Rites Of Spring

Aside from the fact that it's a very warm day here in NYC, the subject line refers to Guy Picciotto and Brendan Canty's band before Fugazi. Got the self-titled album at Amoeba Records in SF and I think it's my favorite purchase so far. There's an energy and intensity here that I think only existed in punk circles circa 1985. Some have called Rites of Spring and Guy Picciotto the precursor/godfather/inventor of 'emo', a word and genre I completely despise and even have a difficult time writing. Let's refer to the man himself for comment:
"I've never recognized "emo" as a genre of music. I always thought it was the most retarded term ever. I know there is this generic commonplace that every band that gets labeled with that term hates it. They feel scandalized by it. But honestly, I just thought that all the bands I played in were punk rock bands. The reason I think it's so stupid is that - what, like the Bad Brains weren't emotional? What - they were robots or something? It just doesn't make any sense to me."