Red Medicine by
Fugazi
Year: 1995
Fugazi really need no introduction. They were the quintessential post-hardcore band, and for good reason. Fugazi is a punk supergroup following the lineage of The Teen Idles, Minor Threat, Rites of Spring, and Embrace. They made a name for themselves making dance and dub influenced hardcore songs, and by the release of their debut album,
Repeater in '91, they were among the leading and most influential punk bands of the era. In fact, it's near heretical to not mention 90's punk and Fugazi in the same sentence. Their sound only got better from
Repeater on. Their early output had some great songs but was also quite disorganized, but by their third album,
In On the Killer Taker, they had struck gold. This release is no different. After relistening, I realize how hard it is now to pick my favorite Fugazi record between this and Killer Taker. This album features bouncy, raucous, experimental, and noisy punk tunes, while the former contains tracks more on the indie and dub spectrum. Both are great in their own right, but when it really comes down to it they're just two different beasts. It's amazing how a band can have songs that vary this much, but when one pops on their style is still instantly recognized. Having no particular identity and oozing with personality at the same time? This band is really something. All Fugazi releases are absolutely essential to the genre.
10/10