What makes Illiteracy Will Prevail by Fecal Matter notable?

The album has gained recognition for its role in the early development of grunge music, influencing later acts such as Nirvana. Despite limited commercial success at the time, it has since been appreciated for its raw sound and experimental approach within the underground music community. Illiteracy Will Prevail is the debut album from Fecal Matter, released in 1986 when the band was still finding its identity. At this point, they were on the fringes of the emerging grunge scene in the Pacific Northwest, which would later gain international prominence. The album's release preceded the band's eventual dissolution, reflecting a formative moment in their short-lived career.

How many songs are on Illiteracy Will Prevail?

Illiteracy Will Prevail has 17 tracks, running approximately 58 minutes.

Released 40 years ago

Illiteracy Will Prevail

Fecal Matter · 1986

58 min · 17 tracks · grunge

A raw and chaotic blend of punk energy and nascent grunge, echoing with dissonant guitars and abrasive vocals.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Spank Thru — This track exemplifies Fecal Matter's gritty sound and features an infectious melody that foreshadows the direction of early grunge music.
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Class Of '86 — With its poignant lyrics and dynamic shifts, this song captures the angst and disillusionment characteristic of the 1980s youth culture.
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Bambi Slaughter — The chaotic energy and provocative themes present in this track reflect the band's raw aesthetic and challenge conventional songwriting norms.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

49 /100

Lowland

Higher than 2% of albums we've rated

The album's raw sound and chaotic structure reflect its early grunge roots while influencing future acts.

What we noticed

The album features multiple tracks labeled 'Untitled', with five of the seventeen tracks lacking distinct titles, creating a sense of disorientation.
Many songs are characterized by abrupt tempo changes and chaotic structures, often shifting from aggressive riffs to quieter, more introspective moments.
The production is raw, with distorted guitars and abrasive vocals dominating the mix, contributing to an overall feeling of urgency and unrest.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 5/10
Durability 25% of the score: 4/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 3/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

1 Sound Of Dentage 3:42
2 Untitled 1:19
3 Bambi Slaughter 3:25
4 Laminated Effect 2:11
5 Untitled 2:40
6 Untitled 4:01
7 Untitled 1:57
8 Untitled 9:16
9 Untitled 4:35
10 Spank Thru 3:52
11 Untitled 1:31
12 Class Of '86 4:20
13 Blather's Log 2:29
14 Downer 3:04
15 Instramental 1:41
16 Turnaround 2:07
17 Untitled 6:13

What to play next

Go back to

Spank Thru

1985

Full Fecal Matter discography Artists like Fecal Matter

grunge

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata