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| DescendentsCool To Be You2004 Fat Wreck Chords 
  Review by: Aubin See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on March 23rd 2004 A lot of people last year spoke of how it was a great year for music, and while I enjoyed Transatlanticism and Give Up as much as the next music geek, I did find myself wondering where all the actual punk was. Maybe it was a great year for indie rock and hardcore, but despite strong showings from The Lawrence Arms, Against Me! and others, it felt less like a punk rock year. 2004 is shaping up to be the year that the punk comes roaring back. In the next few months, we can expect records from Bad Religion, Social Distortion, and Green Day. But before that, the long awaited return of a personal favourite of mine: the Descendents. There are few bands that really get to me like the Descendents; while many of their peers considered loftier matters like politics and rebellion, few of them were as consistently fun as the Descendents. Sure, songs about love and bitterness, coffee and being a nerd aren't high brow enough to impress the folks at Punk Planet and Pitchfork but when you're a teenager, as much as you'd like to pretend that you're concerned with new economic paradigms, CIA-sponsored coups and the political unfairness of the estate tax, somehow songs about girls, food and doing dumb things with your friends seemed more immediate. Sure, we can speak at length about the kind of things that end up in bios, Bill Stevenson played in Black Flag, and All, for example. We can talk at length about how Milo is has a PhD in biochemistry now and is married with kids. But really, how much does that matter? This is a Descendents record, and necessarily eschews the need for lengthy exposition and clever concept reviews. Their first release since 1996s Everything Sucks on Epitaph, Cool To Be You has it's mature side, handling topics like the loss of an estranged relative (the heartfelt “One More Day”), and a lyrically fantastic track about American pride and shame (‘Merican). Despite that, they haven't lost the childish, self-depreciating streak that is almost impossible to find anything but endearing and sympathetic. “Mass Nerder” talks about being ostracized in high school, while “Dog and Pony Show” concerns itself with singles bars and “Blast Off!” represents an eloquent ode to flatulence. As always, the song writing seems perfectly democratic, with each member contributing excellent tracks. Musically, the band hasn't changed drastically since 1982's Milo Goes to College;1 they're still focused on somewhat unorthodox melodies, anchored by an incredibly tight rhythm section and some guitar pyrotechnics. The band is clearly tighter and more comfortable with strong melodies, but with the exception of the omission of sub-30 second goof offs like “Coffee Mug” and “Weiner schnitzel”, there is little that will alienate old fans. The production, by way of Stevenson (who has been producing one excellent sounding record after another at his Blasting Room studio) is the best yet, with every instrument clear and not one dominating. The common description of “pop-hardcore” is still undisputed.
Is this the best Descendents record yet? Perhaps not... Everything Sucks is definitely the most accessible, Milo Goes to College their most defining moment,
but the truth is the Descendents don't need to change the world of music with Cool to Be You. They already did in 1981.
What they have produced is an outstanding melodic record; a welcome maturity that likely coincides with the maturity of their audience,
and just solid, memorable songs.
