The Argument

Fugazi’s final album was conceived as a manifesto against war with a double entendre name—while it is an argument against war, war itself is a “giant argument” in singer/guitarist Ian MacKaye’s words. The Argument further expanded on Fugazi’s sound, incorporating cellos, pianos, and a second drum set. It tackled varied but mature themes, such as gentrification, citizenship, the imminent burst of the dot-com bubble, and the masochism of suburban lifestyle, indicating the final maturation of the once-punk, going-on-40-year-old band members. It’s also the first (and only) Fugazi album with a dedicated intro track.