End Hits
Encyclopedia
End Hits is the fifth studio album
by the American post-hardcore
band Fugazi
. It was recorded at Inner Ear Studios
from March 1997 to September 1997 and produced by Don Zientara
& Fugazi. It was released on April 28, 1998 through Dischord Records
. The album saw the band continuing with and expanding upon the in-studio experimentation of their previous album Red Medicine
. Due to the title, rumors began circulating at the time that it was to be the their last release.
that occur after the last song on the album, "F/D" has finished playing. These drum hits are actually outtakes from the bridge-section of the track "No Surprise," the fourth song on the album. The title was later revealed by the band to have been an inside-joke.
they took an extended break and also began writing material for a follow up release. By March 1997 Fugazi had once again returned to Inner Ear Studios
with producer/engineer Don Zientara
to begin recording what would become the End Hits album with the intention of taking a more relaxed approach to recording and a longer amount of time to experiment with different songs and techniques in the studio. The group ultimately spent 7 months recording the album.
A wide-variety of sound effects and unusual microphone placements were used during both the recording and mixing process. In addition, the band used electronic drums, synthesizers and the practice of drum-layering for the first time, which is most evident on the track "Closed Captioned." Brendan Canty
explained to Tape Op
Magazine in 1999 "When "Closed Captioned" was recorded, the basic tracks to it are all a drum machine and then I overdubbed two different drum sets on top of it, which I love doing, it gives distance to a song." Recording for the track "Floating Boy" saw all the drum mics removed at the end of the song except for the bottom-snare mic, to create a hollow and muffled sound, after which synthesizer and several layers of reverb were added.
. However, critical reaction to End Hits was mixed. Many critics praised the album's heavier tracks like "Five Corporations" and "Place Position" while others questioned the inclusion of the group's longer, more experimental songs like "Closed Captioned" and "Floating Boy".
with the Hopewell Centre
prominent in the foreground. Limited vinyl copies of the album feature a gatefold cover, which folds out to display a live photograph of the band playing at the Palladium
in New York City
, taken by Glen E. Friedman
.
references and samples the song "Five Corporations" on his album False Hope
. This song was later released on Never Bette
r.
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by the American post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
band Fugazi
Fugazi (band)
Fugazi is an American post-hardcore band that formed in Washington, D.C. in 1987. The band's continual members are guitarists and vocalists Ian MacKaye and Guy Picciotto, bassist Joe Lally and drummer Brendan Canty....
. It was recorded at Inner Ear Studios
Inner Ear Studios
Inner Ear Studios is a recording studio founded in Arlington, VA by musician and recording engineer Don Zientara. Hundreds of albums, including both independent and major label releases have been recorded at the studio. It has been in continuous operation for over 25 years.- See Also :Don Zientara...
from March 1997 to September 1997 and produced by Don Zientara
Don Zientara
Don Zientara is an American record producer and musician. He owns and runs Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, Virginia, located just outside of Washington D.C., and is most widely known for his production work with Fugazi, Minor Threat and various other Dischord Records artists.-Production...
& Fugazi. It was released on April 28, 1998 through Dischord Records
Dischord Records
Dischord Records is a Washington, D.C.-based independent record label specializing in the independent punk music of the D.C.-area music scene. The label is co-owned by Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson, who founded Dischord in 1980 to release Minor Disturbance by The Teen Idles...
. The album saw the band continuing with and expanding upon the in-studio experimentation of their previous album Red Medicine
Red Medicine
Red Medicine is the fourth full-length studio album by American post-hardcore band Fugazi, released on June 12th, 1995 through Dischord Records.-Background:...
. Due to the title, rumors began circulating at the time that it was to be the their last release.
Background
Due to the album's title, many speculated that it would be the band's last release. Although the title refers to, literally, end-of-the-album drum hits by drummer Brendan CantyBrendan Canty
Brendan Canty is an American musician, composer, producer and film maker, best known as the drummer for the band Fugazi....
that occur after the last song on the album, "F/D" has finished playing. These drum hits are actually outtakes from the bridge-section of the track "No Surprise," the fourth song on the album. The title was later revealed by the band to have been an inside-joke.