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I hated this when it first came out but it grew on me. Merican and cool to be you are both great songs. And songs like dreams, blast off, and mass nerder kinda remind of the old stuff. Lyrics are stupid but who cares its pretty decent modern punk. This was actually the first album I'd heard from these guys, and I'm REALLY glad I took a chance on it. They're one of the bands that I wouldn't have discovered without Punknews... what a great album This album is great. I'd say lame is a fairly fair description, super over-rated, boooorrrrriiiinnnnngggg. i sold this album back to the record store for $2 after i bought it because it was so bad Cool to be You was horribly disappointing. I am not sure what album some of you are listening to but I don't think the word "Lame" is harsh enough to describe how limp this CD is. Horrible. Just Horrible. This album, like all the descendents/all material is awesome! they are my favourite band, however it still baffles me when people credit them with "inventing pop_punk" they did not invent pop punk. The Ramones, The Buzzcocks and i think probablt the Damned were all doing it before the Descendents, especially if you consider that their early efforts "bonus fat" and the majority of "college" ain't exactly the most melodic in their catalogue. It seems to me that they did not really emerge as a pop punk band until "grow up" which did not come out until 1985. Yes yes i know there are a few poppy songs on college, but the majority of that album is hard core, or straight up punk rock. Oh yeah, forgot to mention the Dickies too. Come on people, do your research! I agree with the review 100%. best songs, maddie, cool to be you, one more day, dog and pony show. Its no "Eveything Sucks" but its ok Despite what some elitist pricks might say, this album is fucking great. "Merican", "Mass Nerder" and "Maddie" are my personal stand-out tracks, but everyone I know who has the album picks different favourites. Here are some critiscisms made of the album and why they are stupid:- "FUCK the Exploited and FUCK Anti-Flag and FUCK The Casualties I finally got this yesterday. ""FUCK the Exploited and FUCK Anti-Flag and FUCK The Casualties On a somewhat related note: Just a warning, watch out when you place an order at DESCENDENTSonline.com!! I placed an order back in early February for a bunch of stuff including the Descendents "Hallraker" CD. Well after a week or so I got my stuff but I also got a note-card that said the Hallraker CD was on back-order and that they'd ship it to me whenever them get some back in stock. just heard it this morning on my way to work. i dig it. it takes off where everthing sucks left off. great energy. and it's kinda poppy with out sounding wimpy. good stuff. not their best of course but i still can't complain. you couldnt do like.. mailorder? "Living in the hills of Tennessee, I had to drive an 80-mile round trip to get this CD and it was well worth the drive." Get that rat's nest off your skull. since nobody did this yet, let me be the first: This is the first Descendents album I've ever bought and it blew me away. I don't know why I never decided to give these guys a listen until now, well maybe since they took seven years off. "FUCK the Exploited and FUCK Anti-Flag and FUCK The Casualties FUCK the Exploited and FUCK Anti-Flag and FUCK The Casualties I was nervous, but this turned out to be yet another great record for the Descendents! I skipped buying Subhumans- Live in a Dive just so I would have money to buy this. But luckily I got money for my birthday so I can go buy the Subhumans record woo! this album rules... i was a little shaky on it at first, but it grew on me like cancer... Mass Nerder is a fucking crucial song... with the whole ode to the germs at the end "WEEE MUST REEEEAAD" ... "somebody give me a book." ... its funny, hopeful, inspiring, pissed, romantic... everything the descendents were and will always be... definitely not my favorite descendents record, but even the worst descendents song will KILL most bands out there. "Living in the hills of Tennessee, I had to drive an 80-mile round trip to get this CD" Living in the hills of Tennessee, I had to drive an 80-mile round trip to get this CD and it was well worth the drive. This album sounds Descendents, i'm not really sure what everyone expected. Its a good album, but why in the hell did it take two years to get this thing out? It was recorded in feb. 2002.. Aint that damn good.. The Descendents have always been kind of a hit-or-miss band. On every ALL/Descendents release I expect to hear probably two absolute gems mixed in with a lot of filler. Most bands that have that good-to-bad ratio I tend to just write off, but the exhiliration and fun I get from hearing "I'm the One" or "Suburban Home" or "Sour Grapes" makes something like "Enjoy!" instantly forgiveable. Liveage is one of the best live albums ever because it made me feel like I had been to the