It's unfortunate that a band so forward looking as Fugazi has
been criticized over and over for not remaking "Waiting Room" or
"Repeater." Some have called them sellouts, regardless of the
band's integrity and class, while others consider them elitists,
"guiding" the Washington, D.C., scene. This could not be further
from the truth. As the film and soundtrack to Instrument proved,
this is a band that is only concerned with musical growth, with
each album improving on its predecessor. But no album they have
put together has the jump ahead that The Argument has. Being both
ear-shattering and spine-tingling at once, this is Fugazi at
their "musical" best. Incorporating melody with texture and their
signature angular approach, the band has raised the bar for
themselves and others once again. The first "full" track,
"Cashout" (an anti-gentrification anthem), is classic stuff, with
a subtle guitar line exploding into a screaming chorus, but this
time there is less of an emphasis on the screaming and more on
the gentle melody of the verse. Slower tracks like "The Kill" and
"Life and Limb" touch on strange new territory. Gentle with sense
of swagger, these songs lack none of the power that the band is
known for, while the two-drum assault of "Ex-Spectator" (courtesy
of Brendan Canty and second drummer Jerry Busher) has just as
much potency on disc as it does live. And the final song,
"Argument," with its rolling guitar lines, dreamy breakdown, and
vocals that build from gentle to screaming, may be the best
closer on a Fugazi record since "Promises." Listeners may be
surprised to hear strings open up the record, or piano guiding
the brilliant "Strangelight," but this is the album that proves
once and for all that Fugazi has become a purely musical force.
Fifteen years in and Fugazi is still progressing. It makes one
wonder what they're capable of in the future. ~ Chris True, All
Music Guide
.com
----
The Argument is a bracing reminder of Fugazi's confidence and
passion, reflecting the experimental impulses of their previous
two albums while further refining their songs and arrangements.
It's certainly their most expansive album to date, with a
supporting cast that includes Bridget Cross (Unrest (
/exec/obidos/ts/artist-glance/67265/%24%7B0%7D ), Air Miami),
Kathi Wilcox (Bikini Kill (
/exec/obidos/ts/artist-glance/80197/%24%7B0%7D )), Amy Domingues
(Ida ( /exec/obidos/ts/artist-glance/86986/%24%7B0%7D )), and
roadie-soundman Jerry Busher. There's a pronounced pop element at
work this time: the title track and "Life and Limb" are Fugazi's
most subtle tracks yet, their taut guitar and whispery vocals
creating a quiet tension. Even a song like "Full Disclosure,"
which begins with Guy Piciotto's feral howling, ends with lithe
harmonies. Meanwhile, tunes like "Ex-Spectator" and "Epic
Problem" expand their core attack without sacrificing an iota of
its explosiveness. Brendan Canty's sinuous, rock-solid drumming
is key in this regard, providing monster hooks even before the
guitars come in. --Mike Appelstein