The punk landscape changed forever with the 1982 release of Descendents’ debut, ‘Milo Goes to College’. This foundational record successfully merged the raw speed of hardcore with the melodic sensibilities that would later define pop-punk. Over four decades later, its cultural footprint remains massive, having earned high honors on essential lists from Rolling Stone, Spin, and Pitchfork. Now, the band has officially reclaimed their early catalog, partnering with Org Music to launch an extensive reissue campaign that prioritizes preservation over mere nostalgia.
The campaign kicked off this past autumn with the restored reissue of ‘Milo Goes to College’, available on LP, CD, and cassette. A highlight of the release is the limited Punk Note edition, featuring alternate packaging by John Yates. Inspired by the legendary Blue Note jazz aesthetics of Reid Miles and Francis Wolff, this edition includes new liner notes by BrooklynVegan senior editor Andrew Sacher. Following this successful launch, the band recently released the 40th-anniversary edition of their sophomore effort, ‘I Don’t Want to Grow Up’, this past November, continuing the series in semi-chronological order.
Looking ahead to 2026, the band’s mission to provide access to their early New Alliance and SST-era recordings remains in full swing. Future installments in the series will include definitive reissues of ‘Enjoy!’, ‘ALL’, and the essential ‘Bonus Fat’ compilation—each overseen directly by the band members to ensure total creative control. To celebrate this new chapter, Descendents will embark on a co-headlining North American tour with Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls starting in February 2026, bringing these newly restored classics to stages across 18 cities.
‘Milo Goes to College’ Variants:
- Widely Available: Black LP, Grey Matter LP, Punk Note Edition (Black), CD, Cassette
- Org Music Exclusive: Punk Note Edition (Silver Vinyl)
- Descendents Exclusive: Suspended Gold LP
- Zia Records Exclusive: Pink LP
- Rough Trade Exclusive: Smoke LP
- Tapehead City Exclusive: Coffee Cassette