show. I first heard this band in 1987 and almost 20 years later their best stuff holds up. I haven't heard this one yet, but I'll take a halfassed Descendents cd with one or two classic on it over a consistent one by your favorite scarf-wearing tough-but-sensitive floor-staring screamers any day of the week. Punks DEAD, the funeral is tomorrow.. mediocre album, after the ep i was looking forward to it but the album doesnt hold what the ep promised. perhaps some more songs will grow on me, but still, after everything sucks i expected something that tops it. We must read. P.S. "Sure, songs about love and bitterness, coffee and being a nerd aren't high brow enough to impress the folks at Punk Planet and Pitchfork but when you're a teenager, as much as you'd like to pretend that you're concerned with new economic paradigms, CIA-sponsored coups and the political unfairness of the estate tax, somehow songs about girls, food and doing dumb things with your friends seemed more immediate." I ran out to the mall today after work just to pick this up. and it is... well, not as good as i had hoped. true, the descendents stick very much to their formula, as the review says, but this just doesnt pack the same punch as everything sucks. i can certianly see this as a sign of a maturing group, (hell, they've had long enough), but if youre just getting into this band, go get milo goes to college. The song mass nerder is sooooo corny I love The Descendents and this record rules, but may I say I really liked reading this review. Stand-up job my man. Kudos Very good album. I'm sorry I thought you was corn. "Talk to me again next year when listening to indie isn't cool again and the Salvation Army gets all the shirts they sold donated back to them." I wish this was the score for The Passion of the Christ, because I would have enjoyed it a lot more then. Of course, it would have only been about 35 minutes long, but whatever. My Child was skullraped becuase the cops were assaulting you for jaywalking!! the vandals suck fuck. descendents are good. punk is dead though they wish they were as cool as us. ""Talk to me again next year when listening to indie isn't cool again and the Salvation Army gets all the shirts they sold donated back to them." Some staff reviewer should start writing Hemingway-style reviews. That way, no one would be accused of sounding pretentious or biased. It's descendents, good, quality typical dscendents. "Circle takes a Square - possibily top 10 material" "Talk to me again next year when listening to indie isn't cool again and the Salvation Army gets all the shirts they sold donated back to them." Great album from front to back. Maddie is one of the sickest songs I've ever heard. Bill Stevenson is a madman! i'll take internet dating superstuds over this cd anyday... I don't know what all the bitchers are bitching about. Sure, it's not their best record, but it's still a good record, and better than half the other stuff out there now... i stopped preordering cds from fat for that reason. they usually arent that bad with it, but i dont even want to wait 1 extra day for most of them. I meant to say "The Exploited" This album is fucking ace. The song "Merican" is almost as lyrically good as The Exploted's song "Fuck the USA". I wish I have heard this album. Fat is starting to piss me off. I have been nothing but an advocate of the label. However, I pre ordered this album Thursday morning and have yet to recieve it. I live an hour from SF. Jesus Christ it is not like I live in NY or Florida. Ten bonus points for the Happy Days reference. Don't talk about Nerfblablabla...this is about THE DESCENDENTS!!! TTTTTHHHHHEEE DESCENDENTS!!! "This is for the cd. Nerf Herder does this stuff better." Why does everybody always bash the reviewers on this website? Are they that bored & pathetic? Wait, I just answered my own question... The Descendents can do no wrong, I love ALL their songs. "why be proud of being "punk"? punk has been defined by the media and everything the supposed movement is against, yet you wave your stereotypical flag nonetheless. if you haven't grown out of 'being punk' by the age of 20, something is seriously wrong" greg617 or whatever, there has been some good releases, but i agree its been weaker than 03 so far. I love scott Local Felons is fucking gay It was a good review. i still feel iffy as if i will buy this, i probably will, but still. i dunno I'm not going to respond to too many comments, but I have to say something about how funny some of the nitpicks about the review are: green day is going to make punk come roaring back? Descendents does it again...perfect record Oh yes, Adam is such a mall rat... "when you're a teenager, as much as you'd like to pretend that you're concerned with new economic paradigms, CIA-sponsored coups and the political unfairness of the estate tax, somehow songs about girls, food and doing dumb things with your friends seemed more immediate." Am I the only one who couldn't take