State of the Union: D.C. Benefit Compilation

by State Of The Union / Various

Overview

This is one of several influential compilations produced by Dischord Records documenting the Washington D.C. punk scene. In 1989, the scene was lively and very political, and though few of the bands featured were still together in the year 2000, several members went on to form other important groups. The record comes with a booklet, which is essential, explaining its theme and expanding upon it. The cover shot pretty much sums up what the record is about. There's a group of homeless men freezing in the snow with the U.S. capitol in the background and the words State of the Union above them. In the booklet, there's a decent amount of information about why so many people are poor and homeless in the richest nation in the world. Most of the bands involved are political, though, in general, D.C. punk rock is neither dogmatic nor in your face. Fugazi includes an exclusive cut, "In Defense of Humans," which is one of their earlier tunes and not as arty as their later stuff, while Christ on a Crutch fires up the punkest sounding number on the record, "Off Target." There's a side project from Guy Picciotto of Fugazi called One Last Wish, which sounds like Rites of Spring, and a great acoustic number from Three called "Swann Street." Among the members of bands that went on to later fame represented here is David Grohl's early project Scream and a couple of the guys from Soulside, who went on to form the completely different Girls Against Boys after they moved to New York. This compilation sounds very late '80s. More recent bands from D.C. definitely have a new sound. But this a significant record and essential to the collection of anyone interested in the history of the D.C. punk scene. ~ Adam Bregman

Product Details

Release Date:	12/12/1994
Label:	Dischord Records
UPC:	0718750730824

Tracks

1. Ameri-Dub  -  Scream
2. Anger Means  -  Ignition
3. Name in Mind  -  Soul Side
4. No You Cannot Go  -  Broken Siren
5. Off Target  -  Christ on a Crutch
6. Dirty Wings  -  King Face
7. Worlds at War  -  Rain
8. Swann Street  -  3  - Geoff Turner
9. Stones of a Wall  -  Marginal Man
10. Burring in the Undertow  -  One Last Wish
11. In Defense of Humans  - Brendan Canty  -  Fugazi  - Joe Lally  - Ian MacKaye  - Guy Picciotto
12. Responsiblity  -  Thorns
13. Pilate  -  Fire Party
14. Blood Stone Burn  -  Fidelity Jones
15. Candle  -  Red Emma
16. Let It Ring  -  Shudder to Think

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Broken Siren   Primary Artist
Red Emma   Primary Artist
King Face   Primary Artist
The Thorns   Primary Artist
Ignition   Primary Artist
Christ on a Crutch   Primary Artist
Scream   Primary Artist
Rain   Primary Artist
Fire Party   Primary Artist
One Last Wish   Primary Artist
Marginal Man   Primary Artist
Shudder to Think   Primary Artist
Fidelity Jones   Primary Artist
Fugazi   Primary Artist
3   Primary Artist
Soul Side   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Christ on a Crutch   Performer
Ignition   Performer
Scream   Performer
Rain   Performer
Fire Party   Performer
One Last Wish   Performer
Marginal Man   Performer
Joe Lally   Composer
Shudder to Think   Performer
Fidelity Jones   Performer
Fugazi   Composer,Performer
Brendan Canty   Composer
Guy Picciotto   Composer
Mark Andersen   Liner Notes
3   Performer
Geoff Turner   Composer
Ian MacKaye   Composer
Soul Side   Performer,Composer