There is a specific kind of frustration that comes with discovering a band through the rearview mirror. It’s the realization that a group possessed every necessary component for longevity but somehow slipped through the cracks of the mainstream. The Question remains one of those essential anomalies. In the early 1980s, they were the architects of a specific Los Angeles energy, a trio that funneled the sharp-suited discipline of the mod revival through a filter of West Coast grit. They were more than a local fixture. They were a standard and would influence future stars like No Doubt.
Upon its original release, Getting Through was a masterclass in 8-track efficiency. It highlighted Tony’s melodic instincts and paired it with a rhythmic drive that felt closer to the sharp edges of The Jam than the breezy pop of their California peers. It was music for sweaty rooms that were defined by Phil’s Rickenbacker chime and David’s forceful percussion.
This new reissue via Oglio Records strips away the dust of the last four decades with the remastering process widening the soundstage by allowing the interplay between the bass and drums to breathe without losing the grit of the 1985 sessions. The guitar work is crisp and sharp on the title track, while the band’s cover of “Daddy Rolling Stone” feels revitalized by showcasing a soul-influence that remains timeless. The inclusion of tracks like “Move Around in the Dark” further provides a glimpse into the darker and more atmospheric side of the band that often got lost in their reputation for explosive live shows.
The EP doesn’t leave a sense of nostalgia, but a realization that these songs were built with structural integrity to survive forty years and they still feel like a necessary disruption. In an era where power pop and post-punk have converged once again, Getting Through sounds less like a museum piece and more like a contemporary discovery. It is a necessary restoration of a band that was always just one lucky break away from massive success.
