![[Full Album] DESCENDENTS | "Cool to Be You"](https://img5.saketami.com/storage/12/re/yh/9a2cd0-019e834c-b840-7a08-8a46-33f06989db71.jpg)
[Full Album] DESCENDENTS | "Cool to Be You"
Added 2025-08-01 17:27:45 +0000 UTCAs this punk rock journey continues, the opportunity to go deeper on a single artist (versus going wider on the scene as a whole) really feels invaluable sometimes when looking at the big picture. And, when a band sticks around long enough to write music from a different emotional vantage point, I feel like I can start putting names with faces—literally, figuratively, and especially musically. These aren’t just “cool songs” I’ve reviewed anymore—these are bands I'm genuinely starting to love.
After diving into 1996’s Everything Sucks last year, I was curious how Descendents would follow it up. Turns out, they evolved into something much more emotive without losing too much of the sound I first fell in love with. Cool to Be You feels like a letter written a few years after the storm clears. There’s still some bite, but it’s packaged with more self-awareness and reflection. And, while some of the youthful aggression has mellowed into something a bit more digestible, the emotional weight hasn’t gone anywhere—in fact, this album contains some of the more difficult tracks I've ever tried to musically dissect. I think that's all part of the brilliance, especially when considering some of the album's subject matter.
If Everything Sucks was a cathartic scream, Cool to Be You seems like a deep exhale...and both seem pretty darn vital to the band’s story.
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Intro
2:55 - "Talking"
10:30 - "Nothing with You"
16:41 - "She Don't Care"
23:55 - "'Merican"
30:04 - "Dog and Pony Show"
35:07 - "Blast Off"
40:56 - "Dreams"
48:05 - "Cool to Be You"
57:55 - "Maddie"
1:05:56 - "Mass Nerder"
1:13:18 - "One More Day"
1:22:33 - "Tack"
1:26:54 - "Anchor Grill"
1:35:37 - "Dry Spell"
1:42:39 - Final Thoughts
Comments
Late to the party, but One Day More is such a beautiful, heartbreaking song
Peter Del Villano
2025-10-01 08:54:57 +0000 UTCIt’s funny you compared this album and everything suck they’re right next to each other but I too can hear the differences you pointed out. I can’t wait for you to hear their weirder 80’s stuff one day. Enjoy! All! Karl is a bass God. You should check out the Ergs their player feels like a spiritual successor to Karl
Matthew Pucci
2025-08-25 15:43:47 +0000 UTCThe chorus of Dry Spell reminds me a lot of same era The Ataris, So Long Astoria, more than Lagwagon.
André Nordin
2025-08-19 06:24:40 +0000 UTCIn filmage, bill talks about the line “I pick you up, you put me down” I love that line. The beauty of it is that it’s pretty literal. Bill used to pick his dad up to move him around and while he had his dad in his arms, his dad would yell at him and put him down.
Jessie
2025-08-16 20:05:26 +0000 UTCI've listened to melodic punk religiously since the early 90s. For whatever reason I've never really delved into descendents' discography, cool to be here with you!
Josh
2025-08-14 00:07:50 +0000 UTCYes, yes, yes Yes
Ray Dweck
2025-08-07 02:45:17 +0000 UTCYou should venture to the ALL side of rhe Descendents members. Karl has some really rad bass lines there. