Red Medicine


Red Medicine is the fourth studio album by the American post-hardcore band Fugazi, released on June 12, 1995, by Dischord Records. It is the band's most commercially successful album in regards to chart positions, as it peaked at No. 126 on the Billboard 200 and No. 18 on the UK Albums Chart.

Background and recording

The group began work on Red Medicine in 1994, after touring in support of In on the Kill Taker. The writing of the album involved several months of jam sessions and recording at Guilford House, a secluded country estate located in Guilford, Connecticut. Unlike most Fugazi songs, which are written collectively during a jam, the opening track "Do You Like Me" was written by singer-guitarist Guy Picciotto and then fleshed out by the rest of the band.
The album's recording sessions took place from January to February 1995 at Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, Virginia. The band worked with the engineer Don Zientara, but did not choose to work with the producer Ted Niceley again. Fugazi opted to retreat from the in-your-face production values of In on the Kill Taker and instead worked to create an ambient sound which would display greater depth. To achieve this, the band handled the production themselves and, in doing so, became more confident with in-studio experimentation. This is evident in the incorporation of short, sampled segues,, instruments such as the clarinet, and alternate tunings used on songs such as "Latest Disgrace" and "By You". Footage of the band both writing and recording the album can be seen in the film Instrument.

Music

On Red Medicine, Fugazi began to move into more experimental styles of music, including noise punk, psychedelia and dub. Despite the increasing experimentation, some tracks on the album "return to more standard issue, hardcore roots," employing its trademark "soaring guitars". In the book Gimme Indie Rock, music journalist Andrew Earles assessed: "A hard left turn into weirder waters, Red Medicine is the sound of Fugazi using its deserved freedom and following various creative muses. This means much of the band's previous anger gets left behind, with sadder, more ambient-sounding tracks and a greater pop sense taking over where outright journeys into experimental and retro-future visions don't." The album has been described as providing "a fresh take on what indie rock could do with guitars in 1995." According to Andy Kellman of AllMusic, the album "packs more rhythmic punch and shows more range . With more drive and playful goings-on, the arrangements sound much looser than on Kill Taker, while remaining just as gut-kicking and brainy." The album incorporates clarinet and sampling.

Release

Critical reception

The album was a critical success: Mark Kemp of Rolling Stone called the album "rock solid". Andy Kellman of AllMusic wrote, "With more drive and playful goings-on, the arrangements sound much looser than on Kill Taker, while remaining just as gut-kicking and brainy."
PublicationCountryAccoladeYearRank
PitchforkUSTop 100 Favorite Records of the 1990s199964
PitchforkUSTop 100 Favorite Records of the 1990s200342
LostAtSeaUS90 Albums of the 90s200025
Music UnderwaterUSTop 100 Albums 1990-2003200485

Tour

Fugazi embarked on an extensive worldwide tour in support of the album, performing a total of 172 dates between March 1995 and November 1996.

Legacy and influence

of Refused considers Red Medicine to be his favorite Fugazi album and admitted that the band were influenced by it while recording Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent and The Shape of Punk to Come. Mike Sullivan of Russian Circles cited the album, alongside Shellac's At Action Park, as a major influence on his guitar-playing, noting that they "literally changed the way looked at music". John Frusciante described the album as a "masterpiece". Pelican's Trevor de Brauw included Red Medicine among the 10 albums that influenced his guitar-playing, praising the harmonized guitar-leads on the track "Long Distance Runner," calling them "so sparse but...so emotionally effective. Paired with the lyrics, it packed a real wallop." Travis Shettel of Piebald listed Red Medicine as one of three albums that had a profound influence on their music-making, even admitting that they "stole more bits and pieces and ideas from these three albums than I would like to admit."
Both Refused and No Knife covered "Bed for the Scraping". During their By the Way Tour, Red Hot Chili Peppers regularly played "Latest Disgrace" as the introduction to "Parallel Universe" and it has appeared on their Live at Slane Castle video. The photo of the band members in the lake was taken by long-time friend of the band Jem Cohen and pays homage to Slint's album "Spiderland."

Track listing

All songs by Guy Picciotto, Ian MacKaye, Joe Lally, and Brendan Canty.

Personnel

  • Ian MacKaye – guitar, vocals
  • Guy Picciotto – guitar, clarinet, vocals
  • Joe Lally – bass guitar, vocals
  • Brendan Canty – drums
Technical
  • Jem Cohen – cover art, photography
  • Fugazi – cover art, mixing, photography, primary artist
  • Joey P. – photography
  • Don Zientara – engineer

    Charts