Repeater

It’s taken me many years to fully appreciate this band, but I think I really get it now, channeling the raw emotion of hardcore into something more melodic and musically refined.

Refreshing to hear a punk band with melodies, rhythm, and vocal skills all together. This is probably the sixth punk band on this list so far, and this is the first that has been easy on the ears, not to say I can’t appreciate some hardcore punk. But these guys are still rooted in hardcore and you can understand the lyrics and the music fits the tenor of the idea of the song 4.5

This is interesting!!

There's a video of when Fugazi played out front of the White House in a protest against the Gulf War. Besides the commitment involved in putting principles into action & the energy it takes to get a big event off the ground in uncertain weather.. they play Turnover and it looks like playing the coolest guitar line in the coolest band in the world. If your favourite band of the 2000s was any good they were huge Fugazi fans. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)

Sometimes you’re dragging yourself through the desert and you find a tall glass of lemonade. You chug it down and keep draggin’ The lemonade is Repeater, by Fugazi

This album was so unbelievably good. Caught between eras, Fugazi feels monumental in its punk sounds. Its loud, has awesome riffs (like the one in Merchandise which just goes so hard), has that garage sound while still mixed and recorded very well, and there isn't a dud anywhere to be found. I was shocked basically this entire listen on how much I loved this. One of my favorites 700 albums in.

I've always known about Fugazi but never listened. I was totally missing out! I loved this album! Like most albums, not every song was the greatest but it's definitely going in my regular rotation now.

Getting this right after the Alice in Chains album I had yesterday hilariously proves my point. THIS is how you do anger, energy and catharsis well. This is a release, an explosion, a transmutation of negativity into exuberance. (Whereas AiC just feels to me like utter wallowing.) I sometimes forget this is Fugazi's first album, because it feels so fully formed and confident and because 13 Songs exists. Whatever, doesn't matter, this thing rules. One of the best punk albums period. Must-listen #244.

I'd give this 10 if I could. If you don't like it, you're wrong, and I don't like you...

Fucking great, no notes.

This is not a Fugazi review

Fugazi was a love at first listen back when I was a teenager and they've been one of my favorite bands ever since. Engaging and interesting with all of its layers, twists and turns, Repeater never gets boring or dull. Mashing up beautiful instrumentation with brash shouting and occasional jabs of screeching guitars is exactly the kind of noise that suits my ears, even though I get why some folks might dislike it.

There is definitely an extremely scuffed up CD case containing this disc tucked away in my basement somewhere. This shit is my jam, and I love it. So many of my favorite bands (from all genres) were evolving at this exact same time, but the post-punk variety has really stuck with me over the years and listening to these songs was like coming home after a long time away. Defiant yet wryly joyful. Simple yet complicated. Noisy yet musical. The songs still sound fresh, and the political message rings 100% true 35 years later. A classic in my eyes.

The Minutemen and Gang of Four have a child and the result is Fugazi. Ian MacKaye experience in Minor Threat had to overlap with both these bands and the econo jam is present all over this record. Brendan #1 could have fit on Double Nickels on a dime. This record, along with the compilation 13 Songs released before this LP compiling the first two EPs including the magical track Waiting Room, were a welcome addition to the end of the 80s and a great start to the 90s. In a period where Nirvana is going to get all the flowers, Fugazi got the love from a punk rock community in desperate need of something new but connected to the now lengthy history of punk rock. Repeater fit the bill and Fugazi was that band. The call/response vocals of MacKaye and Picciotto added a Beastie Boys flavor to this jammy punk rock the media called Alternative Rock in order to fit it nicely into the corporate sales program. Fugazi resisted and on this record the DIY punk rock ethos oozes from every song. From the first track Turnover through Shut The Door the album never lets up and traverses a smorgasbord of American sins that would make Jello Biafra proud. For me, favorites are Merchandise, Turnover, Blueprint and Styrofoam. No weak songs, this LP still resonates 35 years later.

Wonderful wonderful wonderful.

Without question or argument, Fugazi is the most important band to emerge from the DC Hardcore scene. I'm also of the opinion they are ideally the best band that has ever existed. Honestly, I'm a bit surprised Ian hasn't pulled their music from Spotify at this point. Out of respect, I'll be streaming this on Bandcamp wishing I have a vinyl copy in my possession.

Fugazi’s been a favorite of mine since high school. Any fugazi is good fugazi

4.6 If I were going to be in a band, this is the band I would want to be in (except for the no booze, drugs or casual relationships)

Experts in their field at the top of their game

Groovy

Not even my fave but still 5/5

## In-Depth Review: Fugazi's *Repeater* (1990) ### **Lyrics and Themes** - **Social Critique & Urban Violence**: The title track "Repeater" adopts the perspective of a D.C. crack dealer during the city's late-’80s epidemic, with lines like *"You say I need a job / I’ve got my own business / None of your fucking business"* reflecting systemic despair. The "1,2,3, repeater" chorus underscores cyclical gun violence and dehumanization (*"I had a name, now I’m a number"*) . Media desensitization is scalded in *"Don’t you know ink washes out easier than blood?"* . - **Anti-Consumerism**: "Merchandise" attacks commodification with the mantra *"We owe you nothing / You have no control / You are not what you own"*—a direct rejection of band merch culture and capitalist coercion . - **Abstraction vs. Literalism**: Guy Picciotto’s songs ("Two Beats Off," "Reprovisional") favor surreal imagery (*"Desire trips me up"*), contrasting Ian MacKaye’s bluntness. "Styrofoam"’s line *"We are all bigots"* is criticized as heavy-handed . ### **Music and Composition** - **Rhythmic Innovation**: Brendan Canty’s drumming on "Repeater" uses a "shuffle groove" mimicking Public Enemy’s Bomb Squad samples, while Joe Lally’s basslines anchor dissonant guitars . Tracks like "Sieve-Fisted Find" feature post-punk angularity reminiscent of Gang of Four . - **Guitar Textures**: MacKaye’s "siren chirps" (inspired by Chuck D’s sirens) clash with Picciotto’s dissonant Rickenbacker harmonics, creating tension between chaos and melody . Instrumental "Brendan #1" highlights their interplay over a locked rhythm section . - **Dynamic Range**: The 5-minute "Shut the Door" shifts from reggae-influenced minimalism to hardcore fury, depicting a drug overdose . ### **Production** Recorded at Inner Ear Studios (July–September 1989) in morning sessions due to producer Ted Niceley’s culinary school schedule . The sound is "crystalline yet sinuous," balancing live energy with precision: - **Clarity**: Each instrument is distinct—Lally’s bass pulses on "Blueprint," Canty’s toms dominate "Joe #1" . - **DIY Aesthetic**: Raw, unpolished vocals preserve urgency, though Picciotto’s delivery is occasionally slurred ("Two Beats Off") . ### **Themes** - **Dehumanization**: Prison systems ("repeat offenders"), media numbness, and corporate control . - **Personal Agency**: Tracks like "Shut the Door" confront addiction, while "Merchandise" champions autonomy . ### **Influence and Legacy** - **Genre Impact**: Pioneered post-hardcore, influencing Rage Against the Machine (Tim Commerford), Metz, and Nirvana (Kurt Cobain scribbled "Fugazi" on his shoes) . - **DIY Ethos**: Sold 500K+ copies on Dischord Records without major labels; $5 shows countered industry greed . - **Critical Recognition**: Ranked #36 on *Spin*’s "90 Greatest ’90s Albums"; #7 in *Kerrang!*’s "50 Most Influential Albums" . --- ### **Pros and Cons** | **Pros** | **Cons** | |-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------| | **🔥 Cohesion**: 35-minute runtime with zero filler; tracks flow seamlessly (e.g., "Turnover" → "Repeater") . | **⚠️ Lyrical Bluntness**: "Styrofoam"’s "We are all bigots" lacks nuance . | | **🎸 Guitar Innovation**: Picciotto/MacKaye’s interplay redefined punk guitar ("Repeater"’s harmonic screeches) . | **🗣️ Vocal Obscurity**: Lyrics often buried in mix; Picciotto’s abstract delivery alienates some . | | **⚖️ Thematic Depth**: Connects personal struggle to systemic critique ("Merchandise," "Shut the Door") . | **🎧 Accessibility**: Dissonance and irregular time signatures may deter casual listeners . | --- ### **Verdict** *Repeater* remains a landmark for its **furious synergy of politics and sound**, though its unrelenting intensity and occasional didacticism reflect punk’s ideals rather than mainstream appeal. Its influence echoes in every band that prioritizes integrity over commerce—proving Fugazi’s ethos was as potent as their riffs .

It’s an excellent blend of metal and punk. The drum pushes the entire train along and the chugging guitars generate the steam. The screaming is the conductor yelling at you to pay your $5 fare, you fucking cheap bitch!

Classic

Tense, taught, and explosive songs from the guys who perfected hardcore and invented emo. By taking their foot off the accelerator they found a way to make the music more intense, to capture a wider range of feelings, to reproduce more moods, to express something even more angry, frustrated, agonized, and charged. They shifted from the guys lashing out wildly to harnessing a latent, seething, aggression with a purity of focus. The rhythm section is the key - locked in grooves with surprising funk play against the dissonant thrashing from the guitars and anguished screams of the vocals. The best thing to ever come out of Washington DC.

