For Against, a major post-punk band in their own right, emerged in 1984 from nearby Lincoln, Nebraska. Having recently lost their co-founder and keyboard player Jeffrey Runnings to the great beyond, they have nonetheless left an indelible stamp on the music scene. He was 61 years old. The band has a crystalline sound and stunning prose. Over nearly two decades, they produced a string of albums, cementing their legacy in emo and alternative rock history.
The original lineup of For Against featured Runnings, in addition to guitarist Harry Dingman III and drummer Gregory Hill. Their first album, Echelons, released in 1987 on their own Independent Project Records, embodied their progressive sound. After their first LP, For Against continued to create music that resonated profoundly with their audience. This dedication resulted in the publication of no fewer than five additional LPs, including “December,” “In the Marshes,” and “Aperture.”
Never Been, released in 2009, would turn out to be For Against’s last full-length album of new material, a career-crowning achievement. Over time, the band’s music changed but still kept the spirit of their post-punk beginnings. Their creative discography includes many scarce recordings from the late 1980s. In fact, collectors and enthusiasts have been scrambling to acquire these rare treasures.
In the early 2000s, Words on Music reissued For Against’s first three albums. It was this strategic combination that cemented their influence in new generations. In 2014, these three albums were reissued as a box set by Captured Tracks, cementing their legacy yet again. The band continued to celebrate their past with a limited edition vinyl box set of their 1990s albums released through Saint Marie in 2018.
For Against’s music is characterized by lush soundscapes paired with often darkly ironic, personal lyrics. This musical combination proves irresistible to fans of both post-punk and vibrant alternative rock. Beyond the accolades their work has received, their impact is most evident by the scores of artists they have directly inspired all throughout the genre. The band’s trajectory is a testament to their faithfulness to songwriting that connects in profound ways.