Fugazi - Margin Walker

Label: Dischord
Catologue Number: DISCHORD35
Format: LP
Date: 1988
Style: Punk/ Alternative Rock
Rating: 9/10
Reviewer: Sidney

Margin Walker was Fugazi second release and quickly proves why they were the most important bands to rise out of the American alternative rock scene in the late 1980's. It may only have six tracks but the album is prime early Fugazi from start to end. Each track still rates as a classic nearly 20 years since it's original release.

It begins with the track Margin Walker an immediate call to arms and a strong musical statement of what Fugazi stand for. Guitars sound like knifes cutting in the vinyl grooves of the record, before blasting off around the cut off bass and pounding drum track.. The tempo of the track increases as the track continues, this Margin Walker certainly does have a clear view.

Next up is And the Same, which starts with the baiting open lyric 'yes I know this is political correct' ,here Fugazi's are almost tempting the critics into an attack on their political stance. The strong rhythm that the whole track creates a song , which will defiantly effect your way of thinking about the possibilities of Fugazi's musical and political stance.

What follows is the best track on the album Burning Too, which sounds like Fugazi have indeed poured fuel into their speaks and started a fire. Based around buzzing guitars and a lyrical call to do something now about the situation. With Fugazi the lyrics can sound ambiguous , but that is also part of the beauty of them. On Burning Too the lyrics can be interpreted as a message to deal with environment issues but also as a wake up call to the individual to deal with their own current personal problems.

Side Two of the album , kicks off with Provisional a song based around chiming and gliding guitars which combine with a powerful bass and drum track to create another stunning track.

The track Lockdown follows and the pace is increased guitars twist and grind as Ian Mackaye lyrics attack the dehumanisation of modern work and the wastefulness of capitalist society. However Fugazi never rant and lose the listener with blind polemic.

Last up is the slower paced Promises a song which keeps the Fugazi trademark sound but calms them down giving the song more time to breath. Again the song is full of beautifully crafted words and again working on two levels , the openly political and the personal. Fugazi are one of the few band who have the ability to create this lyrical dualism. If you were unaware of their political stance, the lyrics would not necessarily be a key to their beliefs.

Margin Walker may only last about fifteen minutes but in this time, Fugazi create better music than most bands achieve in a lifetime of releases. If only more bands would release it'd quality over length that really matters with music. Goodbye seventy minute albums of filler I'll take my fifteen minutes of pure Fugazi pleasure.