may as well be "at least half of the record." I just don't like that song at all. "Ex-Spectator" sounds very rote to me, and "The Kill" might as well not ever be there. The instrumental intro is definitely filler.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:10 (twenty years ago)

Is Ian not indie enough for you Matt? The intro rules, "Epic Problem" is wonderful, I amj 265fhsdgsdgd

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:11 (twenty years ago)

I'm by no means a Fugazi junkie, but the Argument is easily my favorite album.

― Jordan (Jordan), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:12 (twenty years ago)

For perspective on my Fugazi tastes:

Red Medicine > End Hits > In On The Kill Taker >> The Argument > 13 Songs >> Repeater >>> Steady Diet Of Nothing

I certainly don't dislike The Argument! The only Fugazi album I wouldn't recommend (aside from the Instrument sdtk) is Steady Diet Of Nothing, even though one of my favorite Fugazi songs ever is on it ("Reclamation").

Don't get me wrong, I like Ian MacKaye a lot, but I think that the songs he sings on the whole are lesser than the ones by Guy Picciotto. Ian's voice can be very grating at times too. (Like, say, on the into of "Epic Problem.") The drill sergeant thing works on some songs better than others. No one else on earth could possibly sing "Facet Squared" as well as he does, for example.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:15 (twenty years ago)

Hating on "Epic Problem" is just insanity. It's only arguably fault is that Ian sounds like he's saying "Blame Sister Ray" instead of "accessory." There's part of the song that are the sonic equivalent of helplessly watching your hand knock over a glass of beer, that second where you're like "ohhh shiiiii" before it slams down. The break from 2:10-2:23 and the riff that follows, jiminy jesus shit.

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:16 (twenty years ago)

And Guy definitely has better tracks than Ian but goddamn if argument, 13 songs and repeater are so low on your list it wouldn't sound like you miss "better tracks" much anyhow.

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:19 (twenty years ago)

STOP STOP STOP STOP STOOOOPPPPP

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:22 (twenty years ago)

Anthony, you've got to bear in mind that I really do love a lot of the songs on Repeater, Argument, and 13 Songs. I'm just saying that I think that there is a higher concentration of strong material on the albums in my personal top 3. I still like half of Steady Diet a lot, man. I judge records primarily on tightness and number of songs I wouldn't want to do without. Red Medicine has about 8 or 9 of my all-time favorite Fugazi songs, whereas Repeater has 5 ("Two Beats Off," "Repeater," "Blueprint," "Reprovisional," "Shut The Door") and I just care more about "Target" and "Do You Like Me."

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:25 (twenty years ago)

Where's Ranger McFadden?

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:26 (twenty years ago)

"Turnover," dawg! "Merchandise"! bah, I deride your tightness deduction capabilities.

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:30 (twenty years ago)

Those are nice songs, Anthony, but I like others more than them. I'm not saying that the stuff I don't list blows or something.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:33 (twenty years ago)

Hey Anthony, what's your top 5 songs on every Fugazi record? I'm curious.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:35 (twenty years ago)

MARGIN WALKER EP
PAILHEAD EP

― ddb (ddb), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:35 (twenty years ago)

x-post

Fugazi as I see it, purely for my own edification:

Kill Taker > Repeater > 13 Songs> Steady Diet > End Hits > Red Meds > Argument.

― BlastsOfStatic (BlastsofStatic), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:36 (twenty years ago)

Such little love for Egg Hunt. sad.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:39 (twenty years ago)

WE ALLLLL FALLLLL DOOOOOOWN

In order of appearance on album. Argument was the toughest.

