ARTIST: The Descendents
TITLE: Milo Goes to College
YEAR RELEASED: 1982
CHART ACTION: None
SINGLES: None
OTHER SONGS YOU MAY KNOW: Myage, I’m Not a Loser, I’m Not a Punk, Subrban Home
LINEUP: Milo Auckerman, Bill Stevenson, Tony Lombardo, Frank Navetta
WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT: A document of the innovative pop punk band before Milo actually went to college..
SOME WORDS, PHRASES AND CLAUSES ABOUT THIS RECORD: The sound of disaffected youth, in punk rock? Yeah. Aside from a couple of unfortunate slurs (which is in character, I believe), the disaffection here is genuine, raw, and melodic.
In punk fashion, the songs don’t linger. There’s no extraneous solos or instrumental falderal. There are good riffs, and inventive bass playing from oldster Tony Lombardo. The songs are about hating the rich, going to Catalina, and other issues with youth. Milo Auckerman’s vocals are raspy and committed.
The concerns are the same that today’s youth have, but rooted in the 80’s sound. There are a couple of lyrics that wouldn’t pass muster now, but they’re in character and doesn’t take that much away from the message.
NOTES & MINUTIAE: Milo did go to college – and the cover is a caricature of Milo.
IS THERE A DELUXE VERSION: No.
GRADE A: Classic poppy punk.