Loved it, I found it brilliant. Angsty, loud, direct. I like that the lyrics are so straightforward, you could say that this album is minimal: the cover, the short titles, the choruses, but at the same time it is so rich of meaning. Insane debut

>> The Beatles

heard this lots of times already, big fan of Fugazi. a review is hardly needed for this, it's just good Turnover - 5/5 Repeater - 5/5 Brendan #1 - 3/5 Merchandise - 5/5 Blueprint - 5/5 Sieve-Fisted Find - 5/5 Greed - 3/5 Two Beats Off - 5/5 Styrofoam - 5/5 Reprovisional - 4/5 Shut the Door - 5/5 Average score: 4.5/5 (rounded up) i cannot stress it enough, they are ESSENTIAL listening for the genre, especially this album in particular. if you're new to discovering this group, please check out the rest of their discography, you won't be disappointed

Awesome

Oh hell yes

Fire

just great all around

Frantic. Energetic. Raw

Good post-hardcore punk by Fugazi. I enjoyed this album very much!

I will not include the 3 Songs EP that is added to this album in subsequent releases. Oh hell yeah, this was a nice surprise to get! For those who don't know, Fugazi is a post-hardcore group consisting of Minor Threat frontman Ian MacKaye, Rites of Spring members Guy Picciotto and Brendan Canty, and bassist Joe Lally. These were friends who had each done time with other hardcore punk bands and wanted to try something new together. They released a couple of EPs, which turned into the 13 Songs compilation, and that was my introduction to the group. Then, when it came time to work on their debut, they all decided on a jamming approach, writing songs together instead of MacKaye being the sole songwriter. The result was their debut, Repeater, and I cannot begin to express how awesome it turned out. Right from the get-go with opener "Turnover", the band effectively carried the ferocity and aggression of hardcore punk alongside catchy guitar riffs and more complex bass and drum play. Even when there are no vocals, such as on "Brendan #1", the instrumental compositions come off as intricate and chock-full of miniature hooks, so it's not a problem when no one sings. When Ian and Guy do step in with their lyrics, they trade off bars with pure fiery angst at the various problems that plague society. From the mass ignorance of "Turnover", to gun violence on the title track, to anti-consumerism sentiments on "Merchandise" and "Blueprint", to the poisoning of our planet on "Styrofoam", to the traumas of war on "Reprovisional", to the deep contemplation over the loss of a life to addiction on closer "Shut the Door", these guys went through several issues with the profoundness and poignancy that they deserve in highlighting what's going wrong. The only song that didn't have well-thought lyrics was "Greed" with the repeated lines "You wanted everything/You needed everything", but even that was given the same amount of high-energy aggression that other tracks had. There's no beating around the bush; Fugazi's Repeater absolutely rules as a debut. In a way, these guys captured a sound that predated the alternative rock boom that would happen a year later, and they effectively played in that pocket.

Straight edge never sounded so cool.

Soort van de soundtrack van m'n jeugd zonder dat ik ooit dit album heb geluisterd. En nog steeds mag ik graag dingen uit grofweg dit genre aanzetten. Dit past heerlijk in m'n straatje en daarom ga ik 5 sterren uitdelen. Het materiaal is een tikkeltje ruw, zeker vergeleken met de bands uit de 2000s (waar ik iets bekender mee ben), maar desondanks is meer dan prima aan te horen. Lekkere gitaren, bas en drums, een lekker schreeuwtje tussendoor. Soms wat chaotisch, soms even een lekker stukje ingebouwde waarbij de basgitarist het grootste gedeelte van het werk op zich neemt. Daardoor is het ondanks dat het herrie is niet vermoeiend: De stukken herrie worden keurig gedoseerd en het is geen schelle bende. Anyway, zoals gezegd dus 5 sterren.

"Repeater" is the full-length debut studio album by Washington D.C. post-punk band Fugazi. They had released several EP's before this LP album. The band formed shortly after the dissolution of the bands Minor Threat and Rites of Passage when Ian MacKaye (vocals, guitar, piano) joined with Guy Picciotto (vocals, guitar) and Brendan Canty (drums). Bassist Joe Lally rounds out the group. The name Fugazi was an acronym taken from Mark Baker's book of short stories on Vietnam War veterans "Nam:" Fucked Up, Got Ambushed, Zipped In (a body bag). An interesting description of the band and album is "an angrier American update of Gang of Four's "Solid Gold."" The album has themes of greed, violence, sexuality, privacy, drug abuse and death. It also received very high critical praise labeling it as the definitive album of post-punk and a landmark of rock music. A long droning sound opens the album and the song "Turnover." Angular guitar and a melodic bass. Picciotto on lead vocals who sounds a lot like the Afghan Whig's Greg Dulli. The songs speeds up. Great guitar interplay and, of course, an ending in feedback. It's a song about kids shooting each other in the crack cocaine violence. The self-titled "Repeater" starts out ridiculously fast. Scratchy guitar. MacKaye on vocals yelling and repeating "Repeater" which is a gun in a song again about the crack wars. More scratchy guitars in "Merchandise." Underlying bass and guitar in an evil sounding song about being not what you own. A melodic guitar strumming starts "Blueprint." Picciotto singing and repeating "I'm not playing with you." Power chords in an absolutely fantastic song about making a conscious choice to buys things and not letting industry dictate that to you. Modest Mouse has based an entire career on the first minute of this song. They crank up the speed in "Styrofoam." Heavy metal-esque guitars and driving music. MacKaye vocals excel in a song about hatred. The music speeds up even more for the outro. I saw Fugazi for $5 in 1993 at the Anaconda Theatre in Isla Vista, CA, and it still is the most intense concert I've been too. The music on this album just plain rocks: intense, urgent, driving, melodic. In-your-face vocals and lyrics. These are very talented and accomplished musicians: the guitar interplay is great and the bassist and drummer steal the show in a number of songs. This is the definitive post-punk album with its tempo and angular guitars laying the groundwork for bands like Slint and Modest Mouse. A very high recommendation.

Rocking heavy rhythm and lyrics

Loved this album!! 5 stars.

Two Beats Off

My second favorite Fugazi album. You say I need a job Well I’ve got my own business You wanna know what I do? None of your fuckin business!

От этого альбома я прям кайфанул. Это просто замечательно - труевый пост-хардкор без всякого эмо. Музыка чтобы бить в щщи и крутить вертухи. Шумная, грязная, душеразрывающая и определённо стоящая внимания. Берите скейт и расшибитесь на нем под этот альбом. Пропишите бону в табло. Побрейтесь налысо и прыгайте в слэмомош, потому что именно это и есть жизнь.

A killer record. Ian Mckaey is the boss

1 2 3 Repeater! Great album.

Fugazi are just badass as hell. 'Nuff said.

I need to listen more Fugazi, this was awesome.

5 I always forget that Fugazi is fronted by two dudes. For some reason, it always just brings Ian MacKaye to mind for me - which is weird given that I’m a fan of Guy Picciotto’s former band, Rites of Spring. Additionally, I didn’t realize how recent of a band they are - this is technically their debut, and it came out in 1990. I guess because I associate the guys with Minor Threat and Rites of Spring, respectively, I just kind of assumed this was more of an early 80s project as well. And yet, despite coming after what’s largely considered the golden age of punk rock by quite a few years and also just being on the cusp of grunge taking over the world, these two guys served up quite possibly one of the most punk albums I’ve ever heard. While I enjoy Minor Threat, I find their music just a touch preachy at times, but I really feel like this project finds a perfect balance of what I like in my punk between energy and messaging - maybe that’s a result of the dual-fronted nature of the band, idk. And while I shouldn’t factor this into my review, I can’t even begin to explain how much I respect the group’s punk ethos off the stage as well. In particular, they were known for refusing to play any show that charged more than $5 for admission, trying to keep their stage available to all. It’s such a selfless, anti-capitalistic, community-driven sentiment that I can’t help but feel my respect for the band go up tenfold because of it - especially in light of a world now where Ticketmaster fucks a lot of diehard fans out of seeing their favorite artists. (Greed!) Anyway, diving into this album, Repeater - great name. My initials thoughts were “Oh, okay, like a gun, I guess”, thinking it was kind of lame, but per MacKaye, it’s actually referring to the cyclical nature of things like greed, violence, sexuality, privacy, drug abuse and death across all of human history (it’s also a slight nod to The Beatles’ Revolver, but looking past that). Song-wise, I really thought everything here just fucking ripped. This was a great gym album, but honestly, I even found myself getting amped up to this while putting friggin’ data into Airtable for work (yes, I’ve sold out to the corporate machine as well). Admittedly, a lot of this does kind of flow together, but with an energy like this, I never once took issue with that. I did walk away with some favorites, those being Merchandise, Blueprint, and Shut the Door, but I see this thing more likely being a full re-listen from me when revisiting in the near future. I wasn’t always planning to give this a 5, but there have been few times on this list thus far I have found myself wanting an album to go on even longer after it was done, and this has been one of those times. The angsty mood punk rock brings just can’t be beat, and this provides that exceptionally. Gotta go with the 5 here. Final note - these guys have the coolest live concert photo ever. I was going to try and link it here, but I just kept finding Instagram and Twitter posts, so fuck that, and besides, the link would probably inevitably die anyway. Instead, I implore you to image search “Fugazi basketball hoop”. Dad, this sticker better still be up on the fridge.

