AP.net Remembers: Q and Not U
 

You probably can't do much more to gain cred than sign on with Dischord Records and get Ian MacKaye to co-produce your album. With Q and Not U, though, the Fugazi frontman couldn't have picked a more perfect band to usher his venerable D.C. label into the 21st Century. With their music firmly rooted in the intelligent post-hardcore of the label's past, Q and Not U also embodied their forebears' forward-thinking and boundary-pushing ethos, tossing spazzy, danceable rhythms together with abrasive, clangy riffs into their visceral, high-energy mix. Their career boasts an intriguing evolution, which came about initially out of necessity. After saying goodbye to bassist Matt Borlik following the release of their 2000 debut No Kill No Beep Beep, the band pressed on without him, resulting in the more stripped Different Damage in 2002. For their final offering, 2004's Power, the band opted for a heavier emphasis on bassy synth lines to fill the void in their sound, and in conjunction with the more prominent use of falsetto vocals, it provided an even more danceable, almost discofied vibe. Constant through it all were the band's raucous energy, quirky sense of melody, sharp musicianship and delightful unpredictability.

"Hooray for Humans" (from No Kill No Beep Beep)


"Soft Pyramids" (from Different Damage)


"So Many Animal Calls" (from Different Damage)


"X Polynation" (from Power)

Hooray For Humans is a great song

Fuck yeah. 'Bout time.

S-o-f t-p-y r-a-m i-d-s e-v-a p-o-r a-t-e...

I just can't get enough of this song. it's just so... additive

Haha fucking AMAZING band.

Brian Cook would approve.



I've always meant to check this band out but never got around to it. They're really, really good.

Need to get into this band. Can someone reccomend me their best work please?

Great Band. No Kill No Beep Beep is a flawless record, amazing production, great vibe. Might I suggest Engine Down for one of your AP.net remembers!

backed. i got to see them live. fight me.

http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1352682

'no kill beep beep' is an incredible album.

nice

Ah darn I thought this band was about the street fighter Q...

god damn you. when did you see them?

I remember seeing them play with Interpol in '05. They were pretty good live.

Different Damage is a solid album

apreesh

D-O-W-N and that's the way we get doooooooown!

Haha, I had so much respect for these guys for coming out to tour in South Africa: no one knew who they were, and they were completely unlike anything we'd heard before. A metal band opened for them, and all their fans didn't know what the fuck to do when Q And Not U came on...

i love love love this band reminds me of some fond memories from back when they were playing. good pick.

every modern dancy 'indie' band (Foals etc.) owes something to these guys.

i love the q

Fun band. They lost me a little bit on the last full length but they're definitely solid. I only managed to catch them once, touring on Different Damage.

It's funny you should mention that. I had originally had a line in the write-up: "When you're rockin' it to the new Foals album next month (or right now if you're a naughty music pirate like Blake Solomon), pause for a moment and give silent thanks to Q and Not U for their influence." I gave it a second thought, and truthfully, Foals sound could really be traced back to Talking Heads and such, while Q and Not U's influence is felt more directly in bands like Dartz!, but even in that case, you could argue that they were influenced equally by Les Savy Fav or The Dismemberment Plan. In the end, I decided to nix the idea altogether. Without question, their sound resonates at least subtly in many of today's bands.

Probably my favorite inactive band. Really wish I got to see them live.

DARTZ! were really something, shame they broke up...

This band doesn't get nearly the attention or recognition they deserve. They released three fantastic albums were so influential in the indie scene. I would give a nut to see them live. I hope they get together to record/tour in the future.

Q and Not U was a great band, No Kill No Beep Beep is nothing short of amazing.

2003 or 2004, they were touring with black eyes i think. i saw them at a cafe after the show too but i didn't say anything since i was like 15 at the time, haha.

I loved this band. Weird that this would be posted today, me and my friend just tentatively named our new band "So Many Animal Calls" because of our shared love for Q and Not U. I still hate that I never got to see them live...

Luckyyyy. Interpol is one of my favorite bands. I'd kill to see them.

What a great band.

Fantastic band, No Kill No Beep Beep and Different Damage are some of my favorite albums.

No Kill No Beep Beep is magnificent.

Yes. Such an incredible band.

solid band i just listened to different damage the other day

Love this band.
Am listening to them to get me through work now.

This will probably be shunned here but..

doees QANU be what all time low refer to in their song Circles?
(sorry, i'm a fan of atl's old stuff.)