Review Summary: Well, it would seem as though Milo DIDN'T go to college after all. Hmmmm...
It may or may not seem off topic, but as soon as this record starts to play, it automatically sounds very Descendents-y. This brings forth a number of considerations, not the least of which that this record is one of the best ones that sold that mimicked the famous Descendents album "Milo Goes to College". Dorkrockcorkrod exemplifies one of the best portrayals of punk music outside of the Descendents/Ramones, and other such famous punk bands that have become a cornerstone in the creation of many punk albums to come.
To start, The Ergs! Have undoubtedly reinvented this Descendents style with their own tweaks and fluctuations. When the album begins with "First Song, Side One", you can automatically see the resemblance between both groups. The flow from the album is rather consistent considering the immediate transition into "A Very Pretty Song For a Very Special Young Lady".
When it comes to Dorkrockcorkrod, the instrumental execution for this album is extremely potent in the amount of breakdowns often expressed through various drum solos, and occasional bass solos. "Extra Medium" is one of the best songs on the album. Because of the way the music is processed in this cauldron of designs, the backdrops are near perfect in structure. But the big compensation for this song, much like the rest of this album lies in lead vocalist Mikey Erg, who also attains the Milo Aukerman voice. His lyrics revolving around the love-y, '60s prom deal for Dorkrockcorkrod really do well in "Extra Medium", among many other tracks.
Throughout most of the album, punk guitar influences are relatively disperse in all actuality. Coupled with the heavier bass on some songs like "Pray For Rain" or even "August 19th", the main rhythm section still retains a relatively softer sound from most of their inspirations including Elvis Costello, and of course the famous Descendents. So once this basic formula is applied to simple lyrics, you come out with one of the best modifications to the pop-punk scene I’ve ever witnessed.