Fugazi is the definitive post-hardcore band. Lead singer Ian Mackaye was at the vanguard of the straight edge movement prior to Fugazi as the frontman of Minor Threat. In the 8 years between Minor Threat’s last record and Fugazi’s first album, Ian Mackaye had played in countless bands, honing his sound from the intense raw energy hardcore introduced to the punk scene, to music that leaned into alternative takes on traditional rock genres. The impact this album had on indie and mainstream rock genres henceforth is immense. Over nearly 15 years, Fugazi continually swam upstream, trailblazing so many experimental approaches that eventually solidified into established sub genres: they notably fused melody and screaming into a sound that would later be popularized by emo and pop punk, they were a critical link in the chain whip that would lead to grunge and garage rock, and the palpable dissonance and experimentation they achieved feels like a choice that embodies the rebellious, anti-capitalist stance of its members, Mackaye especially. I’ve always found his ethical and moral positioning admirable for the strict adherence to principle and the flagrant anti-capitalist foundation. Any band/artist that can shift entire genres into uncharted territory is worthy of consideration, and Mackaye did that twice in his career. Anyone making these kinds of monumental waves in art and culture deserves our highest praises, regardless of whether their creations and opinions are to your taste.

In your face anthems Sated with charging guitars And riveting grooves

Wow that was so good. First time hearing, have put off hearing Fugazi because I’m pretty lukewarm about hardcore punk. This felt like the archetype for the genre of my limited listening so far. The instrumentals are so catchy, the vocals aren’t my favorite but at the same time I can’t imagine what would fit the music better. Only not a perfect rating since the genres not my favorite but that’s not the genres problem Rating: 4.8

I bloody love Fugazi. I loved the vocals, the style, lyrics, it's all great. Such a cool sound. Fugazi and specifically Ian MacKaye have popped up in a few musics biogs I've read as being really nice people and really important for the DIY music scene and especially supportive of lots of Riot Grrrl bands in the early 90s.

absurdo esse que presente de natal. gosto muito de fugazi e ano passado ouvi a discografia deles inteira muitas vezes. são poucos que não são perfeitos e, felizmente, esse aqui é. num eh meu preferido e nem eh o auge deles musicalmente, mas é bom pra caralho. angústia de jovem adulto na melhor forma.

Amazing

Love it!

obviously no secret to my friends and followers i had a big fugazi phase this year, and returning to this kinda feels like putting a cap on it. and after everything else, all the more overtly Arty embellishments of the later records (my fave is end hits atm), this still might have the most straightforwardly gratifying hit-between-the-eyes quality of any of their work. im not sure anyone has ever more effectively combined semi-minimalist exhilaration and punk values with this level of color and creativity and vibrancy. and despite the lack of those later more obvious flourishes, i do think this is supremely Colorful music...a lot of it is just the incredible individual talents and instrumental voices of each member (especially joe lally's mesmerizing, melodic, rich basslines) and how good of a job the production does at making sure u can hear all of it , at all times, distinct and yet part of a sustained combined Attack. picking my fave fugazi record between my two contenders (end hits and the argument) is hard, but picking my Third favorite fugazi record once those two are sorted out is somehow even more torturous lol. i think its probably this one tho...theres something just so rewarding in losing myself in each member's contributions. collectivism vs individuality is and has always been a false dichotomy, in all aspects of life and the world!!

ayyyy get ovah hea ya damn fugazi

Brilliant

i loved it!

You say I need a job? / I've got my own business. This record is a gift to a younger me. It found me at the right time and place in my life. Still singable, quotable and filled with absolute bangers to this day. 1, 2, 3, Repeater. Five Stars. --//-- It's not a hot take to ask: is this Fugazi's best album or is it just my favorite Fugazi album? I think it's widely acknowledged that Repeater, 13 Songs, Red Medicine, and The Argument could all be the best Fugazi record depending on who you ask and when you ask them. Even Steady Diet of Nothing, End Hits and In on the Kill Taker have their well spoken cha-cha-Champions. I can't answer it for you. Never mind what's been selling.

This record is fucking great! The only thing wrong with this album is that it doesn’t have Waiting Room on it.

Our Band Could Be Your Life

I enjoy this group, the fact I have shared this recording studio, 5 dollar tickets and the guitars. When I start my lessons, I am coming back to Fugazi.

Dank post hardcore album with some good instrumental parts

From all the acts on the list, I might appreciate those that are experimental while maintaining accessibility the most. This also holds for Fugazi and their sense of melody makes them stands out. Practically all their work is 5*, including Repeater (13 Songs is a compilation, else I would have perhaps gone for that album). score: 10/10

I had heard of this band, but never got around checking them out. I'm very glad this album appeared on the list, because I love it. The occasionally shouty vocals are not usually something I'm particularly drawn to, but somehow it worked very well with the amazing sound of the band. Will definitely check out their other albums now.

If you don't get it, you don't get it.

I love old school punk type music.

This is as good as it gets. This album remains challenging and complex and thrilling. A modern classic.

I probably didn't discover Fugazi until more than a decade after this album came out, thanks to a friend who was starting his own DIY politically-charged band. I haven't listened to them a lot over the years (never listened to this album) but damn if they weren't one of the best at what they did. Not punk, but punk-like (flawed) vocals and (stick it to the man) attitude. Not grunge, but grunge-like heavy and angry sounds. Not noise rock, but noise rock-like experimentation, scratchy guitars, and irregular time signatures. I'm not sure anyone did DIY and stuck to their principles like these guys. Mad respect. And you know what? I enjoyed this album a ton. Their signature pulsing bass and one fuzzy/riffing guitar combined with one scratchy guitar and pounding drums worked on so many songs. Just listen to the start of Turnover or the changeover to Repeater. Even if you find the scratching abrasive, wait until they get to the choruses or bridges - they show you how they combine melody and idiosyncrasy. Brendan #1 is an impressive all-instrumental jam session. Later songs like Sieve-Fisted Find, Greed, Two Beats Off, Styrofoam (oh that intro), and Shut the Door are equal parts punchy and grating. It shouldn't work but it they make it work so well. They're like the bridge between Black Flag and Nirvana, or some combination of those two, the Pixies, and Sonic Youth. And I don't mean a ripoff of any of them, but they were just as good at some of the key aspects of those bands - in your face lyrics, clever lyrics, brooding sound, experimental sounds, harmony in spite of all the eclectic sounds. Even if they weren't name brand, they and this album are a major link in the chain from how we got from 80's punk to 90's alternative and beyond. That in itself is worth being on this list. But the overall quality of work on this album is what makes it a 5.

I was very confused when this album started because, as someone who never listened to them (yet another one of my musical oversights), I always thought Fugazi was a hardcore punk band. I wasn’t expecting melodic singing. They’re closer to Rancid than Black Flag, at least in vocal sound. As a big fan of The Living End, I definitely recognize the influence of Fugazi now. The second track’s vocals were much closer to what I thought the band would be — but the music is still a lot more melodic than I expected. Holy shit, the drums on track 3 slap. Right up my post-punk alley. I totally get the critics’ comparisons to Gang of Four. The bass line and drums on Sieve-Fisted Find kick ass too. The guitar on Styrofoam! So good. The piano riff on Joe #1 is a cool way of using rhythm in a fresh way to keep things interesting. Really enjoyed this album. The pace of the music keeps things moving (even though 42 minutes isn’t super long), the compositions are interesting and varied, and they say a lot with a few lyrics. Melodic punk music with great melodies and something to say. Sign me up. I’m mad at myself for not giving this band a chance sooner. 5/5

LOVE this band, super proud of my local music scene and this album is easily one of their best. An absolute classic.

Not my favorite album from Fugazi, but it's undeniably great and absolutely essential. Fugazi is maybe the only band that is not bullshit. A beacon to strive towards.

Fugazi stood for something. Something that was, quite possibly, bigger than the world that they inhabited. Bigger than the usual ethos that came from the guitar/bass/drum/vocal dynamic that results in cliche and well-traveled roads. A dynamic that can never be replicated or repeated no matter how many bands that call themselves influenced by Fugazi try to amount to such a thing. Which makes Repeater, the name of the first true Fugazi record, a funny name for it in that, while it marked the beginning of something new, it was probably the only time Fugazi presented themselves as something approaching accessible with the kind of template they set here, for they would not dare to try to replicate (or repeat) it afterwards. Regardless of it all, Repeater still stands as a remarkable record that is a unwitting document of what was about to come in 90s alternative/indie; an uncompromising plant of the flag that lets those who seek to follow Fugazi to know what they stand for and the lengths they were willing to go in order to maintain it, therefore earning awe, praise and respect along the way. The best place to start if you want to know what they're all about.

Post-hardcore of the highest qualify. Music thay makes you want to run through a walk and punch a CEO right in their stupid face, and then teach someone on the street how and why to do it. The rhythm section bulldozes forward, the guitars buzz down anything in their path, and the lyrics and dual vocal attack bite and sting as they attack sociopolitical topics with intensely open eyes and a critically ethical lens. A major development in the genre and huge influence on what came after. Phenomenal album (and still probably not my favorite Fugazi), though the first half is a bit stronger than the back, which is still really good).

Really well executed punk that's raw but not too raw and has fun and interesting instrumentation that has a nice groove

Solid punk rock.

So good. But not even the best Fugazi album.

I listen to this regularly so this will be short lol. Fugazi is one of those bands that I will absolutely judge someone over, and if they can’t fuck with this they don’t get fucked with. Embrace is my favorite Mackaye band but I digress. This is one of those records that every track is perfect. No skips. It’s an experience, if you will. Some bands have an entire lifestyle that matches their music and this is one of them. Automatic 5 stars bitches!

This is my second-favorite Fugazi album after In on the Kill Taker so I'll gladly listen to this any day. And yes I will listen to the version on streaming with 3 Songs because you can't stop me. Turnover starts the album off unsuspecting but by the time Guy starts yelling, you're locked in. Then Ian gets groovy with the title track. Merchandise is upbeat and always gets stuck in my head as a materialistic guy, then Blueprint brings the tone right down. Quit reading this shoddy review and listen to the album!

Probably the #1 most anticipated album of my life. I could easily write 9+ paragraphs about the day I first heard this. I was a huge Minor Threat fan, owned both Fugazi ep’s, and could not WAIT for their first album to be released. Admittedly it’s not my favorite album of theirs (that’s In On the Killtaker) but inarguably it’s the most important to me. It went beyond hardcore. It transcended punk. It felt vital in a way nothing else at that time did. Inspirational, in a way that few other current bands at the time could portray. This is a true milestone in music that I don’t think enough people understand.

When does post-hardcore begin? Right fucking here! Another important album for the history of punk involving Ian MacKaye. Relevance to this list: 5/5 Personal enjoyment: 4/5

How do I review one of my favorite albums of all time without, one, gushing endlessly or, two, listing all the minute details in these songs that stack up to form this galvanizing post-hardcore record? I could talk about the space-filling ways in which Guy Picciotto and Ian Mackaye's contrasting guitar playing blend or the way Joe Lally's crunchy, dub-influenced bass playing complements Brendan Canty's unpredictable percussive patterns to form one of the greatest rhythm sections in all of punk. This album is best described as troubled, and pessimistic but conscious, all while encouraging the listener to understand the world around them. Punk is a genre that promotes cynicism that's often targeted at the artists who risk coming off as disingenuous; be that through their actions outside of their music or lack thereof. Fugazi was a band that stood by the ideas they presented in their music, having never sold out to a major label, or given in to the consumerist shift plaguing the music industry they criticized on the song 'Merchandise'. Alongside capitalist consumerism, themes of violence, division, and even drug abuse are tackled in this album. Picciotto typically approaches these topics in a more enigmatic sense, like in the song 'Blueprint' or 'Sieve-Fisted Find', the former of which pokes at a similar topic as the opener 'Turnover' where Piciotto shows some frustration as he tries to facilitate growth, planning, and change in the face of apathy. Mackaye on the other hand, while generally catchier and more anthemic in his deliveries, is more blunt with his messaging. It's as if he's trying to get the message through to the listener as clearly as possible, as seen on 'Merchandise' and the title track which has one of my favorite choruses here tackling the idea of unprovoked violence. He also does the lead vocals on the closer 'Shut the Door', detailing a heroin overdose. I see this song as Mackaye potentially reflecting on his treatment of drug users in the past given his straight-edge identity. Musically speaking, everything just sounds so damn good. The way the bass pummels you at the beginning of 'Sieve Fisted Find' and 'Repeater' is so electrifying. The title track is probably my favorite song here; I love the sporadic and almost tribal drum beat and the stark contrast between the ear-gratingly noisy tone driving the song and the melodic little riff in its chorus. I love the sudden pauses throughout the introduction of the song 'Greed' and the guitar riff closing out 'Styrofoam' is so unbelievably visceral. 'Turnover' and 'Blueprint' have these sharp and distorted guitar tones that tear through the mix. Fugazi's 'Repeater', to me, is punk in one of its most perfect forms, both in its ethos and in its sound. It sounds very compressed like you're being fed this urgent message through a walky-talky as you stand staring at some oncoming catastrophe not knowing what to do. There is a sense of urgency put on full display here, an effect only amplified by this album's fiery performances.

YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU OWN WE OWE YOU NOTHING YOU HAVE NO CONTROL

Пушка!!! То чувство, когда у панк-музыкантов скиллов и мозгов чутка больше чем обычно, и получается интересная и чёткая тема. Кончил

This is one of the best albums in the history of music

GREAT BAND AND ALBUM!

Dang, true to form not selling out. They should jam before they die.

Not Punk but clearly of it. Not Grunge but clearly a signpost to it. Faves are - the first 5 songs as a block, and Shut The Door The 3 Songs EP included in this is a nice bonus - Joe 1 is my EP fave.

Look upon my works, ye “punks,” and Despair! Here be no Blink-182s, no Fall Out Boys, but real disaffected malcontents. This is the real shit. All Fugazi is good, but this Fugazi is the best Fugazi. 10/10

Odlične sve stvari!

Loved this album. Dope sounds!

One of the best punk groups!

metal I can get behin

Fugazi is one of those bands that’s difficult to critique. They had such an immense influence on music. Fugazi got America pregnant and birthed a million garage bands. This record is fucking great! The only thing wrong with this album is that it doesn’t have Waiting Room on it.

Ik ben eigenlijk net te laat ingestapt in de hardcore, punkrock en hun post- en emo-varianten, om veelvuldig de grondleggers daarvan te luisteren. Als ik doorklik op post-hardcore op wiki, dan ken ik alle andere bands wel die als voorbeelden worden genoemd. Dit is dus meer eind jaren 80 en begin jaren 90, waardoor het wat grover en wat kaler is vaak. De drums vind ik wel gaaf, vrij droge kale klappen. Soms komt er een geweldig groovend stuk in. En de zang is het beste wanneer het lijkt alsof de zanger 5 meter van de microfoon af staat, want dan blend het het beste in de rest van de muziek. Maar het is uit die tijd allemaal wat ongepolijst en ik ben meer fan van de meer opgepoetste en zuiverder geproduceerde muziek. Al met al kan ik hier wel prima naar luisteren, en ben ik al heel blij dat er dit soort muziek in staat. Ik vind dat er nog betere muziek in het genre is. Maar de kans dat we dat in deze snoblijst ooit tegen gaan komen is vrij klein, dus doen we het gewoon met deze grondleggers. Normaal zou ik 4 sterren geven, maar met het bonuspunt voor het genre klik ik lekker op 5. Bovendien moet ik wat compenseren voor de ratings van de zure broeders waarschijnlijk. :-P

G-G-G-G-GRUNGE P-P-P-P-PUNK

Guitarrrrrrrr. Shred shred awesome sauce. There was a moment in Joe 1 where the music lined up with a beeping timer in the cafe I was in. It was awesome. I also think I’m biased because it was a good morning, but thats just how it goes. 9/10

Classic DC punk album!

I remember discovering them and this album blowing my mind

Fugaze fugazi feels real self gazey... Love it tho

All around good album

Helt vilt bra

I liked this when it came out, but never saw them live unlike many of their contemporaries. Back then, this would have been lumped into the UK music presses catch all 'U.S. Hardcore' moniker, and many of the bands from the 1980's/90's have now either mainly categorised in 'noise rock' (more experimental with chord/dischord and song structures) or 'hardcore' (like thrash punk) however, like all over analysing of the past some years later, it's all splintered further, like 'Grunge' which is a stylistic offshoot of these two genres, so I get the 'post hardcore' tag this band have been given. Anyway, now that has cleared up my understanding of the modern terms these bands are now linked to, this album is excellent! The title track and 'Shut the Door' are good examples of the mix of 'noise rock' and p'ost hardcore' with their discordant, start/stop, fast/slow style. Whereas 'Merchandise' leans more to 'Hardcore' Standout tracks: Repeater, Blueprint, Styrofoam, Shut the Door. Now I've rediscovered Fugazi, they will be payed more often now. A low 5.

Fuck yeah! Never took the time to listen to this before. But every band that has any roots in punk mentions Fugazi, and i understand why. Pure explosion of energy but at the same time super tight. Love it! And what a cool band name!

Repeater, Brendan 1, Blueprint, Merchandise

I needed to listen to this at a much louder volume. Would have killed to see them live back in the '90s. 4.5/5

I feel like you can either see they influenced certain artist or vice versus other artists influenced them. Their music sounded familiar and unique all at once. I listened to the album twice I liked it so much.

this album was great and i really enjoyed it. the post-hardcore/punk sound leads to a lot of high-energy songs that are musically varied and interesting, in my opinion. i don't mind the vocals at all and the more i learn about fugazi, the more i admire their perspectives, politics, and DIY attitude. i hadn't heard more than a handful of their songs before now, but these'll go into my regular rotation. i almost gave this four stars but i just rated rolling stones as four and this was so much better. five stars, dammit! favorites: turnover, repeater, blueprint, sieve-fisted find, two beats off

pas besoin de le réécouter je le connais par coeur, 1 2 3 REPEATER - blueprint est incroyable

This is giving me mosh pit energy. Loved this one.

