''Complete History Volume Two'' is a

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...

by the

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...

band

Government Issue Government Issue was an American hardcore punk band from Washington, D.C. active from 1980 to 1989. The band experienced many changes in membership during its nine-year existence, with singer John Stabb as the only consistent member in an eve ...

, compiling the band's recordings from 1987 to 1989. It was released January 22, 2002 through Dr. Strange Records as a sequel to 2000's '' Complete History Volume One''. Together, the two ''Complete History'' albums collect nearly all of the band's recorded output. While ''Volume One'' included contributions from a number of musicians—as singer John Stabb and drummer Marc Alberstad were the band's only constant members from 1980 to 1986—''Volume Two'' is entirely composed of recordings by the band's final lineup of Stabb, guitarist Tom Lyle, bass guitarist

J. Robbins James Robbins, better known as J. Robbins, is an American rock musician. Career Robbins began his career as a bassist for Government Issue, and has also led five of his own bands: Jawbox, Rollkicker Laydown, Burning Airlines, Channels (band) ...

, and drummer Peter Moffett.

Reception

Jack Rabid of

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

gave ''Complete History Volume Two'' three stars out of five, calling it "a rare case where a Volume Two is the far superior" and attributing the addition of Robbins and Moffett with completing Government Issue's evolution from "an inferior hardcore-thrash band" to something more original. He cited ''You'' as the turning point, calling it "a quantum leap in hefty, precise, pure power" and stating that " obbins and Moffett'sadded harmonies (especially), superb playing, chops, and dexterity fit perfect with Stabb and guitarist Tom Lyle's clear plan to cut all ties with lame hardcore cretins — while maintaining the big-guitar edge and bomb-running melodies of their punk roots." He noted elements of

psychedelic rock Psychedelic rock is a rock music Music genre, genre that is inspired, influenced, or representative of psychedelia, psychedelic culture, which is centered on perception-altering hallucinogenic drugs. The music incorporated new electronic sound ...

in the music and hints of The Damned in Stabb's singing, and remarked that the addition of ''Crash'' and the second disc of live recordings "makes 'Volume Two''an even more rock-solid pick-up."

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Government Issue. ;Disc one ;Disc two

Personnel

Band

* John Stabb – lead

vocals Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define sing ...

* Tom Lyle –

guitar The guitar is a stringed musical instrument that is usually fretted (with Fretless guitar, some exceptions) and typically has six or Twelve-string guitar, twelve strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming ...

, producer (tracks 1–11 and 13–22 on disc 1) *

–

bass guitar The bass guitar (), also known as the electric bass guitar, electric bass, or simply the bass, is the lowest-pitched member of the guitar family. It is similar in appearance and construction to an Electric guitar, electric but with a longer nec ...

, lead vocals on "Crash" * Peter Moffett –

drums The drum is a member of the percussion instrument, percussion group of musical instruments. In the Hornbostel–Sachs classification system, it is a membranophones, membranophone. Drums consist of at least one Acoustic membrane, membrane, c ...

mix engineer A mixing engineer (or simply mix engineer) is responsible for combining ("mixing") different sonic elements of an auditory piece into a complete rendition (also known as "final mix" or "mixdown"), whether in music, film, or any other content of a ...

(tracks 13–22 on disc 1)

Production

* Jim Fox –

recording engineer An audio engineer (also known as a sound engineer or recording engineer) helps to produce a recording or a live performance, balancing and adjusting sound sources using equalization, dynamics processing and audio effects, mixing, reproducti ...

(tracks 1–11 and 13–22 on disc 1) * Chris Biondo – additional recording (tracks 1–11 on disc 1) * Eric L. – mix engineer (tracks 13–22 on disc 1) * Rob Bowers – recording engineer (tracks 1–13 on disc 2), mix engineer (tracks 28 and 29 on disc 2) * Jerry Williams – mix engineer (tracks 14–27 on disc 2) * Doug Johnston – recording engineer for this compilation * Jeff Caudill – art direction and design

References

{{Reflist 2002 compilation albums Government Issue albums Dr. Strange Records albums