Somery (CD - 1991)

Producers: Bill Stevenson, Spot, Bill Stevenson, David Tarling.

Engineers: Richard Andrews, Spot, David Tarling.

Recorded at Music Lab, Hollywood, California, Total Access, Redondo Beach, California, and Radio Tokyo, Venice, California between March 1981 and January 1987.

Descendents: Doug Carrion, Karl Alvarez, Tony Lombardo (bass guitar); Frank Navetta, Milo Aukerman, Stephen Egerton, Ray Cooper , Bill Stevenson.

Personnel: Milo Aukerman (vocals); Frank Navetta, Stephen Egerton, Ray Cooper (guitar); Bill Stevenson (drums).

SOMERY is a retrospective compilation of tracks from each of the Descendents' studio records. It serves as a stopgap between the end of the band and the birth of its next permutation as ALL. The songs collected rarely hit the three-minute mark, and they amply demonstrate the rapid-fire punk that would eventually mutate into the pop-punk of such bands as Green Day and the Offspring. In fact, Green Day's DOOKIE is (perhaps overly) reminiscent of such Descendents songs as "Suburban Home" and "Sour Grapes."

This collection includes all of the Descendents' classics. Among the highlights are the one-second "All" and the similarly short "Weinerschnitzel" (a funny-punk masterpiece). Also essential are the oddly concern-filled anti-addiction warning "Bikeage," the sing-along chorus of "I Like Food" ("I like food / Food tastes good"--repeat as necessary), the perfectly snotty "I Don't Wanna Grow Up," and the almost sweet "Cheer" and "Get the Time." SOMERY is the perfect record for trips back to your hometown. It will put you in exactly the right frame of mind for a weekend with mom, dad, and all your brothers and sisters. minimize