''Two Steps from the Middle Ages'' (1988) is the fifth studio album by power pop band Game Theory.

History

Miller intended the album to be "a more straightforward, singles-based record" than its predecessor, ''

Lolita Nation ''Lolita Nation'' is the fourth full-length album by Game Theory, a California power pop band fronted by guitarist and singer-songwriter Scott Miller. Originally released in 1987 as a double LP, the album was reissued by Omnivore Recordings in Fe ...

'': In a review of the 2017 reissue, ''

PopMatters ''PopMatters'' is an international online magazine of cultural criticism that covers aspects of popular culture. ''PopMatters'' publishes reviews, interviews, and essays on cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, fi ...

'' wrote that the album "point dforward towards what would, by 1993, become fashionable under the 'alternative' label. One can hear echoes of Game Theory's trailblazing in many of the bands that enjoyed success in the early '90s, including

Belly Belly may refer to: Anatomy * The abdomen, the part of the body between the pelvis and the thorax; or the stomach ** A beer belly, an overhang of fat above the waist, presumed to be caused by regular beer drinking ** Belly dance * The fleshy, cen ...

and, especially,

Smashing Pumpkins Smash may refer to: People * Smash (wrestler) (born 1959), professional wrestler * Moondog Rex, another professional wrestler who briefly wrestled as the original Smash, before being replaced by the above. * DJ Smash, DJ and music producer Ar ...

." After the group was disbanded in 1990, leader Scott Miller went on to form

The Loud Family The Loud Family was a San Francisco-based power pop band formed in 1991 by songwriter and guitarist Scott Miller (pop musician), Scott Miller, who previously led the 1980s band Game Theory (band), Game Theory. The Loud Family released six studi ...

. Game Theory would not release another album until ''

Supercalifragile ''Supercalifragile'' is the sixth and final studio album by Game Theory, a California power pop band founded in 1982 by guitarist and singer-songwriter Scott Miller. At the time of his death in 2013, Miller had started work on the recording, whic ...

'' came out in 2017, four years after Miller's death.

Songs

The title of the song "Room For One More, Honey," is a reference to an episode of the American television program ''

The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, sup ...

'' titled '' Twenty Two''. The album's title has at least a double meaning (referring to both dance steps from the historical period known as the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire ...

as well as to a person who is "two steps" from middle age) and comes from an alternating rhyme in the fifth track:

Unfolding their defense in stages
Harshest critics can't refuse
Two steps from the middle ages
Rose details and ruby shoes

In 2012, the song "Rolling with the Moody Girls" was covered by Home Blitz on their EP ''Frozen Track''.

Track listing

All songs written by Scott Miller. #"Room For One More, Honey" – 3:03 #"What the Whole World Wants" – 4:29 #"The Picture of Agreeability" – 0:57 #"Amelia, Have You Lost" – 3:23 #"Rolling with the Moody Girls" – 3:09 #"Wyoming" – 3:24 #"In a Delorean" – 3:11 #"You Drive" – 4:09 #"Leilani" – 3:02 #"Wish I Could Stand or Have" – 1:59 #"Don't Entertain Me Twice" – 3:59 #"Throwing the Election" - 4:16 #"Initiations Week" - 2:29

Personnel

* Guillaume Gassuan - bass and backing vocals *

Gil Ray George Gilbert "Gil" Ray (September 17, 1956 – January 24, 2017) was an American rock drummer, guitarist, and vocalist, best known for his recordings in the 1980s and 1990s as a member of the bands Game Theory and The Loud Family. In late 2 ...

- drums, backing vocals and guitar *

Donnette Thayer Donnette Thayer is a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter most active in the 1980s and early 1990s indie rock scenes of Northern California. Thayer was a member of the band Game Theory, and later formed Hex with Steve Kilbey of The Church. Sh ...

- guitar and vocals * Shelley LaFreniere - Synthesizers and backing vocals * Scott Miller - vocals and guitar

References

External links

* * * {{Authority control 1988 albums Game Theory (band) albums Albums produced by Mitch Easter Enigma Records albums