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A trio hailing from Washington DC, on the Dischord label and co-produced by Fugazi's Ian MacKaye. So while there's no disguising what Q And Not U's second LP sounds like, there's also no hiding just how good this sound is. A subtle take on the post-hardcore dynamic that has been perfected by their producer's band, this is a record stacked with stuttering energy.
Far from telegraphed, this group are glued-together by an ever-twitching rhythm section chock-full of minor touches that tilt them away from clichéd contemporaries. 'Different Damage' hardly explodes in your face; it gradually builds, broods and at times even has a vaguely Gang Of Four-esque pop edge to it, especially when all three band members take their turns to yelp abstract verse. A lean, loosely-strung machine, Q And Not U are fine frontrunners for Dischord's new guitar legion. Here, they've also written one of the best records of this kind since 'The Argument'.

Ian Fletcher
November 2002

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