Customer Reviews

Cool to Be You

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

When my husband and I met eight years ago, he had just discovered the Descendents and was in that holy-moly-this-is-the-best-thing-I've-ever-heard-in-my-life-there-is-no-other-music-head-over-heels-completely-infatuated phase of loving their music. Our first song was Silly Girl. He gave me a copy of Somery on our first date. For our first Valentine's Day, he gave me a copy of Everything Sucks. We, as a couple have a strong connection with this band.

In general, however, I have quite a bit of trouble identifying with a lot of pop punk music (the exception being Screeching Weasel). I mean, it's usually catchy and fun, but rarely does any pop punk album become the kind of thing that I listen to obsessively because it's THAT GOOD. This should not be particularly surprising. I think there is a disease that inflicts the male writers of pop punk music-that somehow they're emotionally 10-15 years younger than their chronological age would indicate. Descendents are sort of a funny exception to that pop punk rule. Sometimes their songs can be emotionally inspirational almost to a fault (see: Bikeage). Other times they can be completely silly, bordering on incomprehensible (see: The All-o-Gistics). This sort of inconsistency, though leaving their music open to a very diverse fan base in age, can sometimes make their albums seem, well, inconsistent. I sort of decided that they just aren't an album band-they write great songs, but can't put together an album. Until...

Until Cool to Be You. The Descendents have clearly grown into themselves. The beauty of this album is that it becomes clear that the Descendents and I grew up together. The silliness is still there, but it seems somehow more productive (?). I find "Mass Nerder" very inspirational. It is simultaneously an attack on the culture of stupidity and a celebration of not only being "smart," but also being good at school. Only Milo could find a way to make getting A's seem like the coolest thing ever. I also identify very much with "Nothing with You." There are few things in life that can be enjoyed more than watching some good TV with the one you love. "Blast Off" is just inexplicably enjoyable.

This album is quite a bit more heavy on the darker side. And the dark moments are substantially darker than they have been in the past. "Anchor Grill" is completely heartbreaking. And it is the song on the album that most shows the band's age. While the vast majority of pop punkers are pining over girls, in "Anchor Grill," Bill Stevenson laments the lack of freedom that comes with being an adult couple. The song identifies such issues as a lack of time and money that can take a toll on an otherwise healthy adult relationship. But the absence of topical idealism doesn't make the song any less romantic or sweet. Now, THAT'S writing!!

I don't really have the space to gush any more about particular songs. Suffice to say they're all great. The point is, they didn't want to grow up. Now that they did, I for one am really glad.

Let me start by saying that as a man in his mid-20s I was barely born by the time the Descendents started recording, and I honestly got into them because of Sublime's cover of Hope. So my review isn't based on 20 years of fandom, just on the music.

Now, this CD is defintely different than old Descendents, but that is to be expected. These aren't the teenagers of Milo Goes to College, these are gentlemen in their late 30s, early 40s, who have a different view of the world. As I listened to this CD, I really noticed the different tone in the lyrics than previous works. The two songs that hit me the first time I listened to it were She Don't Care and 'Merican, two VERY different Descendents song. I like the use of overdubbing voices in She Don't Care, and it's nice to hear a "political" song from the guys, with 'Merican. Mass Nerder is another favorite, very Milo, if that makes sense. The rest of the CD is adequate, Cool to be You is a pretty good song, and I like the lyrics to One More Day, but somehow the lyrics don't match the music.

I put the Descendents somewhat in the same class as Bad Religion, they've gotten older, and possibly a little more jaded (take Cool to be You as an example). No, they're probably not going to make Milo Goes to College or ALL again, just as Bad Religion probably won't make Suffer or No Control again, but just as the bands change, so must their fans. Let's just hope the next CD isn't another seven years in the making.

I've been listing to the Descendents for a very, very long time. I had mixed feelings after listing to this disc the first time. I wasn't thrilled and I thought it wasn't ALL that great. But wait, I said the same thing about "Everything Sucks" and as it turns out it's really quite excellent. As any long time fan of the Descendents knows, every new album explores their own stages of life and where they're "at" in life. I've been listing to the new disc more and more and every time it gets better and better. I've always related to their songs and the new tunes on the disc are no exception. This may not be the best starter CD for new listeners so I suggest start with "Milo" and work your way up in the order of their release. I've always enjoyed how they evolved. That's my 2 cents. Enjoy! "I want to be stereotyped. I want to be classified."

I am amazed at how many people are saying this release is a let down. I just don't get it. The great thing about the descendents is that you know your always gonna get quality, and this one is no different. Talking, Nothing with you, She don't care, Mass Nerder, I could go on and on, these are classic descendents songs. This is the greatest punk band ever, and they continue to make songs most bands could only dream of.

Nerds Rule.

i have been a huge descendents/all fan since i was 15. the first album in seven years with milo on vocals is a worthy effort. not all the songs are great but all their albums since milo goes to college have bad songs. the bill stevenson and milo songs are excellent. most are as good as anything on everything sucks. stevenson's songs are the usual awesome love pop punk songs that he's always written (his stuff has always been my favorite). all of milo's songs are good except one. the karl alverez songs are not that good. the only one i like is 'merican. one of the most interesting parts of this album is on "mass nerder" when they cover the germs "we must bleed" at the end of the song, but change it to "we must read." classic. first no one should be expecting this to be milo goes to college. there will never be another milo goes to college (ps: every person should own this album). this album is up there with the best of the 90s descendents/all songs which are great pop punk songs. these guys keep writing enjoyable love and hate pop punk and i hope they never stop. oh, yeah go buy this instead of any other pop punk album your thinking of getting. no one has or will ever do it better than the descendents.

