Editing Out of Step (EP)

{{More citations needed|date=June 2007}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = Out of Step
| type       = EP
| artist     = [[Minor Threat]]
| cover      = Minor Threat - Out of Step.jpg
| border     = yes
| alt        =
| released   = April 1983
| recorded   = January 1983 at [[Inner Ear Studios]] in [[Arlington County, Virginia]], U.S.
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = [[Hardcore punk]]
| length     = 21:36
| label      = [[Dischord Records|Dischord]]
| producer   = [[Don Zientara]] and Minor Threat
| prev_title = In My Eyes
| prev_year  = 1981
| next_title = [[Minor Threat (album)|Minor Threat]]
| next_year  = 1984
}}
'''''Out of Step''''' is the third EP<!--- Before changing, please talk about in the talk page. !-->{{efn|name=fn1|Many sources often consider ''Out of Step'' as an EP or a studio album. [[Dischord Records]], in an advertisement, called the record as an EP in 1985.<ref name="mnr030">{{cite magazine
| author= Dischord Records| title= Records That We Sell| volume= 30| magazine= Maximum Rocknroll| location= Berkeley, California| date= November 1985}}</ref> Dischord, as of 2024, also has called the record as an EP on their website.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://dischord.com/release/010/out-of-step |title=Dischord Records: Minor Threat - Out of Step |publisher=Dischord records |accessdate=2024-08-13 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/minor-threat-announce-new-ep-out-of-step-outtakes/ |title=Minor Threat Announce New EP Out of Step Outtakes |last=Corcoran |first=Nina |publisher=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=2023-11-14 |accessdate=2024-08-13 }}</ref> Despite this, retrospective reviews, such as [[AllMusic]] and [[the Rolling Stone Album Guide]], call the recording being a studio album.<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/out-of-step-mw0000088508 |title=''Out of Step'' – Minor Threat |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=March 20, 2010 |last=Raggett |first=Ned}}</ref><ref name="rolling">{{cite book |chapter=Minor Threat |last=Kemp |first=Mark |author-link=Mark Kemp |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |title-link=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |editor1-last=Brackett |editor1-first=Nathan |editor1-link=Nathan Brackett |editor2-last=Hoard |editor2-first=Christian |editor2-link=Christian Hoard |publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]] |edition=4th |year=2004 |isbn=0-7432-0169-8 |page=[https://archive.org/details/newrollingstonea00brac/page/544 544]}}</ref> This article calls it an EP for consistency with the record label.}} by American [[hardcore punk]] band [[Minor Threat]]. It was released on [[Gramophone record|vinyl]] in April 1983 through [[Dischord Records]]. Although ''Out of Step'' has only been released on CD in limited quantities, it has been repressed on vinyl as recently as 2010.<ref>{{cite web|title=Minor Threat - Out Of Step at Discogs|url=https://www.discogs.com/Minor-Threat-Out-Of-Step/master/9654|publisher=discogs|access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref> All tracks from the album are available on Minor Threat's 1989 compilation album ''[[Complete Discography]]''.

It is considered a critical release in [[punk rock]], particularly the hardcore subgenre. Many critics and magazines have cited it as one of the best progressions in the history of rock music, which specifically helped shape the path of many genres of underground musical currents [[alternative rock|alternative music]]). Its influence is notorious in future bands that would boost the [[youth crew]] movement, also in other genres such as [[grunge]], [[post-hardcore]], 1990's [[skate punk]] and [[thrash metal]], as well in the development of the [[New York hardcore]] music scene and aesthetics style.

This album’s increased complexity in songs, with more elaborate riffs and arrangements, is its main distinguishing factor compared to the band’s previous recordings.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} The bass octaves retain the dynamics of the guitar line. Brian Baker became second guitarist for the album, and Steven Hansgen joined the bass.

The lyrics of most songs focus on themes like self-reflection, youth frustration, personal problems, and difficulties with friendships. This is in contrast to Minor Threat's first recordings, which had a politically critical message and did not revolve around drug use.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

==Background, recording and reissues==
{{Expand section|date=June 2020}}
After a temporary break-up in 1982, Minor Threat entered [[Inner Ear Studios]] in January 1983 to record ''Out of Step''. The album was produced and engineered by [[Don Zientara]]. The lyrics on ''Out of Step'' deal mainly with friendships and problems associated with them, unlike their previous recordings which were an outlet for MacKaye's message.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} The album artwork was drawn by [[Cynthia Connolly]].

In May–June 1983, [[Southern Studios]] founder [[John Loder (sound engineer)|John Loder]] traveled from England to New York where Minor Threat would play a show, and there he offered the band to release ''Out of Step'' in the UK. The band knew that he was working with [[Crass]] which led them to accept the offer, starting a long-standing relationship between Dischord Records and Southern Studios.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=June 20, 2020|website=LouderSound|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/ian-mackaye-on-minor-threat-fugazi-and-the-power-of-punk-rock|title=Ian MacKaye on Minor Threat, Fugazi and the power of Punk Rock|first=Paul |last=Brannigan|publication-date=April 16, 2014 |date=2011|location=Washington, D.C.|url-status=live|archive-date=January 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109204814/https://www.loudersound.com/features/ian-mackaye-on-minor-threat-fugazi-and-the-power-of-punk-rock}}</ref>

The first vinyl pressing of the album (with plain black cover) appears on the ''Complete Discography'' compilation. After the second pressing, the band remixed the album and this version remained in print on vinyl until the 2000s. The latter is distinguishable by a colored stripe with suggested retail price across the front, and "Dischord 10 UK" and "Utopia" in the dead wax. The biggest differences between the original mix and the remixed version are in the songs "Out of Step" and the initially untitled "Cashing In".