the reviewer seriously after the first two paragraphs? "I know at least three local bands who have anti-emo songs and their whole persona as a band is being unabashedly proud of being punk rather than self deprecating about it or going emo." The guy below me is pretty up there on my All Time Biggest Tools list. Just wanted to say the guy who called the fucking descendents posuers is obviously an idiot while hes at it why doesnt he call fucking Minor Threat or The god damn Ramones posuers what a dumb ass and he prob thinks he's all cool cause he thinks he knows what a posuer is. wow, awesome cd...my fave descendents cd by far The only 'pop-punk' worth listening to. Unless you like Australians swearing too much. i really don't like death cab or their side projects. last year was all about bands that released albums 5 years before. got tofind them sometime.... internet really helps this process wow it's a good thing Fat is here otherwise we wouldn't have had any punk rock last year because we all know they are the only label putting it out. My response to this album is like those said before. This album has done an unbelievable thing for me, in a tight package of nostalgia and fun it really rejuvenated me. I absolutely love this disc and am very greatful we got it. 'Sucks. anyone giving this a bad review/comment needs their ears fixed. This is ok. I dig this a lot. While I rarely listen to punkrock or hardcore nowadays, because I don't think it's that interesting anymore.. I do love this record. Good job from a good band. i just got this and have listened to it once. it wasnt as good as i expected but it was still rad. i agree with the review. and mass nerder fucking rocks I think the 'Milo Goes to College' comparisons are off. It's closer to Everything Sucks than anything else. the cd is good. i liked milo and everything sucks better, but im not complaining. although, i do have to say i am really impressed with all the alvarez songs (3-5, 8). and most of milo's. the stevenson songs, not as much. Ten bucks someone thinks this guy is actually calling people racists and launches into a verbal attack of poor grammar. Oh no! They sing about high school, just like Simple Plan! They're posers! Bill produced "Evildoers Beware!", a cd that copletely changed my perspective on music. Some people may argue that what I listen to is garbage, but I love it and it's only led to great times in my life. Bill's got my mark! 2004 is definitely going to be the year of the punk rebellion. It hasn't been seen yet on a wide scale, but I know at least three local bands who have anti-emo songs and their whole persona as a band is being unabashedly proud of being punk rather than self deprecating about it or going emo. Dammit. I need this album. I agree with the review. I was driving to the store today to pick this up listening to a mix tape a friend had made me. I got through a block of dillinger escape plan and mars volta songs before i pulled into the store. As soon as I put this in my cd player i realised what i had been missing on the ride to the store. SONGS! Its nice to have something that is interesting AND memorable for a reason other than "wow what a neat time change" 5,000,000 points. great review. makes me want to pick this one up more than i already did. very good consistent melodic punk offering from a classic band. Very good album. awesome review, awesome band, awesome album. good review Note to Blink 182... love the descendents, hate this record this record is comparible to anything senses fail...yeah...that's awful.. Umm, I'm pretty sure there has never been a punk song about the estate tax. this cd is ok ive heard better!! Good record, horrible title, good record. I thought I wouldn't be able to pick this up till tomorrow (huge Descendents and ALL fan!) but I may skip out on work early just to get to the record store 4 they close!!! I love the Descendents and this album doesn't change a thing. hmm, i'll pick this up because it is a pretty big deal, but i wonder if it really delivers. i wasnt too impressed w/ everything sucks, except for a few really good songs (tracks 1,2,5,the last song). MXPX sings about girls and I think their whole production stuff is so over-produced. While im sure i will enjoy this(i will pick it up today)i have to ask one question that im sure will have a few rebuttles, as most of you know i am an avid mxpx fan, why is it then that if a band like the decendents continues with "childish" like songs, they are considered to be "the same good ol bandwho have not lost there childlike quality", while mxpx continue with there"child like" songs, and they are told that they are too old to still be singing about "childlike" things-oldpunker- scores for the d12 eminem single that that just came out. my salsa. An essential purchase by all means. I honestly can't imagine why anyone wouldn't dig the Descendents. this album is a piece of shit. Descendants are Descendants. I've always wanted to do this... first.. |
