Two Steps From The Middle Ages

Less than a year after the ambitious double-LP Lolita Nation, Game Theory released the less ambitious single-LP Two Steps From The Middle Ages.

Since it follows in the steps of a masterpiece, this album has been derided over the years (notably in the Trouser Press Guide), but I think it's a fine album in isolation. Some of it sounds like Game Theory trying to break the "mainstream" (late-80s alt-rock version), toning down their quirk for more accessible tunes, but Scott's melodies were neither strained nor hookless, Mitch Easter's production was not "uneventful", and Gil Ray's drumming was the opposite of a "clunky distraction". And Two Steps itself is the furthest thing from "familiar monotony".

In short, TPRG's capsule review of Two Steps is one big bucket of suck, and this AMG review does a great job turning back the tide of critical consensus.

This Two Steps youtube embed is a performance of "Wish I Could Stand Or Have" from a show at SF's Fillmore where Game Theory opened for Robyn Hitchcock & the Egyptians (who I opined about in a previous month).



Thursday 9/8/1988. I was there (front and left, just in front of Shelley L.) and still have the concert poster on my back wall. This was right before the album came out and Game Theory embarked on their famous 1988 tour. More on that later.