MOG Editorial Review

“Line in the Sand” opens Q and Not U’s debut album, and it’s a fitting introduction to the many facets of their sound. Between the lyrics (cryptic and emotionally charged), powerful drumming, guitar dynamics, constant tempo changes and song-ending handclaps, it’s clear that they’re not quite like anything else Dischord Records had taken on. “And the Washington Monument (Blinks) Goodnight” is stuffed with guitars that sound like incessant beeping while borderline spoken word singing makes this, along with “Fever Sleeves,” one of the most melodic of their tracks. Throughout No Kill No Beep Beep, John Davis's pounding drums hold the rhythm changes and stop-start feeling together. In fact, at times they nearly overpower all the pedal effects and straightforward singing. Fugazi comparisons aside, Q and Not U might not fit in with the D.C. scene, but here it’s a good thing as they smartly bring ferocity and some of the catchier songs to come out of the region in a while.