I love this album, what a genuine surprise, I have already listened to it several times.

Brilliant, and probably not one I would have heard without this. Punky, grungy, sort of metal at points, with a prog undercurrent. A clear influence on loads of bands I love - obviously Nirvana, but also At the drive in, Biffy, Royal Blood, and loads more. A new favourite for me!

Don't need to play a second of this to give it a review, as it's probably one of my most played albums of all time by maybe my favourite artist of all time. It's everything that rock music should be: it's energetic, loud, aggressive, the lyrics have meaning, and the vocals are delievered with so much emotion. It's amazing that they somehow kept this quality up throughout their entire career. What a band.

One of the best, if not the best Post-hardcore record. Everything here is fine. The melodies, the shoutings, the message. I could listen to it all over again once it’s over.

It's a classic. Was familiar with Fugazi since youth but mostly from thumbing past them in record shops. About 10 years ago I finally listened to them, starting with Ten Songs and loved it. Of course I did, it's right up my alley. Much more so than Minor Threat it seems. So it all sounds fresh, but I suspect it would still sound fresh anyway. Love that several songs are lead by the rhythm section, its a very different structure and probably what keeps it fresh. Brendan 1 and Repeater are perfect examples of this. Then there's Merchandise and Styrofoam, absolutely made for flying down dirt track hills on your bike to, and with a great message. Blueprint absolutely kicks arse. Fucking love it

The cover of this album is so iconic, I've seen it for decades on stickers, posters, featured at record shops, etc. Having finally listened to it, I was very impressed and now understand why it's so highly influential and regarded.

Stone cold classic. Imitated by others, but never matched. Both grooves and shreds. And the lyrics are just as strong as the music.

Loved this

Wooww love this kinda hard-core post punk stuff. Hadn't even heard of the band before but imma definitely listen to their other stuff

I don't know if it's punk. (and I'm not a punk "fan," so I don't have to make it a hobby of arguing about it) But it's visceral AND musical. Plus, Ian Mackaye.

Slaps claps buns and baps. 5/5. Lyrics are where I want em, intensity is there, and I find it's well mixed. Good guitar/bass interplay

holy shit

What is there to say? A perfect album from the post-hardcore GOATs.

Classical Fugazi. Not the best album of them, but a solid piece of awesomeness.

Why wasn’t I into Fugazi in the 90s?

Classic, what a rocker

Best post-hardcore album of the decade.

everybody movin everybody movin

It's difficult to pin this down since, over 30 years later, "post hardcore" means something else entirely. Think this record does a great job of bringing fresh ideas to the table, and has wonderful dynamic and rhythm play. "Greed" has some excellent uses of this. There's a lot of intensity, but it's not all rage, rage. It's there, below the surface, slowly boiling over. Favorite tracks: "Repeater", "Styrofoam", "Merchandise"

This album should get 10 stars!

ovog gospodina sam gledao neki dan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeEAqRIzfJA i njegova priča o Fugazi. Fugazi je kvaliteta, jebiga. Pogotovo ovaj album. Prve dvije stvari su bomba, najviše Turnover - ubija stvar. Dakle 9/10 odmah bi dao, definitivno jak album, jak. Moguće da mi se nijedan njihov album neće svidit kao ovaj.

All-timer. Kicks so much ass.

EZ 5 bby

Great tone!

fugazi sets the high watermark for early hardcore punk. this is NOT a blind spot for me, as i very much enjoy this band's bass-heavy and exciting songwriting. a lot of punk bands put the bassist in the corner, but not fugazi they're inventive, lyrically clever, loud, and unabashed. this album came out in 1990! so influential, so cool, overall very fun and interesting stuff. love love love this band and so many bands they influenced

Noisy, Raw, Political, Hardcore, Energetic, Punk, Distorted

Fugazi have been a big uncomfortable hole in my musical palette - I know they're feted and have influenced dozens of bands I'm super in to, but I never set out to give them a listen and make their acquaintance. Hurrah for this project, I guess! To no-one's surprise, I loved this. A great and varied listen, with numerous little moments that made me stop and pay attention. I actually gave this 4 listens before rating it as each time it felt like it reward more attention, and it did indeed! Fave track - that's a tough one - "Merchandise", "Blueprint", "Two Beats Off" all caught me attention. "Reprovisional", though..... yeah, let's say "Reprovisional"!

Finally an album I love. Fugazi rock and I'll be listening to this forever.

I think I have other favorite Fugazi albums, but this one is good as well. It's driving and intense, just as Fugazi always was.

Fugazi’s Repeater was an album I had on heavy rotation even before learning it was in the 1001. I love this band. Highlights: Repeater, Merchandise, Blueprint, Sieve-Fisted Find

E ovo je moja šolja čaja❤️

Love fugazi

There a fewer bands who truly mattered to its fans more than this one. And it’s easy to see why on the strength of this album. The guitar work is enthralling and surprising. The song structures always catch you off guard without sacrificing a hook or melody, though there are some which leave more of an impression than others. In fact, there are few album openers as fraught with tension and engagement as “Turnover”. Another favourite of mine is “Merchandise” which gives Ian Mackaye the necessary soap box to berate and animate you into action. The comparisons to GoF’s Solid Gold are justified to an extent, but it’s clear that Fugazi’s pop sensibility was a lot less pronounced than their English predecessors. Nevertheless, it is there and it’s to the overall benefit of the album’s flow. I was in-between 4 and 5 stars for this one but I’m going to go with the maximum rating in the end for what this band stood for - a musical and social revolution.

Flows incredibly. Absolutely essential

Never herd of this band… The album opens with turnover and my god I love how this song builds up it’s just epic. The chorus is really tense sounding making a nearly dramatic feel. Love this shit already! It flows perfectly into the album’s title track it’s a great display of the drum and bass skills of these artists the singing is a bit too fuzzy for me but it works really well when it goes spoken word. Then it kicks off the instrumental song Brendan 1 and yeah it’s awesome for an instrumental and just the right length. But where’s Brendan 2? Merchandise shows a punkier side of the band amazing instrumentals and sloppy but solid vocals just works great you know. Blueprint can be repetitive at moments but it’s still an amazingly written epic sounding song that should be at this position on the album really good It doesn’t look like this album had singles but this should’ve been one! I love the way sieve-fisted find builds up this song is darker sounding and heavier in an already heavy album it’s just wonderful and hard to fault. Greed is a short little thing with only a few lines just blurted out, not my favourite but I love when heavier albums have songs where they can just scream. ( If you like this see also six shooter by queens of the stone age). The album goes slightly more mellow with two beats off, this it still explodes a ton but the verses are done with little distortion which works as a good contradiction to the rest of the album! The rapid guitars in the mental track styrofoam are amazing; it’s a true screamer, dirty but with an awesome edge to it that other bands really lack. The penultimate track off the album reprovisional tricks the listener into thinking it will be slow and mellow but it reveals itself to be this sludgy and heavy mix of sounds. It’s probably the worst one out of the tracks that aren’t really short or instrumentals but it’s still loveable. The album shuts the door with shut the door this is definitely the most mellow of the songs but it still has everything that a listener would want from this band really cool. It might not be everyone’s cup of yea but I found it near impossible to find fault with this. It’s the kinda album I would wanna make if I knew what I was doing. Mental but with swagger!

ouro puro

It reminds me of stuff I listened to in the early 00's that must have been influenced by this (bands like Fuel), but this is better. Can also hear how a band like say, Tool, might have heard this and been influenced. I really feel like they nailed down a sound that would be hard to improve upon by subsequent bands that might be using it as a precedent. Maybe this is a 4-star album for me, but as I'm revisiting it I'm liking it better, so I'll bump it up to a 5 just for fun.

This was my first Fugazi listen, and it has been on rotation to some degree ever since. It set me on the path to full-blown fandom. I like Repeater because it really defined the band's sound and came before the lyrics progressively became too obtuse, so it retained some of that punk origin. Song #1, the title track, and Merchandise are my faves.

Liking every track.

Always one of my favorite albums, and I was pretty happy to see this on my list this morning.

Already had this album. It's great. It's a great band

Somehow this album has missed large play by me. I had a copy in college, but lost it at some point and this is the first time I've heard it in years. Which is a shame, it's an amazing album that I should listen to a lot more. 13 Songs is the album I know the most, but this one might be a better album overall.

FIVE STARS A personal favorite of mine. As is usually the case with those five-stars albums, I won't write a full-blown review about this particular record, because others have already written wonderful stuff about it and there's not much I can add that I feel could be relevant and interesting. It's just a gem. Go and listen to it a.s.a.p. [Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 991 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 3 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 4 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (as I think many others are more important): 3]

To just Stop it up Pass it on Shove it to shelf it To lead it on and I’m only I’m only sleeping (Turnover)

Love Fugazi! One of the greatest bands of all time. This is an absolute classic. Not necessarily my favorite Fugazi record but all their records are great. Hard to think of another band with such a consistently strong catalog. Got to meet Ian once after an Evens show (another great band, "Get Evens" is a great record) - was a nice guy too.

5! I love love Fugazi. My first concert, made my own shirts. Ian McKaye was a big influence.

KLESSIK

Amazing how some people hear a song like "Shut The Door" and think it's nothing more than just punk. Even more amazing is the fact that this isn't even Fugazi's best album

Great! Tight, feels like very little is wasted. Goes hard too.

This isn’t even my favorite Fugazi album, but this album goes hard as fuck. What a one of a kind band.

awesome im in love

Great!

Punk rock primitivo que parece grabado ayer, hardcore marginal. La voz los hace auténticos, las guitarras suenan melódicas y el bajo clava lo que falta para hacer del disco una joyita ruidosa y precisa. Nunca les hice mucho caso y acaban de abofetearme en la cara por idiota. Grandes.

I like when Ross said fugazi

Que buenos eran Fugazi. Me encanta el ritmo del disco, siguen sonando bestiales

Magical. 5

I enjoy fugazi and the post hardcore sound. I haven’t listened in quite a while, but it still worked for me. 4/5

Not my favorite genre, but I enjoyed this quite a bit more than I expected. I like the musical compositions and the use of melody, but I don’t love the vocals. Still, a fun and mostly enjoyable album.

One day I'll have to look up the difference between "post-hardcore" and "punk"

Right up my alley, some headbangers on this one

07/07/2026 I have heard of Fugazi, but that is as far as it goes. I actually quite liked the music! I may give it a go at some point. Spotify listeners: 1.2 million

Gawd dayum that behs

Solid 90s punk.

Låter mycket modernare än vad det är!

Nothing smart to say about this besides that it is good

Quite a bit more accessible than Minor Threat, but no less impactful.

I like a good punk/post-hardcore moment! Not my favorite of the genre, but a really well-done album that I enjoyed the whole way through.

Interesting musically but vocals are shouty, which adds to the grunginess. Really like the guitar riffs. 4/5

Thought this was a pretty interesting punk release, and enjoyed it quite a bit. 4/5

1st time with this record.

I miss when punk rock was fast and angry and easy to dance to. Fugazi is teenage angst pressed into sound. Repeater reminds me of the good old days. I think I have to go with "Styrofoam" and "Song #1" as my favorites.

Discordant alternative that makes you want to be a mysterious punk.

Repeater brings me right back to those first months after moving to Washington, D.C. in 1990, when everything felt loud, earnest, and just a little bit improvised. The album carries the same pulse the city had then with rowhouses humming with basement shows and flyers layered on telephone poles. I can still picture that Fugazi show at Fort Reno, the summer heat settling in as the sun dropped behind the trees, the band playing like they were holding the whole neighborhood together with nothing but rhythm and conviction. Repeater captures that feeling better than memory. Sharp, principled, and full of the restless hope of being young in a city that felt like it was waking up with you.

Every now and then I revisit Fugazi and I've somehow forgotten how different they sound than Minor Threat.

A really good album! I love the bass, the intricate riffs, the catchy vocals and the, for its time, innovative songwriting. Unfortunately, not every song is a banger, and it loses some steam towards the end

I don't need an excuse to play Fugazi. Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ ★★★★☆ (8/10) Total reviewed : 326 Already owned : 76 Purchased : 15 To buy : 4 Nope : 231

I liked this one, can see the influence on other 90s "post-hardcore"/grunge acts that would come after.

I never got into the DC punk scene when I lived there so this was new to me but this is all very fun and energetic. Good stuff.

Hard. Enige Fugazi album op deze lijst, wat best zonde is. S/o naar deze mannen en hun strijd om hun shows en fysieke media goedkoop te houden.

Het heeft veel te lang geduurd voor ik mijn tenen heb gedipt in het wonder wat jaren 90 post-hardcore is. The Dismemberment Plan en Unwound hebben me al langer over weten te halen, maar Fugazi scratcht ook wel dezelfde itch. Lekker punky en DIY. Heel tof.

It’s a good album.

Hyper intéressant musicalement. Des belles sonorités, originales je trouve, pareil pour les rythmes. Ça bouge ça change. C’est bien j’aime bien

I always love the sound of Fugazi but feel like something is missing…not sure what. Like a hook or some kind of better riff? I always love the rhythm section though so idk. Either way I’m rounding up to a 4.

A name that I've heard many times but not listened to before I wish I had, this is class

Yes. This is the stuff. Later Fugazi got weird, this is still discernibly music.

7/10

Knew the name but not the music. Glad I listened. I like this a lot.

Another blind spot with a band so many others I like reference all the time. Reminded me of everything through Pixies to Refused and could hear a bit of the elements bands like Sunny Day Real Estate clearly vibed off.

Good album, need to revisit

Good, but not really a stand out in Fugazi's repetoire. All the ingredients are there but I just don't find it as engaging or interesting as their other work. The earlier and later stuff are both a bit better IMO. Can't really go wrong with them though.

Sometimes angular and sometimes groovy (and sometimes both), Repeater feels like a true post-hardcore album. This isn't just punk with creative riffs, it's a a full rethinking of hardcore that turns it into something new. In fact, the riffs aren't the centerpiece of many of these songs. Sure, the jagged riff of "Turnover" is the first sign you're hearing something special. But on a lot of these tracks, the bass stands out even more. "Brendan #1" is basically carried by the bass and drums with the guitar only providing accents. The two vocalists both bring different things to the table and provide variety that highlights all the different things happening underneath them. While I do wish there was more energy in places, the off-kilter rhythms and tones are more than enough to keep this interesting throughout.

Honestly I liked this a lot?!? The whole album did feel like it blended together but I liked that quiet a bit, great energy the whole time and just had a blast listening!!

Liked this way more than I thought I would. Liked a lot of it.

I was expecting something a bit more hardcore than noise rock, as I thought I’ve listened to them before and didn’t much care for it. However, after getting over what are not strong vocals, the riffs and general vibe were a great listen. Also amused myself wondering why they’d written a song about Ribena. It was Repeater, on closer inspection, but I won’t be able to unhear that now.

Back in the day I listened to some Fugazi. It was more a song here and there sort of thing on my alternative radio. Listening now to a whole album I realize that since I liked them back then I should have maybe bought an album or something? Huh... Don't know why I didn't. Genre with this band is fun to try to sort. They are post-punk, jazzy, hard rock but not too stereotypical... simple yet never boring... I did not look them up on purpose to see what genre the critics use. I would not call them grunge... At any rate I WILL call them cool and worthy and a good experience.

This was really good! I'm a big At The Drive In fan and I can see the influences of this all over it. Will definitely listen again

Probably the best noise rock album not made by Sonic Youth I'll get on the list, or any other list, come to think of it. Favourite track: Shut the Door

Every time I listen to this album I'm like, yeah this is great! I should listen to this more often! It's very satisfying and raw! Then I never do until for some reason I have to, like this. Dunno why that is, if I was less tired I'd have a good theory for you, but I don't!

Like the back of a sponge, abrasive, yet effective.

Loud and solid. A solid link to the glamrock of the 80s and the grunge of the 90s

It’s clear that this record is a definitive landmark of post-hardcore that perfectly bridges the gap between 80s punk and the impending grunge explosion.The musicians are super tight, especially the bass and drums with those crazy guitar riffs. Yeah, the vocals might be a bit much for some, but that raw energy and anti-everything attitude? It's super authentic. It's like a real experience, you know? Organized mess, for sure. It's smart *and* aggressive, which is awesome. Tracks like "Merchandise" and "Repeater" are just anthems. They nail groove and grit. Even if some songs sound a bit similar, the instruments are so cool and they're doing it their own way, so it's a must listen. It's the perfect example of a band breaking all the rules and making way for the awesome alternative rock era.

I enjoyed that. For my sins, I'd only ever heard the one famous song of theirs. I look forward to exploring their music more.

Man, this album just hits different. It’s raw, aggressive, and full of that pissed-off energy that actually makes you feel something. While I was listening, I felt rebellious as hell, kinda angry, but also weirdly empowered. There’s this constant undercurrent of frustration that builds up and never really lets go. It’s not exactly a strict concept album with one big story, but the whole thing revolves around this heavy anti-corporate, anti-greed vibe. Ian MacKaye and the band are basically calling out how money and greed fuck everything up — from the way society treats people like numbers, to drug dealing, violence, consumerism, and that endless cycle of bullshit we all get trapped in. Tracks like “Merchandise” and the title song “Repeater” feel like straight-up middle fingers to the system. The music is tight, angular post-hardcore with killer basslines and those explosive guitar parts that make you want to punch the air. It’s not a feel-good record at all. It’s confrontational and almost anti-human in how coldly it shows what greed turns us into. But that’s exactly why it still slaps so hard 35+ years later. If you’re in the mood for something that actually stands for something, this is essential. One of those albums that makes you nod along and think “yeah… fuck that” at the same time.

What a great band! I may not have picked this album as their best, but I guess EPs don’t count. I could listen to Fugazi all day!

Really amazing and influential album. Was really ahead of it's time.

FUCKING AWESOME

Ye

this is catchy nice discovery!

Wow, surprisingly good. Just the perfect amount of punk but the songs are still well written. At once more melodic and more chaotic than I expected.

Hadn't listened to this in years. Still brilliant.

Excellent, tight album, surprisingly fun. Good band.

