Fugazi/Minor Threat

Scope the safety-pinned wardrobe of your average punk kid, and you're bound to see buttons for Minor Threat or Fugazi right alongside those for AFI and My Chemical Romance. The twist? Both of the former bands peaked before today's teens were a) born or b) knew what a record was. In other words, Minor Threat and Fugazi have become rite-of-passage punk bands for a whole new generation via tracks that tackle and topple such timeless issues as gentrification (the patient but explosive "Cashout"), gender roles (the brilliant riot grrrl reversal of "Suggestion"), and drinking/drugging to fit in (the certified hardcore classics "In My Eyes" and "Straight Edge"). Then there's the lingering musical legacy of these two D.C. demigods, which we're about to stage dive into, Next Steps-style.

While they share one key member (Dischord Records cofounder/DIY icon Ian MacKaye), Minor Threat and Fugazi sound nothing like one another. Minor Threat presents an unfiltered view of MacKaye the angry adolescent — as frenzied as a speed freak, racing to the finish line of rallying cries against apathy ("Sob Story"), organized religion ("Filler"), and reverse discrimination ("Guilty of Being White"). And Fugazi? Well, it reveals MacKaye the intellectual underground rocker, posting up alongside Guy Picciotto (formerly of emocore pioneers Rites of Spring) and shifting soundscapes (the echo chamber piano keys of "I'm So Tired," the chilling tension/release of "Shut the Door," and the desert chopper chords of "Full Disclosure"). Confused? Don't be. It'll all make sense once our Deep Cuts are done with you.

Fire up these 25 classic Minor Threat/Fugazi songs for just about any aging indie or punk rocker, and they'll start singing along within seconds, which pretty much kills that whole Deep Cuts concept, right? Not exactly. You see, music fans young and old are constantly discovering both bands, having their eyes and ears ripped open by acts that were as adventurous lyrically as they were musically. That goes for Minor Threat's complete (and to some, dangerous) disregard for pop structures or a censor button, as well as Fugazi's willingness to dip into dub, off-kilter rhythms, ingenious instrumental breaks, and other expect-the-unexpected fare.

Add the myriad bang-your-head/flex-your-brain works of Minor Threat and Fugazi to the stack of generation-jumping records your kids and your kids' kids will devour right after a couple hours with the Clash, the Pistols, and the Ramones. Both bands are that important to the history of independent music, from Fugazi's strict DIY ways (cheap concert tickets and merch, consistent community activism) and bold, borderless songwriting, to Minor Threat's face-first sprint through the barbed wire fences of hardcore punk and its entire lifestyle — a lifestyle Minor Threat is often credited with creating, due to the guideline-setting lyrics of songs like "Straight Edge" and "Out of Step (with the World)."