Recording
After the grueling worldwide tour the band had completed in support of their previous album, 1995's Red MedicineRed Medicine
Red Medicine is the fourth full-length studio album by American post-hardcore band Fugazi, released on June 12th, 1995 through Dischord Records.-Background:...
they took an extended break and also began writing material for a follow up release. By March 1997 Fugazi had once again returned to Inner Ear Studios
Inner Ear Studios
Inner Ear Studios is a recording studio founded in Arlington, VA by musician and recording engineer Don Zientara. Hundreds of albums, including both independent and major label releases have been recorded at the studio. It has been in continuous operation for over 25 years.- See Also :Don Zientara...
with producer/engineer Don Zientara
Don Zientara
Don Zientara is an American record producer and musician. He owns and runs Inner Ear Studios in Arlington, Virginia, located just outside of Washington D.C., and is most widely known for his production work with Fugazi, Minor Threat and various other Dischord Records artists.-Production...
to begin recording what would become the End Hits album with the intention of taking a more relaxed approach to recording and a longer amount of time to experiment with different songs and techniques in the studio. The group ultimately spent 7 months recording the album.
A wide-variety of sound effects and unusual microphone placements were used during both the recording and mixing process. In addition, the band used electronic drums, synthesizers and the practice of drum-layering for the first time, which is most evident on the track "Closed Captioned." Brendan Canty
Brendan Canty
Brendan Canty is an American musician, composer, producer and film maker, best known as the drummer for the band Fugazi....
explained to Tape Op
Tape Op
Tape Op is a recording magazine that focuses on creative recording techniques. Subtitled, "The Creative Music Recording Magazine," It is free to subscribers in the United States and United Kingdom, as well as offering paid subscriptions to the United States of America, all of Europe, Canada,...
Magazine in 1999 "When "Closed Captioned" was recorded, the basic tracks to it are all a drum machine and then I overdubbed two different drum sets on top of it, which I love doing, it gives distance to a song." Recording for the track "Floating Boy" saw all the drum mics removed at the end of the song except for the bottom-snare mic, to create a hollow and muffled sound, after which synthesizer and several layers of reverb were added.
Release & Reception
Released on April 28, 1998 the album was commercially successful and marked one of the band's highest debuts yet on the Billboard chartsBillboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
. However, critical reaction to End Hits was mixed. Many critics praised the album's heavier tracks like "Five Corporations" and "Place Position" while others questioned the inclusion of the group's longer, more experimental songs like "Closed Captioned" and "Floating Boy".
Packaging
The picture on the album cover is of Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
with the Hopewell Centre
Hopewell Centre, Hong Kong
Hopewell Centre is a skyscraper in Hong Kong. It is located at 183 Queen's Road East, in Wan Chai on Hong Kong Island. It is the first circular skyscraper in Hong Kong. It is named after Hong Kong-listed property firm Hopewell Holdings Limited, which constructed the building...
prominent in the foreground. Limited vinyl copies of the album feature a gatefold cover, which folds out to display a live photograph of the band playing at the Palladium
Palladium (music venue)
The Palladium was a concert hall and later a nightclub in New York City. It was located on the south side of East 14th Street, between Irving Place and 3rd Avenue....
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, taken by Glen E. Friedman
Glen E. Friedman
Glen E. Friedman is an American photographer and artist.Coming to prominence in the 1980s with his photography of skateboarders and musicians, Friedman is considered one of the most important photographers of his generation.He is perhaps best known for his work promoting rebellious artists such as...
.
Track listing
(Lead vocals in parentheses)- "Break" – 2:12 (MacKaye)
- "Place Position" – 2:45 (Picciotto)
- "Recap Modotti" – 3:50 (Lally)
- "No Surprise" – 4:12 (Picciotto, chorus: MacKaye)
- "Five Corporations" – 2:29 (MacKaye)
- "Caustic Acrostic" – 2:01 (Picciotto)
- "Closed Captioned" – 4:52 (MacKaye)
- "Floating Boy" – 5:45 (Picciotto)
- "Foreman's Dog" – 4:21 (Picciotto)
- "Arpeggiator" – 4:28
- "Guilford Fall" – 2:57 (Picciotto)
- "Pink Frosty" – 4:09 (MacKaye)
- "F/D" – 3:42 (MacKaye/Picciotto)
Album
Billboard (North America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | The Billboard 200 | 138 |
Cultural References
Rapper P.O.S.P.O.S.
Stefon Alexander, better known by his stage name P.O.S, is an American rapper, singer and multi-instrumentalist from Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is currently signed to Rhymesayers Entertainment and is a founding member of the label/collective Doomtree...
references and samples the song "Five Corporations" on his album False Hope
False Hopes (Doomtree album)
False Hopes is a series of albums produced by Minneapolis Hip hop collective Doomtree. These are released in between "official" releases and the content often reappears on the official releases in a reworked fashion. This is the only False Hopes to date with content from every member of the...
. This song was later released on Never Bette
Never Better (album)
Never Better is the third full-length album from Minneapolis punk-inspired hip hop artist P.O.S The first single, "Goodbye" was released in Mid-December, 2008. The second single, "Drumroll " was released Mid-January on iTunes and Amazon.com...
r.