De OOR heeft deze maand een special over 50 jaar punk. Met aandacht voor alles proto punk (goudmijn) en ook de genres die eruit voort kwamen. Met daarin ook aandacht voor Fugazi. Eén van de grondleggers van de emocore. Waar de lompe hardcore emotie en kwetsbaarheid kreeg. En ook al luister ik in mijn tienerjaren niet naar Fugazi, ik kan dit toch wel waarderen. Het album is een geheel. De losse tracks maken lawaai maar ontsporen niet en de baslijnen zijn echt episch. Ik ga nog een keer in die hele ontwikkeling van de punk-hardcore-emocore duiken. Want daarin zitten zeker nog onbekende parels. 8/10 Highlights Brendan #1 Sieve-Fisted Find (die bas!)

A favourite band of mine, not necessarily a favourite album but it’s all here. The twin vocals, the scything guitars, the intricate rhythms and the lyrics which intersect the personal, the political and the emotional.

Pretty good rock album. The singer’s shouting was a bit irritating though.

Would have enjoyedsmashing into other people seeing them live

Not much to say. Fugazi keeps things simple and cathartic and it works. Good melodies, aggressive guitars. The style is less raucous, more melodic (and better played) than your usual hardcore, which is I guess what makes it "post-hardcore?" Good stuff.

Good one

Grimey. I love how itself it is. There’s no forced corporate pop smoothness of the sound. It’s a very specific and detailed sound that’s allowed to exist in its own space. The level of detail is what’s truly outstanding, putting something out there that’s so unique makes it easy to gravitate to. Absolute banger, so real in its intensity. Faves: Turnover, Repeater, Two Beats Off, Song #1, Blueprint

Está bueno, el disco es una obra, osea es para escucharlo entero, no tiene tantas cancioens como para escucharlas solas jeje

I've often wondered what this band sounds like.... edgy American punk with great driving bass riffs, the band are supremely tight and crisp, not full-on hardcore, rather this takes influences from hard rock and reggae, a little subtlety, but not too much.

Music 4.5, lyrics 3.5. 4 rating.

does sound immensly influential

Sure. I get it

This was definitely not the first time I've given this a listen, and I really love it. I also don't think it's Fugazi's best album, but there's still plenty to love here. Just some good good post-hardcore that I'll keep coming back to.

Certainement pas le meilleur de Fugazi, j'espère qu’on va en avoir d’autres. 3.75 étoiles

4/5. It’s a testament to how consistent Fugazi’s discography is that this album would be pretty low on my fugazi ranking despite being a great album (my top three are In on the kill taker, the argument and red medicine.) during this listen-through though I did take note of how smooth the flow of this album is, the songs move between each-other very seamlessly which helps the album fly by. Also such a groovy album for a punk/post-hardcore group, especially in the bass and guitar lines.

I honestly had never heard of Fugazi, though they seem like something I would have listened to when I was in college in 1990. This was a fun listen, and I could see myself coming back to it.

Álbum muito legal de punk, hardcore. Cru de uma forma boa. Sgor Venus.

This was a fun ride

Pissed off post-hardcore from a genuinely important band. The vocals are strained, the band is as tight as the snare and they want us to be as pissed off as they are. This is not an easy listen, topics about death, anti-capitalism, greed, violence, sexuality and other heavy things are ripped apart with what can appear sometimes to be obtuse and impenetrable lyrics, but put the time in and you can see the greatness. If you're not pissed off after listening to this album, were you even fucking listening? Best Tracks: Repeater; Merchandise; Sieve-Fisted Find

Fugazi are another one of those bands that I've heard good things about for a while now but that I've yet to actually listen to for myself. I know they have a good reputation though, and after listening to their debut album Repeater, I can see why. This is pretty great album right here. Despite its name, there's a great deal of variety on Repeater that's very welcome. The album's got an awesome punk core to it that's expanded upon in some super cool ways. In fact, this album's widely regarded as a pioneer in the post-hardcore scene, so it's pretty cool to hear something from there. The writing is where Repeater is at its most punk-like, with a political edge to it that I am very in favor of, with many of the album's best songs taking a clear anti-capitalist stance that I think is quite cool. Of course, there's some other types of songs in here, with the closer "Shut the Door" being a pretty harrowing song about drug overdose. Definitely one of the album's standout songs. There are highlights earlier in the album though. "Turnover" is an exciting opener. The title track has some killer drumming. The back-to-back tracks "Merchandise" and "Blueprint" do amazing jobs at showing the different stylistic approaches that the album can take at any given moment. It's pretty cool to see a band with two main vocalists. As far as which of the two I prefer, I think I prefer Ian MacKaye's vocal style in general, thought Guy Picciotto's voice works very well on songs like "Turnover" and "Blueprint." The instrumental work here is excellent as well. I already mentioned the drumming on the title track, and the bass and guitar work is awesome all throughout the album. Look no further than the instrumental "Brendan #1" for the proof of the musical excellence on display. Overall, there are albums of this nature that I prefer, but Repeater is still an awesome showing that absolutely has its place in music history. It's awesome. High 4/5.

This was excellent. A band I have known by reputation only for far too long

theyll hold everyting against you

Great energy, great and very varied music for such a punk adjacent band. I knew of them, but hadn't actually heard their music and I like it a lot!

Pretty sure I own this on Vinyl. Never listed to more than “waiting room”. Man. First notes if track one and I love it. Vocals are so so. But I had no idea what to expect. So the element of surprise is nice. I like the opener better than the”repeater”. Sound wise I love the production and composition. Hearing this makes me excited for the teased Ian MacKaye/Henry Rollins project. Really loving this record. I hope I still have the vinyl. I’m guessing this band stayed underground because they wanted to? I can’t believe this album wasn’t massive. The sound of this record is just amazing. I need to find and follow this bass player. This album wasn’t amazing start to finish.

Groupe inconnu. Les morceaux sont originaux, avec une très bonne section rythmique, des riffs intéressants, et des harmonies parfois inattendues. Chaque morceau est une surprise, à la première écoute on ne sait pas du tout où les musiciens vont nous emmener. J'aime beaucoup cette capacité à surprendre, je pense que cet album va rejoindre ma collection, et je vais m'intéresser aux autres albums du groupe ! =>4/5

This is #day536 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… here's to one of those records you see on lists but never get around to checking out. There's something about post-hardcore... maybe it's the rhythm section, maybe the emotional tension, or both. Or else. This record feels like live jamming. Kind of like if jazz was noise rock or whatever. I should probably check out more of their work. In the meantime, this is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day537.

ohhhhh... a rym classic. and then i went on rate your music for the genres. i screamed seeing "political" as one of the top descriptors. but if i put this on while playing action games i wont pay notice to the lyrics. hell yeah! i have returned. there's something wrong with the controller that makes it lagging. i killed a lot of enemies and im happy about that. but its still lagging. also i like my hardcore more implicitly political and more melodic. 4/5

Not a big punk aficionado, but Fugazi has long been just in the edge of radar. I’m glad this album came up so that I have an excuse to listen to a full album outside of just hearing Waiting Room. It’s good, driving, aggressive, all the things a punk album should be. Plus they seem to be actual musicians, not just loud, fast, and angry. Would listen again.

Really good workout music.

Well put together album. The singing can become a bit Repetitive. When its just the music, no singing, I feel that's when the album comes alive! There are parts of the singing that fits the songs well, but the strongest part of the album is when its just the musicans playing off each other! The perfect example of this is Brendan #1! Shut the Door, I found, is the best when all aspects of the band come together. But overall, really good, solid album, had not listen to Fugazi before, but I am looking forward to exploring more of them now!

Surprisingly fun!

It's not cool to disrespect Ian Mackaye. That said, this album won't be for everyone. Fugazi are noisy by design and the vocals are rough and direct on purpose. It's anti-capitalist in a committed, educated way. It lays the groundwork for numerous other, later policy post-hardcore bands (that's just punk for most of you) who had a political voice to raise and an interest in putting their stamp on punk music. I think the mixing lets it down a bit. It's way more intelligible than it would be without some effort (it's a lovely, noisy tangle) but it's a little gutless, texturally. Kinda tinny and thin. I'm not listening on my better headphones but these little cans kept up with P-Funk and The Screaming Trees just fine. Out of respect and what I expect to be a backlash, 4/5.

I wish punk rock was this. Only so I can say that I like a punk rock album. Apparently this is post hardcore. This record was great. A lot of weird going on in a good way. A lot of my friends reference Fugazi as an important band but I had never listened to anything by them. At least not on purpose. Interested in hearing more.

Fugazi is a band I’ve always known about but not listed to - so cool!! Jazz punk! Such creative musicians breaking the “rules” of how a band should sound and act. 5⭐️

This rocks. Having to just got into more of the hardcore side of things, I have been getting into more of the start of hardcore, like Fugazi and Jawbreaker etc. I dig this.

liked it mmore than i expected

Hressandi rokk. Þetta er geggjuð hljómsveit.

Geggjuð hljómsveit, hart og gott. Hentar vel í mykri en ekki endilega besta vinnutónlistin í sól og sælu.