In the mid-2000s, the album was remastered on vinyl by Chicago Mastering Service, with no stripe.

==Reception==

===Critical reception===
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="allmusic"/>
| rev2 = ''[[The Rolling Stone Album Guide]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="rolling"/>
| rev3 = ''[[Spin Alternative Record Guide]]''
| rev3score = 9/10<ref>{{cite book |chapter=Minor Threat/Fugazi |last=Sutton |first=Terri |title=Spin Alternative Record Guide |title-link=Spin Alternative Record Guide |editor1-last=Weisbard |editor1-first=Eric |editor1-link=Eric Weisbard |editor2-last=Marks |editor2-first=Craig |publisher=[[Vintage Books]] |year=1995 |isbn=0-679-75574-8 |pages=251–252}}</ref>
}}

''Out of Step'' was met with positive reviews and ratings. Ned Raggett of [[AllMusic]] awards it four-and-a-half out of five stars and states: "Building on the promise and fire of the band's earlier singles, ''Out of Step'' instantly became iconic for American hardcore, not to mention for the D.C. scene, for years to come, as well as any number of bands who conflated personal and social politics."<ref name="allmusic"/>

===Legacy===
''Out of Step'' has received a number of accolades and is cited as a landmark of the [[hardcore punk]] genre. It is mentioned in the book ''[[1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die]]''.

{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Publication
! Accolade
! Rank
|-
| ''[[Pitchfork Media]]''
| Top 100 Albums of the 1980s
| 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/features/staff-lists/5882-top-100-albums-of-the-1980s/1/|title=Top 100 albums of the 1980s|access-date=November 5, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]''
| Ten Reasons Why We Wish SPIN Had Started in 1984
| 9{{CN|date=December 2023}}
|-
| ''[[Loudwire]]''
| Top 80 Hard Rock & Metal Albums Of The 1980s
| 19<ref name="Loudwire">{{cite web |title=Top 80 Hard Rock + Metal Albums of the 1980s |url=http://loudwire.com/top-hard-rock-metal-albums-1980s/ |website=Loudwire |access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref>
|-
| ''[[Fact (UK magazine)|FACT]]''
| The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s
| 7<ref name="Fact">{{cite web |title=The 100 Best Albums of the 1980s |url=http://www.factmag.com/2013/06/24/the-100-best-albums-of-the-1980s-100-81/95/ |website=Fact Magazine |date=24 June 2013 |access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref>

|-
| ''[[NME]]''
| The 15 Best Hardcore Albums of All Time
| unranked list<ref name="NME">{{cite web |title=Get in the pit: the best hardcore albums of all time |url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/best-hardcore-albums-ever-2287103 |website=NME |date=12 April 2018 |access-date=2 March 2022}}</ref>
|-

|-
|}

==Track listing==
All songs written by [[Minor Threat]].
{{Track listing
| total_length    = 21:36
| title1          = Betray
| length1         = 3:04

| title2          = It Follows 
| length2         = 1:50

| title3          = Think Again
| length3         = 2:18

| title4          = Look Back and Laugh
| length4         = 3:16

| title5          = Sob Story
| length5         = 1:50

| title6          = No Reason
| length6         = 1:57

| title7          = Little Friend
| length7         = 2:18

| title8          = Out of Step
| length8         = 1:20

| title9          = Cashing In 
| note9           = uncredited track on original vinyl version
| length9         = 3:43
}}

==Personnel==
* [[Ian MacKaye]] – vocals
* [[Lyle Preslar]] – lead guitar
* [[Brian Baker (musician)|Brian Baker]] – rhythm guitar
* [[Steve Hansgen]] – bass
* [[Jeff Nelson (musician)|Jeff Nelson]] – drums

'''Production'''
* [[Don Zientara]]; Minor Threat – producers
* [[Skip Groff]] – [[Audio mixing (recorded music)|mixing]]
* Don Zientara − [[Audio engineering|engineer]]
* [[Cynthia Connolly]] − cover art
* Jeff Nelson – graphic design

==References==
===Notes===
{{notelist}}
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

==External links==
<!-- This is a licensed stream for the album, which is allowed under Wikipedia polices -->
*[https://archive.today/20130416144406/http://www.radio3net.ro/dbartists/supersearch/TWlub3IgVGhyZWF0/Minor%20Threat ''Out of Step''] ([[Adobe Flash]]) at [[Radio3Net]] (streamed copy where licensed)

{{Minor Threat}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Out Of Step (Album)}}
[[Category:Minor Threat albums]]
[[Category:1983 EPs]]
[[Category:Dischord Records albums]]