Rites of Spring - Rites of Spring End on End (17 tracks) +Album Reviews

Takes me back to my teenage days at DIY warehouse shows...

Travis Miller | Shepherdstown, WV United States | 10/31/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Imagine a rawer, faster, more desperate Fugazi, and you've got Rites of Spring. That's simplistic, of course, but since RoS included members of Fugazi before there was Fugazi, it's not too far off the mark.This is a great CD, especially when you're feeling bitter and anxious. The performances are full of the raw, immediate energy that only punk rock can deliver, and the lyrics deal intelligently with themes of alienation, frustration, and dejection - intelligently enough that they have appeal for both angsty teenagers and, well, angsty adults. If you're not familiar with the sound of old-school DC emocore, it's melodic, but not poppy, with surprisingly sophisticated songcraft for punk, but plenty of rough edges for authenticity.And although others have already pointed this out, I'd like to add my voice to the chorus: THIS is real emo, and it has very little to do with what they call "emo" today. RoS and other DC hardcore bands from back in the day have a far better claim to the term than any of these new-school pretty boys with horn-rimmed glasses and maudlin lyrics about getting dumped by their girlfriends. Will someone please school these young whippersnappers before I have to beat them with my walker?"

The definition of hardcore

Nathan B. Hyatt | San Francisco | 05/09/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Forget about "emo." Yeah, I remember when the term first came out, almost fifteen years ago, but the bands that were originally termed "emo" (basically Fugazi, and in retrospect, this band) sound NOTHING like today's emo. PERIOD. So you should erase the word emo from your vocabulary, and go out and buy every Fugazi album along with this one. To me, this is a five star album, but let's be honest; if you give everything five stars, it loses its meaning. I try to reserve 5 stars for something with a widespread appeal, something I can recommend to literally everyone and know that most people will/should like it.Thankfully, this album will NOT be appreciated by everyone, because then it wouldn't be hardcore. But it IS hardcore, not emo (although there's plenty of emotion, but there is in all good music...).The songs are intense; the first time I listened to this, I was taken back to my childhood; I hadn't heard these guys in my elementary school days, but the emotion is so real it took me there straight away. This is the pinnacle of punk music: violent but still melodic, lyrics that are angry but still intelligent, thought-provoking, and in some cases, heart-wrenching.The style isn't for everyone; seriously raw guitar playing, distorted to hell, yelling vocals are going to turn some people off; that's fine. This is not the kind of music you share with everybody. This is the kind of music you listen to and go, "Oh yeah, that's what I'm feeling," and you take joy in the fact that not only are there others who feel the same way, but there's somebody who's made the most kick-butt soundtrack to your teenage woes that it will transcend all time and age barriers. People who don't get this stuff just don't. Their loss."

Emo is bad

Mike | Boston, Ma | 08/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Take all your dasboard cds, your tbs, your std, your starting line every other cd you want to call "emo." Take these out back and poop all over them. that isnt emo, that isnt emotional, that isnt sadness. Take your sappy little frown over to your nearest record store and buy this Rites of Spring cd put it on your stereo as loud as it can and cry your balls off. you'll never feel sadder, but you'll never feel happier when you realize you no longer have to listen to dashboard to crave your sadness."

Pure inspiration... an essential album

scooby-dew | Washington DC | 03/18/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"seeing as the emo scene is beginning to head above ground, the opinion that rites of spring are the founders of emo-core is growing as well, seeing as the new emo kids are just jumping on the bandwagon, agreeing with the 'wisdom of the elders' so to speak... i was once talked to at length by a girl at a show about how the whole harDCore/dischord scene had shaped the beginnings of a new genre, which would be given the name emo after it shed the title 'DC hardcore', only to find she didn't own the album, and knew very little about what she was talking about... she also knew nothing about Embrace, Fugazi, Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, etc. i found this a little depressing, because i feel that R.O.S. are the founders of emo and broke down all sorts of boundaries, and from the debris of this destruction rose out some of the best music ever created. but, this is nowadays an opinion everyone holds, whether or not people have ever heard this album...'end on end' is an album which requires a lot of attention when you first purchase it... it grew on me, and it will continue to grow on you and become more and more intricate with every listen... don't be put off by first impressions. a lot of 'nu-emo' kids (familiar only with Get Up Kids and the Ataris) i know hate this album, and can't see how it is the first ever emo album... unable to understand the emo-core is a breakaway from hardcore and that the first album to tread this new ground will not sound like today's bands.this album is pure inspiration, how could it not be if it created a whole new genre of music? people need to be more than just aware of the contribution R.O.S. has given to music, so check out this album... it might be a good idea to download some mp3s first, just so you know what you are in for before purchasing this album... i recommend: 'spring', for want of', 'remainder' and 'end on end'."

Drink deep

cart ruckbus | baltimore, md | 05/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"these guys are from demon city, also known as our nation's capital. the cover of the album is kinda disconcerting, and it reminds me a lot of how the music sounds. that usually means the album is good. last summer i spent some time in the demon city and listened to this album over and over again, and it was pretty perfect. the last four songs sound kinda different from the rest because they're from an ep. i'm not sure that they're any better than the rest of the album, but i might have used to think that. the whole thing is pretty excellent. i wish i had bought the remastered one instead of an old copy of it, but i don't think i could like it much more than i already do so i guess it doesn't matter much. amazon might not like me to say this but the album is available for 8 dollars postpaid from dischord records 3819 bleecher st. nw, washington dc 20007-1802, or at least so says the back of my cd. make sure you listen to it a lot if you get it."

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	Rites of Spring Rites of Spring - End on End Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock Track Listings (17) - Disc #1 Spring Deeper Than Inside For Want Of Hain's Point All There Is Drink Deep Other Way Around Theme By Design Remainder Persistent Vision Nudes End on End All Through a Life Hidden Wheel In Silence/Words Away Patience
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