Genre: Post-Hardcore Sort of the bridge between Dead Kennedys-style punk and Green Day-style punk, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. Often times aggressive and loud, but with moments of melodic brightness and attention to harmony that you don't normally hear in these sorts of punk ventures. Really solid listen, and definitely one that feels like its importance may go understated for a long time. 1, 2, 3! REPEATER! 4/5

Post-punk, hardcore. Awesome bass lines. Not my normal music listening, but damn good.

I first discovered Fugazi when I was going through a big hardcore punk phase late in my high school years, as I was a fan of Minor Threat, and Ian MacKaye in particular. The TLDR explainer of Fugazi is slowed-down Minor Threat, given MacKaye still sounds as sociopolitically charged as ever, but there's more nuance to them than that. For one, MacKaye shares vocal and guitar duties with Guy Picciotto, and where MacKaye possesses that rage-fuelled shout befitting of most hardcore punk vocalists, Picciotto utilizes more of a tempered sneer to contrast MacKaye in a unique and reactive way. On 'Repeater', Fugazi's debut studio album, MacKaye and Picciotto go virtually blow for blow on lead vocals, tackling subjects such as greed, violence, sexuality, privacy, drug abuse and death, while putting forth a defiant battle cry against capitalism. Songs like the title track, 'Blueprint', 'Styrofoam', 'Brendan #1' and 'Turnover' bite like furious spiders, and with the support of Joe Lally on bass and Brendan Canty on drums, Fugazi present a half-hour's worth of brutal, vicious tunes that'll have you wanting to stick it to authority. For a band that stayed independent for their entire career, 'Repeater' is incredibly tight for a debut record, but given the band had been molded by the hard-working, cut-throat streets of Washington D.C. (which also spawned Bad Brains, Dave Grohl and MacKaye's best mate, Henry Rollins, as well as MacKaye's own Minor Threat and his label, Dischord Records) its not hard to understand why Fugazi were already well-prepared to take the alternative and indie circles by storm. Best songs: Turnover, Repeater, Brendan #1, Greed, Styrofoam

I used to hate this band because I saw them like the hipster inheritor of the hardcore punk movement, and I liked my hardcore punk without any post-modern delusion of grandeur. Also, I used to write in a music forum (ahhh, back in the day that was the thing), where a guy said that Fugazi were way better than Led Zeppelin. The comparison is no nonsense and out of place that I just assumed this guy and the band were equally lame. But to be honest the album is super cool and set the shape of punk to come (fuck you Refused).

This was an amazing sounding record. I thought it would be a more unique sound, since I saw this album everywhere and was expecting something different, but still, would love to listen again. Low 4 initially

Punk, but the influence on grunge is evident.3.5 that I’m rounding up because, while I don’t hear a hit here, I think it’s worth listening to again.

Their sound is like a more hard core version of The Frames version of Debaser. All good!

Back to back DMV love! I could have sworn that 13 songs was on this list, but I'll be damned. In any event, I absolutely love 13 songs but have never listened to Repeater. First impression is that by comparison, Repeater feels substantially angrier and also jammier, but there is a tightness on 13 songs that is hard to compete with. Also, to my ear this album seems to put more emphasis on the "post" in "post-hardcore," as heard in songs like Shut the Door. While nothing on here quite touches the high water marks of Waiting Room and Burning from 13 Songs, there are a number of great jams here and the end-to-end experience is solid. Reprovisional feels familiar in a great way; Two Beats Off is a moody pocketed progressions; instrumental Brendan #1 is fantastic to bang along to; and the opener Turnover > Repeater is a solid one two punch out of the gate. The latter is a fun propulsive jam. I know I often reference to Modest Mouse in my reviews, but here it is hard not to draw some parallels. Particularly on the title track it feels very proto-Modest Mouse in style and tone. Really enjoyed this one and can see it growing on me with repeated listens. High 4 in my book.

As much as I don't mess with the vocals that much, the music is pretty incredible. You can really feel the angst behind it. Ended real strong with Shut the Door. That was way more enjoyable than I expected I went ahead and listened to the extra 3 songs.

Repeater is a classic album by Fugazi. I have to make an effort to enjoy their music, mostly because I associate them with some bad memories. But setting that aside, I can still appreciate what they bring to the table. Their energy and musicianship make for a solid listen.

"13 Songs" is even better.

Heavy and punky. I didn’t come feeling like “man I really need to hear that one song again!” But overall I had a good time. It’s dark and probably not something to just throw on just because.

I'm a little more familiar with 13 Songs than this but enjoyed it and l'll check out the rest of their stuff some time.

Another reviewer called this "jazz punk" and I think that's a pretty fair assessment. For me, Fugazi has a few bangers, but listening from that perspective makes a lot of sense. The critique of their lack of vocal melody is fair, they are just great with their instruments otherwise. Pretty solid album.

Fantastic instrumentals, less fantastic voice. Overall not really my vibe, but it was good to learn more about it in other people review, I admire the guy now

Great punk rock album - head bangers but not super aggressive - highly enjoyable

i love fugazi, this is a surprisingly creative album

Pretty good

Two in a row I was kind of dreading listening to and this one also rips. I'm not sure what I expected, but it's not much different from Nirvana honestly. This is just before alt rock got much harder and I wonder if they were a tad early.

Still sounds quite fresh after all these years. Or, well… I guess I might think that because I’m old as hell and this feels like it was only just released a few years ago. 4/5

3.5 I'm enjoying a brief instances of post-hardcore that have appeared on here. Not really a genre I've explored before, but it's a nice precursor to the quiet/loud alternative rock/grunge that spun off from it shortly after. Raw, unpolished, but that gives it its charm.

I was somewhat obsessed with Fugazi as a teenager, but ironically this is my first time listening to Repeater. At the time, I had a bootleg copy of 13 Songs, and eventually went searching used music shops in DC for anything Fugazi, coming up only with the soundtrack to Instrument (a great film and album in itself). I didn’t have the ways or means to track anything down over the internet, and by the time I started streaming music I was phasing into new musical territory. So, I’m glad that 15 years later I’m finally spending some time with this album. As with most first listens, for me it’s mostly about the production and less about the lyrics. They do an incredible job balancing blaring distortion with weighty silence. The sawtooth riff on the opening track primes you for the playful and jangly chorus on “Repeater.” I loved the instrumental section on “Shut the Door,” slowly peeling back layers of sound to the dub-inflected rhythm section. Brendan Canty has got to be one of the best punk drummers of all time. This one was impactful and will probably grow on me even more. Maybe I’ll even manage to get the CD in the end.

4.5 dc hardcore at its finest

Slightly embarrassed to note that I’ve never listened to Fugazi before. It’s not really my genre, but I enjoyed it more than expected. Not a huge fan of Ian’s vocals but the band is killer, esp Brendan Canty on drums. Much more musically interesting to me than most punk/hardcore. Very solid record that had a big influence on what came later in this genre

Really kickass proto-grunge/hardcore album that has a lot going for it. Personally I thought the best spots were the least punk-esque, and the band let songs breathe more. Would love a remaster of this album since the production quality gets a bit grating at times. Overall very enjoyable headbanger. Top tracks: Brendan #1, Blueprint, Sieve-Fisted Find

I've genuinely been meaning to listen to this since it came out. My two much-cooler-than-me housemates loved Fugazi in 1989, when we were all about 21, and I've never forgotten the name. I was a little nervous to dive in at the time, because, despite having embraced some pretty noisy stuff in the mid-80s, for some reason I was more into Suzanne Vega and even (whisper it) sophisti-pop at that point. I'm very happy not to have missed my chance, because it's really good. The bass, especially, propels every song so well. I don't often like a shouty vocal, but, as with the best Killing Joke stuff, it's so right, here. It's a very cool album and a deserved classic.

Fav: Turnover Least Fav: Repeater Must look into post-hardcore when I get a moment

Fugazi toimii kyllä näköjään aina. 3,75/5.

3.7 2x hard to argue it's solid

I’m not playing with you

The exception in my "don't care for American punk rock" attitude. Fugazi the part of the soundtrack to my youth. I have no idea which record I had on cassette, a mate recorded me a whole lot to one and maybe put the track names on it. He was the kind that would have more 7" records than LPs, so he'd be constantly changing them. The cassette, track Repeater was definately on it, but so was Waiting Room I think. So it could've had the first EP on it and Repeater, but 13 Songs compilation is very possible as well. Anyway, I do love the band, even tho sometimes it gets a bit too much and I can't get through the full album. Now I did!

Шумное и очень влиятельное. Чем громче, тем лучше. Лучшая песня - Repeater.

I've been meaning to listen to Fugazi properly for ages, so I'm very glad this has made me do it. Really, really good album, exact kind of thing I like. Fav tracks: Shut the Door, Repeater, Blueprint

A classic. Loved Minor Threat, loved Fugazi.

prettig punk plaatje

3.5/5

This album works. It's loud, has some cool sounds, and speaks to a timeless message: the world is a frustrating place. Favorite track: probably "Repeater"

This Fugazi album is sick, it’s a good start point for a lot of people, but hopefully 13 songs is also on here, especially because fugazi at the time was pushing the envelope in untraditional ways. 89 punk was in a weird state, and fugazi found their own lane and carved a path for tons of new bands.

Really enjoyed listening to the album. Very 'garage' and raw. Lots of influences and a really positive energy. Not polished or produced, but all the better for that.

3.8