13 Songs
"Waiting Room"
"Give Me The Cure"
"Suggestion"
"And The Same"
"Provisional"

Repeater
"Turnover"
"Repeater"
"Merchandise"
"Blueprint"
"Shut The Door"

Steady Diet
"Stacks"
"Latin Roots"
"Long Division"
"Runaway Return"
"Dear Justice Letter"

In On The Kill Taker
"Facet Squared"
"Public Witness Program"
"Smallpox Champion"
"Great Cop"
"Last Chance For A Slow Dance"

Red Medicine
"Do You Like Me"
"Bed For The Scraping"
"Birthday Pony"
"Target"
"Long Distance Runner"

End Hits
"Place Position"
"Recap Mondotti"
"Five Corporations"
"Close Captioned"
"Guilford Fall"

Argument
"Full Disclosure"
"Epic Problem"
"Life And Limb"
"Ex-Spectator"
"Argument"

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:43 (twenty years ago)

I'd have to say Minor Threat's Complete Discography and Fugazi's 13 Songs and The Argument. The Evens may end up there, too.

Honestly, I can't think of a single Fugazi release that's 100% great stuff, but like (for instance) the Beach Boys post-Pet Sounds albums, there are always at least a few tracks that make my jaw drop. The Argument is one of their best, but there's a whole middle section that I have to skip through to get to "Ex-Spectator" and the title track. Even Steady Diet of Nothing, which is so often derided, has "Long Division" and "Reclamation."

― mike a, Thursday, 10 March 2005 15:54 (twenty years ago)

The Evens record is a FUCKING JOKE.

TERRIBLE.

― ddb (ddb), Thursday, 10 March 2005 16:35 (twenty years ago)

Why?

― DJ Mencap0))), Thursday, 10 March 2005 16:46 (twenty years ago)

And here's how I match up:

13 Songs:
"Give Me The Cure"
"And The Same"
"Suggestion"
"Glue Man"
"The Waiting Room"

Repeater:
"Blueprint"
"2 Beats Off"
"Repeater"
"Shut The Door"
"Reprovisional"

Steady Diet Of Nothing:
"Reclamation"
"Latin Roots"
"KYEO"
"Long Division"
"Exit Only"

In On The Kill Taker:
"Facet Squared"
"Cassavetes"
"Smallpox Champion"
"Public Witness Program"
"Sweet and Low"

Red Medicine:
"Do You Like Me"
"Target"
"Forensic Scene"
"Fell, Destroyed"
"Bed For The Scraping"

End Hits:
"Floating Boy"
"Caustic Acrostic"
"Place Position"
"F/D"
"Closed Captioned"

The Argument:
"Oh"
"Cashout"
"Argument"
"Life and Limb"
"Nightshop"

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Thursday, 10 March 2005 17:06 (twenty years ago)

1. the first Minor Threat EP
2. the second Minor Threat EP
3. the third Minor Threat EP

(not necessarily in that order.)

― chuck, Thursday, 10 March 2005 17:18 (twenty years ago)

I love End Hits. I'd be tempted to call it a perfect album, if it didn't run out of steam after the first five tracks or so.

― darin (darin), Thursday, 10 March 2005 17:21 (twenty years ago)

"independent room"!!!

― j blount (papa la bas), Thursday, 10 March 2005 17:45 (twenty years ago)

Yay to End Hits. It has "Break," one of my very favorite Fugazi songs. Brendan's drumming is in excellent form there.

― mike a, Thursday, 10 March 2005 17:47 (twenty years ago)

It is awesome that on this thread NO ONE has said Embrace. Fuck that record sucks (outside of two songs--"Building" and "Dance of Days.")

― Ian John50n (orion), Thursday, 10 March 2005 17:50 (twenty years ago)

Miccio is not allowed to talk on this thread because he some corny rock critic fuck who doesn't even know which side of the moshing / no moshing debate he stands on. Dude probably never even X'd up!

― green uno skip card (ex machina), Thursday, 10 March 2005 17:55 (twenty years ago)

you can say an omelette's good or bad even if you've never laid an egg.

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 10 March 2005 18:24 (twenty years ago)

either Embrace or SKEWBALD

j/k - serious answer: Teen Idles!!! (or that Flex Your Head thing)

― eman (eman), Thursday, 10 March 2005 18:26 (twenty years ago)

Best Embrace song = Last Song. I will now listen to it.

