Two Things at Once
Encyclopedia
Two Things at Once is a compilation album
by the Los Angeles
-based punk rock
band the Descendents
, released in 1988 through SST Records
. It combines the band's 1982 debut album Milo Goes to College
with the 1985 release Bonus Fat
, itself a compilation 1981's Fat EP, 1979's "Ride the Wild" / "It's a Hectic World" single, and the track "Global Probing" from a 1981 compilation titled Chunks. Two Things at Once followed the Descendents' 1987 farewell tour, after which singer Milo Aukerman
had left and the band changed its name to All
.
purchased the Descendents' former label New Alliance Records
, re-releasing all of their previous albums and releasing the new album All. The Descendents performed a final tour later that year, marking singer Milo Aukerman
's departure from the band to pursue a career in biochemistry
. The band then recruited singer Dave Smalley
and changed their name to All
, continuing to record for SST. Two Things at Once was released in 1988, combining all of the Descendents' recorded output from 1979 to 1982 in a single release.
, which features the previously mentioned songs), other less-known hits such as 'Marriage,' 'I'm Not a Punk,' and 'Catalina' are exclusive to this release." Jenny Eliscu of Rolling Stone
called the album "an essential introduction to the group."
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
by the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
-based punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band the Descendents
Descendents
The Descendents are an American punk rock band from Hermosa Beach, California. As of 2011, they have released six studio albums, three live albums, three compilation albums and three EPs. The Descendents broke up and reformed several times over the years, sometimes with different musicians...
, released in 1988 through SST Records
SST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
. It combines the band's 1982 debut album Milo Goes to College
Milo Goes to College
Milo Goes to College is the debut album by the Manhattan Beach, California-based punk rock band the Descendents, released in 1982 through New Alliance Records...
with the 1985 release Bonus Fat
Bonus Fat
Bonus Fat is a compilation album by the Manhattan Beach, California-based punk rock band the Descendents, released in 1985 through New Alliance Records...
, itself a compilation 1981's Fat EP, 1979's "Ride the Wild" / "It's a Hectic World" single, and the track "Global Probing" from a 1981 compilation titled Chunks. Two Things at Once followed the Descendents' 1987 farewell tour, after which singer Milo Aukerman
Milo Aukerman
Milo Aukerman is an American singer, songwriter and research biochemist. Aukerman is perhaps most widely known for being the lead singer of the early Los Angeles area punk rock band the Descendents, a group widely considered to be pioneers of modern "pop punk"...
had left and the band changed its name to All
ALL (band)
All is an American punk band originally from Los Angeles, currently residing in Fort Collins, Colorado, formed by Descendents members Bill Stevenson, Karl Alvarez, and Stephen Egerton.-Formation and Cruz Records Years:...
.
Background
In 1987 SST RecordsSST Records
SST Records is an American independent record label formed in 1978 in Long Beach, California by musician Greg Ginn. The company was initially called Solid State Transmitters through which Ginn sold electronics equipment...
purchased the Descendents' former label New Alliance Records
New Alliance Records
New Alliance Records was the record label founded by The Minutemen's D. Boon and Mike Watt and longtime friend and associate Martin Tamburovich after the example of Black Flag's SST Records...
, re-releasing all of their previous albums and releasing the new album All. The Descendents performed a final tour later that year, marking singer Milo Aukerman
Milo Aukerman
Milo Aukerman is an American singer, songwriter and research biochemist. Aukerman is perhaps most widely known for being the lead singer of the early Los Angeles area punk rock band the Descendents, a group widely considered to be pioneers of modern "pop punk"...
's departure from the band to pursue a career in biochemistry
Biochemistry
Biochemistry, sometimes called biological chemistry, is the study of chemical processes in living organisms, including, but not limited to, living matter. Biochemistry governs all living organisms and living processes...
. The band then recruited singer Dave Smalley
Dave Smalley
Not to be confused with Dave Smalley Dave Smalley is an American musician, best known as the punk bands DYS, Dag Nasty, All and singer/guitarist with Down By Law. He is known for his influence on pop punk music and his early contributions to the emo genre...
and changed their name to All
ALL (band)
All is an American punk band originally from Los Angeles, currently residing in Fort Collins, Colorado, formed by Descendents members Bill Stevenson, Karl Alvarez, and Stephen Egerton.-Formation and Cruz Records Years:...
, continuing to record for SST. Two Things at Once was released in 1988, combining all of the Descendents' recorded output from 1979 to 1982 in a single release.
Reception
Mike DaRonco of Allmusic gave Two Things at Once four stars out of five, saying that "All that mischievous teenage skaters could appreciate is here, classics like 'Myage,' 'I'm Not a Loser,' 'Bikeage,' and 'Hope.' But for all those who already own their "best of" (SomerySomery
Somery is a compilation album by the Los Angeles-based punk rock band the Descendents, released in 1991 through SST Records. It compiles songs from the Fat EP and the albums Milo Goes to College , I Don't Want to Grow Up , Enjoy! , and All .- Background :In 1987 SST Records had purchased the...
, which features the previously mentioned songs), other less-known hits such as 'Marriage,' 'I'm Not a Punk,' and 'Catalina' are exclusive to this release." Jenny Eliscu of Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
called the album "an essential introduction to the group."
Track listing
Band
- Milo AukermanMilo AukermanMilo Aukerman is an American singer, songwriter and research biochemist. Aukerman is perhaps most widely known for being the lead singer of the early Los Angeles area punk rock band the Descendents, a group widely considered to be pioneers of modern "pop punk"...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Tony LombardoTony LombardoTony Lombardo was the bassist with the pioneering punk rock band Descendents between 1978 and 1985. Lombardo was part of the original Descendents lineup with guitarist Frank Navetta and drummer Bill Stevenson.-Early years with Descendents:...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals on "It's a Hectic World" - Frank NavettaFrank NavettaFrank Navetta was a guitarist for the Southern California punk rock band Descendents. He was part of the band's original lineup and played with the band for six years. He formed the Descendents with Tony Lombardo and Bill Stevenson in 1979 and released the single "Ride the Wild"/"It's a Hectic...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals on "Ride the Wild" - Bill Stevenson – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Production
- SpotSpot (producer)SPOT, , was the house producer and engineer for the influential independent punk record label SST Records. He recorded, mixed, produced or co-produced for most of SST's pivotal acts between 1979 and 1985...
– producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and engineer of tracks 1–21 - David Nolte – producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and mix engineerMix engineerA mix engineer, also referred to as "mixing engineer", is a person who, once all instruments, voices, and sounds, etc., have been recorded, creates what is called the final version of a song, hence the term "mix engineer"...
of tracks 22 and 23 - Jeff Atkinson – Milo Goes to College cover art