The Nation of Ulysses were formed in Washington, D.C., in 1988, with a lineup composed of vocalist/trumpeter Ian Svenonius, guitarists Steve Kroner and Tim Green, bassist Steve Gamboa, and drummer James Canty (brother of Rites of Spring/Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty). Although the Nation of Ulysses issued only two albums during their lifetime, their sound, style, and sloganeering had a far-reaching impact not only did they breathe fresh air into a stagnant anarchist-punk movement, they inspired a new crop of bands both locally and abroad, particularly Swedish punkers like the Hives, the (International) Noise Conspiracy, and Refused. Moreover, their multi-ethnic makeup pushed them to incorporate elements of R&B (as filtered through the MC5) and avant jazz, the latter chiefly through manic frontman Ian Svenonius' primitive trumpet squalling.

The fascination with NoU's abundant surface trappings often drew attention away from their generally excellent music, an amateurish but potent blend of garagey, Detroit-style crash 'n' bash and Fugazi-influenced post-hardcore punk. In person, they carried it off with style and swagger, dressing in sharp business attire and staging theatrical, high-energy live shows. This filled not only their lyrics but their loquacious liner notes, which the group itself often referred to as 'propaganda.' Much debate ensued over how firmly the group's collective tongue was planted in its cheek they seemed far too over the top to be completely serious about their pose, but threw so much effort into it that their hearts seemingly had to be in it to some degree. Any discussion of NoU inevitably comes to rest on their conceptual foundation: a relentlessly provocative (and entertaining) jumble of teenage rock & roll rebellion, leftist radicalism, anarchist punk polemics, and abstract intellectual rambling. One of the best-loved bands on the Dischord roster, the Nation of Ulysses are best remembered for lifting the motor-mouthed revolutionary rhetoric of the MC5 and blowing it up to an elaborate, almost ridiculous level.

Nation of ulysses