― BlastsOfStatic (BlastsofStatic), Thursday, 10 March 2005 18:29 (twenty years ago)

Wait wait wait "Margin Walker" isn't one of your guy's favorite songs on 13 Songs?!!?!? What is wrong with you people? ;)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 10 March 2005 18:39 (twenty years ago)

putting "Glue Man" in a 13 Songs top 5 is equitable to shitting one's pants.

― miccio (miccio), Thursday, 10 March 2005 18:41 (twenty years ago)

Haha I didn't even notice that?!?! "Glue Man"! "GLUE MAN"! Matt, I just don't understand you.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Thursday, 10 March 2005 18:42 (twenty years ago)

The Pailhead thing should be re-released.'I will Refuse' was ace. I need to dig it out now?

It had an electronic thing going on and was way before MBV's 'soon'melding of guitars and that stuff.What's more, it was a good song.

― hull hole (hull hole), Thursday, 10 March 2005 23:39 (twenty years ago)

putting "Glue Man" in a 13 Songs top 5 is equitable to shitting one's pants.

-- miccio (anthonyisrigh...), March 10th, 2005 1:41 PM

no it's not, stop exaggerating.

― eman (eman), Friday, 11 March 2005 00:21 (twenty years ago)

Anthony, I think "Glue Man" is the best song on that album!

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Friday, 11 March 2005 00:30 (twenty years ago)

It's certainly one of their best live songs.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Friday, 11 March 2005 00:31 (twenty years ago)

He left "Full Disclosure" off his list, tho. That's much WORSE! Oh hey Matt yr here hey why'd you leave "FDisclosure" off? Huh? Man. That's a dope track.

― LET'S GET BIZZZZAY (Andrew Thames), Friday, 11 March 2005 00:32 (twenty years ago)

It's a good song, I just like five songs on that album more. I do like it a lot. It was my second favorite after "Oh" when I got the record, but the others snuck up from behind.

― Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Friday, 11 March 2005 01:18 (twenty years ago)

Anthony, I think "Glue Man" is the best song on that album!

Dude gets the gas face. and ignoring "Full Disclosure" (best Fugazi song evah? PURRRHAPZ)? SERIOUS GAS FACE.

― miccio (miccio), Friday, 11 March 2005 03:23 (twenty years ago)

We All Fall Down (Egg Hunt) came up on the iPod random play today, in fact. Great stuff.

― bernie, Friday, 11 March 2005 03:56 (twenty years ago)

I was going to say One Last Wish before i realised that it was Guy that was in the band not Ian - doh!

― leigh (leigh), Friday, 11 March 2005 14:23 (twenty years ago)

Is that One Last Wish album worth getting? I love "This Time" on the Dischord Box Set. Sounds like Guy's version of the Smiths or something!

― miccio (miccio), Friday, 11 March 2005 14:25 (twenty years ago)

Red Medicine, by default. It's the best Fugazi album. And Guy sings on the majority of the tracks.

-- Matthew C Perpetua (perpetu...), March 10th, 2005.

OTM (although I haven't heard The Argument so I can't participate in that, um, argument)

― Al (sitcom), Friday, 11 March 2005 14:40 (twenty years ago)

Get the Argument, Al

― miccio (miccio), Friday, 11 March 2005 14:46 (twenty years ago)

fucking hell! i randomly turn the car radio on the other night just in time to hear Jimmie's Chicken Shack... do a live-in-the-studio acoustic cover.... of "Waiting Room." the singing was so atrociously nu-metal, fsjfwhjDFSFJKWJgj!!!!!11

― eman (eman), Monday, 14 March 2005 07:19 (twenty years ago)

i bet they liked the red hot chili peppers version

― green uno skip card (ex machina), Monday, 14 March 2005 07:21 (twenty years ago)

eighteen years pass...

Not quite the subject, but kinda amazing -- in that the interviewer is a 12 year old Irish kid.

https://logansoundsoff.com/2023/10/18/ian-mackaye-fugazi-minor-threat-evens-dischord-and-more/

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 18 October 2023 19:33 (one year ago)

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