91: Fugazi’s Fugazi (1988)
Sometime after I retired my Dokken and Guns ‘N Roses cassettes, I fell in love with punk rock. Though G’NR was replaced with a CD, some part of me had moved past the shallow world of metal. That didn’t mean, however, that I was sick of listening to heavy music. I reorganized, and after realizing there was this vibrant underground music scene happening in many places I didn’t live, I got my act together. This record, though undoubtedly influential beyond my scope of understanding, was purchased at the same time as Tori Amos’ Little Earthquakes (I know, I know), but continues to earn a spot in my iPod no matter what. This record turned me on to more than music, it made me aware of a culture I wanted to be a part of, and its politics continue to inform me today.
Fugazi “Waiting Room” (mp3)
I got to this record a little sooner than you did (probably because I’m a couple years older?), but it had the same effect on me. On a tangential note, I like Minor Threat too, but this is MacKaye’s most triumphant vehicle for the simple fact that when he and Guy Picciotto are united in song they are 100% unfuckwithable.