This is the first Descendents album since 1996's "Everything Sucks" and it was definitely worth the wait. The record is full fast, catchy, and fun songs that are mostly easy to relate to. Some of the subjects include girls, being a nerd, watching T.V, all written in typical Descedents fashion. The whole band sounds great, especially Milo whose vocals sound like he hasn't aged much and Stephen's riffs and solos which are sure to stick in your head. The best track is probably "Cool To Be You" which rivals the classic "Hope" for my favourite Descendents song. Other standout tracks are "Talking", "She Don't Care", "Merican" and pretty much everything else on the album. This is a must have for fans of the band or punk in general.

You know comeback albums mostly suck. Whenever I see all the rappers I liked as kid come back after millions of years, it's pretty sad. For some reason though, it's easier to pull off with punk. I was too young to even remember their early days, and I didn't listen to rock when they came back in '94 or whatever, so therefore, I'll be less critical than your average fan. I downloaded a couple of songs from "Milo" era and decided to pick this up. At first, it was just "ok." They sounded like a harder Green Day. Second listen, I really indentified with this album. "She Don't Care" deals with scewing up your love life. "Dog and Pony Show" addresses the phonyness of the party scene. "Mass Nerder" is awesome. I've never heard someone make a song about being a nerd and then kick somebody's butt with good grades. The title track "Cool To Be YOu" is really good. Tackling more issues of losing in life while watching someone else enjoy it. Despite the subject matter, it's done in a cheerful, melodic, hardcore, way. This guy sounds like a grown man who realizes he's a grown man and that's it's time to start acting like one. The perfect coming-of-age cd.

The Descendents are not sell-out! I don't what the hell people are thinking! It is probably because there too much posers into the punk-rock scene presently! So let's make it clear! If you guys think that Good Charlotte or NFG or the new Blink182 is great pop-punk music you guys are all mistaking, The Descendents are the creators of the pop-punk style and they're back with an album that has enough force (...) All the songs, ALL THE SONGS on it are simply masterpieces! First The Descendents created the sytle than after they perfected it after! Simply a perfect cd!

The first word that comes to mind to describe this album is catchy. Riff after riff, chorus after chorus, solo after solo, and lyric after lyric, the album does nothing but get stuck in your head. Call it pop/punk, call it hardcore, call it melodic hardcore, call it whatever...its good, above all else. Every song on here is more than listenable, and there are some absolutely brilliant tracks. The opener, "Talking", is a perfect relationship anthem, with simple and honest lyrics, and a nice opening riff. "'Merican" jumps out as the political anthem of the album, and its a great one. Damn brilliant lyrics with a catchy-as-all-get-out chorus and a wicked guitar solo. Milo sounds more pissed on this track than any other. The next great one is "Cool to be You", another well-written, honest track about fitting in. It too features another anthemic chorus (notice a trend?). "Mass Nerder" is hilarious ("Gonna kick their @sses, when I get to class"), angry, relatable, and probably honest for Milo (haha). It goes on about 30 seconds too long though, but like so many of the tracks on here, features a standout guitar solo. The rest of the album is very good as well...just good, solid, simple songwriting.

Now that I've spoken about songwriting, how about the band? How do they sound? Can they play their instruments? Well, these guys can definitely play their instruments. Guitar solos and a rock-solid rhythm section are the two things that are most apparent. While the music is pretty simple, the band plays with energy and skill. I'd venture to say they're one of the more instrumentally talented punk bands running around today. That said, the songs don't differ from each other too much in style musically, but they have distinctive riffs and solos, and their catchy nature helps set them apart. By the same token, this sort-of sameness, however, helps the album flow, and it seems a lot shorter than its 36 minute run-time.

So what's the verdict on the newest from the Descendents? They put out an album that has some slight filler: "Dog & Pony Show", among 2 or 3 others, strikes me as second-rate, but definitely NOT weak. However, tracks like the opener, "'Merican", "Cool to be You", "Mass Nerder", and "Tack", in my mind, are all classics. Those pieces of genius carry the album. If you're looking for another "Milo Goes to College", pick this up at your own risk; songs are longer, and more complex, and less "hardcore". Milo sounds a little different too. I'm not saying "Milo..." is necessarily better, I'm just saying this is pretty different. However, if you're looking for a melodic punk record with honesty, good musicianship, and tight songwriting, you need look no further: here's your album.

while they might not put out a classic such as milo goes to college, it's still a new descendents record, and it's better that your favorite crappy fat wreck chords band.

some of the songs have bad religion-esque harmonies. depending on who you are that could be a good or bad thing. for me it's bad. one bad religion is enough. another thing is the funny songs, aren't really that funny. i guess it's kind of hard for 40 somethings to write songs about farting and getting beat up in high school, and have it be funny.

early favorites? nothing with you, she don't care, dog and pony show, and cool to be you.

overall though, a decent effort from one of the most important bands in music.