Complete Services Complilation

Ignition | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 16, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Dischord
• ASIN: B000000JPK
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,513 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Album, October 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Complete Services Complilation (Audio CD)

For all the DC hardcore/emocore bands that went on to (relative) stardom, I'm always amazed that some of the very best didn't make it.

Ignition was one of the best. They managed to blend great, melodic, angry (angry!) tunes with hectoring social/political messages a la Fugazi (Ignition was fronted by Ian McKaye's brother, I believe) in a way that forced you get up move or howl along like a banshee.

I cannot recommend any DC hardcore album with more sincerity; only the late, great Rites of Spring could match these guys in emotion, urgency, and tunefulness.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Top tier harDCore., March 12, 2010

By 

The Preacher (PA, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Complete Services Complilation (Audio CD)

Is it just me, or does every song with Alec MacKaye's voice on it wind up being amazing? This could be for the fact that Chris Bald wrote a lot of Faith's and Ignition's material, but it can't entirely be the case because Bald isn't writing for The Warmers. Alec's voice and vocal harmonies, sung in a way that almost seems to be asking a question of the listener after every line, are unique, leaving a refreshing feeling that "I haven't heard this before".

I'm pretty sure Chris Bald (Faith, Embrace, Ignition) wrote most of Ignition's music, it would certainly seem this is so because of the underlying depressing sound. Just as I love everything Alec has sung on, I love all the music Chris Bald plays, it is so unfortunate, for me at least, that Bald doesn't appear in any more bands after Ignition's demise. Alec was in The Warmers after Ignition but didn't get to sing, or didn't want to sing, many songs. . .if I had my way he would have sang them all. In the end, few bands match Ignition's passion, it's just really more amazing mid-80s harDCore, do yourself a favor and hear it.

P.S. When I asked about this Ignition CD 10 years ago at the only decent record store around (now closed, replaced by a tanning/hair & makeup salon) I was told that it wasn't any good and to not waste my money. I took a chance on it anyways and it's been one of my favorite albums ever since. Thanks record store guy, I knew I couldn't trust you.

2 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Mediocre Fare (for Dischord), July 8, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Complete Services Complilation (Audio CD)

Whoever told Alec MacKay he could pass as a vocalist? This has gotta be one of the most excruciating CDs to listen to in my collection. While being a big fan of a lot of the stuff Dischord Records has put out,Ignition epitomizes for me the downhill slump much of punk rock underwent in the mid to late 80's. The music lacks pace and punch, the lyrics are embarassingly preachy, and the whole affair has a dour air to it. Granted, there are a few songs on here - "Anger Means", their cover of the Vibrators' "Keep it Clean", and a coupla more -that even Alec's voice can't completely decimate, but it's not enough to recommend this to anyone other than diehard Dischord completists. Hard to believe bassist Chris Thomson went on from this (mostly) dismal affair to front such amazing bands as Circus Lupus, Las Mordidas, Monorchid and Skull Kontrol. Check out those bands!