Sometime in 2002, the original founding members of Descendents, bassist Tony Lombardo, guitarist Frank Navetta and drummer Bill Stevenson, came together in Colorado to re-record some of the band’s earliest tracks. The tracks were then consigned to the vault until lockdown of 2020 when Stevenson sent the tracks to vocalist Milo Aukerman to add vocals to the tracks. Navetta has been dead since 2008 and Lombardo is now at least 76(!!) and the result is this album: eighteen songs in 26 minutes that remind me of the hardcore of old.
This is quite the collection of tracks, many of which harken back to the Descendents of the SST years. “Sailor’s Choice” and “Lullaby” are really full-on rips and “Baby Dontcha Know” just tears. There’s not much you can say if you’re a fan of classic hardcore that rips through in under two minutes. If you already like the Descendents, then you’ll love it.
“Grudge” (featuring vocals by Navetta), “Like The Way I Know,” “Yore Disgusting,” and “It’s My Hair” are all great tracks that show that Milo still has the power that made him so dynamic back in the day. The rest of the band really shines and in some ways one has to think this isn’t early ‘80s hardcore.
The album closes with a re-recording of the band’s first single “Ride The Wild,” which is fun, but I’ve heard the song so much it’s hard to hear with Milo on vocals. The album’s closer is a cover of the Dave Clark Five’s “Glad All Over,” which I wasn’t expecting to hear, but it’s good. All in all, this is a great tribute to the underrated shredding of Frank Navetta and a wonderful testament to Tony Lombardo’s epic bass.
Did the Descendents strive for ALL on this disc? Not necessarily, but it’s a worthwhile ride regardless.