• Released in 1998.
• Dischord #110

It contains the following songs:
1. Break
2. Place Position
3. Recap Modotti
4. No Surprise
5. Five Corporations
6. Caustic Acrostic
7. Closed Captioned
8. Floating Boy
9. Foreman's Dog
10. Arpeggiator
11. Guilford Fall
12. Pink Frostly
13. F/D 

Album FAQ

What does the title 'End Hits' mean? Does it mean the band is going to break up?

As far as what it means, here is what Ian has to say:
"Ah, but we knew that (people would misinterpret the title to mean that the band was going to break up). It wasn't like it was a surprise to us, because we talked about it. It's more about the end of the century and the slow-moving apocalypse, so it was sort of like, "Here are some last words from the world." But whatever. We were aware of the fact that people would construe that as a possible thing, but at the same time, it was sort of a joke. I don't know if you've ever listened to the whole record, but there's a little piece at the very end that says, "Surprise--end hits." And all it was was a botched attempt on our part... At the end of the song "No Surprise," the song ends a certain way, and for some reason, all four of us just forgot to do the ending. I don't know why, but we just did. So then we thought, well, we can just record it again and edit it onto the end of the song, because it was a nice version of the song. Well, it was in vain, because we couldn't do it, but we ended up recording all these end hits--ta ta ta ta ta--to go at the end of the record. And those were the end hits. That was why the record was called End Hits. But it also drew on that notion of what I was talking about before, about the world's sort of last... It has that sort of notion, but also we were just sort of fuckin' around. That's one thing about the band that people don't know: Most of our time, our best moments are always laughing. I don't know if you've seen our movie or not, but we just finished this movie (Instrument Video), and a lot of people who've seen it are surprised that we're not sitting around a table plotting. I'm a great, funny guy, but people think I'm this scary asshole. I mean, we don't actively promote ourselves as easy-going, because who gives a fuck? We're not that easy-going! We mean business. It's just that we're funny".

What is that on the cover of the c.d.?

It is believed that the cityscape on the cover of 'End Hits' is from Hong Kong. The top part of the picture seems to be a satellite image.

End Hits Interpretations

This has been probably the most scrutinized title of any Fugazi Record. The title led to a lot of speculation about the band breaking up. But Ian says that this is not the case. In fact, he says that this is the perfect title for the album, and that its meaning should become perfectly clear after a few listens to the record. Personally, I am still not clear on what that meaning is. If you have any ideas, please let us know. These are the interpretations of the title 'End Hits' that we have received.

End Hits Interpretation #1

The title for the new album, I feel was a statement as to how the musical style of Fugazi has changed so drastically over the years. I bought the record two days after it came out, a strange thing happened. The person who sold me the album WARNED me that it was a very different album, and that I might have to get used to it. I was blown away by what I heard on first listen, because it was so different, yet amazing! Also if I remember correctly, the start of this trend of warnings started with Red Medicine. Music magazines were printing how the sound of fugazi has been evolving, becoming more melodic and what not. That album I bought on the day it came out and it didn't leave my walkman for four months! The people who introduced me to Fugazi, thought the album sucked, and decided to no longer listen to Fugazi. So, when it comes to End Hits, I think it is the band confirming that they are embarking on a journey to a more artistically different direction, and that they expect those who want the repetition of history (A.K.A. recycled patent bullshit) to disappear. Therefore its the "end" of their "hits", in favor of a fresh, trancendent form of their musical and lyrical genius. I for one will be behind the band all the way, come what may.

Frank Literal
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End Hits Interpretation #2

I was thinking about the title of the album and what Ian said and I kind of came up with two theories as to what the album title means. Both are pretty simple and straight forward. It's either:

A) When they wrote the songs on the album, they were intending them on being the final songs, hence the album title.

or

B) If you kind fo listen to the songs, they all just end. They don't really fade out or do anything special, they just kind of end abruptly. Now, I haven't tested this theory out through the entire album, but after running some of the song endings through my head, this theory seems to work.

That's what I think, anyway. I may be way off.

Ryan Statz
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End Hits Interpretation #3

My interpretation of the title 'endhits' is that it might mean "enough with the hits already! what defines a "hit" ? how many records are sold or what is on musictelivision? I never did like "hit' songs my self I don't even listen to the radio! So you might say I don't know what I'm talking about but I know this, I will not follow.

Ray Gomez
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End Hits Interpretation #4

I have heard that the Photo on the cover of 'End Hits' is from Hong Kong. If this is true, the title could mean that it is the end for the people of Hong Kong, because they are being reverted to communism. Fugazi has recently been involved in the Tibetan Freedom concerts and other benefits for Tibetans so that leads me to believe that Fugazi doesn't have a lot of respect for the Chinese government and their oppressive rule. So 'End Hits' could possible means that the freedom of speech and choice for the Hong Kong people is over. The end is near.

toddiot

End Hits Interpretation #5

I am at a loss as to what ever the title may mean if it has some weird and off the wall meaning, but for a simpler meaning I've listened to the album and the little conclusion at the end of the album, taken from one of the takes of "no surprises" is basically just the beats off the drums....hence end hits on the drums...I don't know ...it's a long shot but I think it may be what Ian meant when he said a few listens to the album will clarify the title.....

Donal Ward McCarthy
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End Hits Interpretation #6

The Mission staatement of the new Fugazi. Iread an interview with joe in bass Player magazine(Yes, some respect from a musicians, not a punks, perspective) Were he said that the new album(End hgits) was the beggining of the third phase of Fugazi, and that he felt like the band had at least ten more years, anyway...Completely throwing off the shackles of any and all expectatoins placed on the band by themselves, the fans, and the press and announcing their true coming out as a pure artistic force. Seems to be the overall estetic message of the whole album.

Nick Louie
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End Hits Interpretation #7

i noticed that there's a lot of continuity within the album. at the end of "Floating Boy", they play the riff from "f/d". after "f/d", they play part of "No Surprise". "No Surprise" kind of fades into "Five Corporations". so, in a way, the album never ends. maybe i'm way off on this one. that's all i've got.

Zack D.

This might finally be the answer to the question of what 'End Hits' means. It was taken from an interview with Ian.

"Ah, but we knew that. It wasn't like it was a surprise to us, because we talked about it. It's more about the end of the century and the slow-moving apocalypse, so it was sort of like, "Here are some last words from the world." But whatever. We were aware of the fact that people would construe that as a possible thing, but at the same time, it was sort of a joke. I don't know if you've ever listened to the whole record, but there's a little piece at the very end that says, "Surprise--end hits." And all it was was a botched attempt on our part... At the end of the song "No Surprise," the song ends a certain way, and for some reason, all four of us just forgot to do the ending. I don't know why, but we just did. So then we thought, well, we can just record it again and edit it onto the end of the song, because it was a nice version of the song. Well, it was in vain, because we couldn't do it, but we ended up recording all these end hits--ta ta ta ta ta--to go at the end of the record. And those were the end hits. That was why the record was called End Hits. But it also drew on that notion of what I was talking about before, about the world's sort of last... It has that sort of notion, but also we were just sort of fuckin' around. That's one thing about the band that people don't know: Most of our time, our best moments are always laughing. I don't know if you've seen our movie or not, but we just finished this movie, and a lot of people who've seen it are surprised that we're not sitting around a table plotting. I'm a great, funny guy, but people think I'm this scary asshole. I mean, we don't actively promote ourselves as easy-going, because who gives a fuck? We're not that easy-going! We mean business. It's just that we're funny."

Thanks to Kate for this info!

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