Milo Goes to College by the Descendents is widely celebrated as a punk essential, landing on critics best-of punk rock lists from industry luminaries like Spin and Rolling Stone. Critics praise its punchy, fast-paced tracks that capture teenage angst with humor and honesty– it was effectively the blueprint for modern pop punk as we know it. When you have dudes like Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters and Fat Mike from NOFX citing it as a major influence on their own work (Grohl called it “fucking amazing” and Mike has consistently referred to it as his favorite album) you know you’re onto something special.
The album is unapologetically raw with songs that blast through two-minute run times with irreverent honesty. Frontman Milo Aukerman’s nerdy, outsider persona made the band relatable to legions of disaffected kids, while the music’s high-speed adrenaline and pop sensibility made it perfect for the skate culture it eventually came to dominate.
Standout Songs: “Myage”, “Suburban Home”, “Tonyage”, “Hope”
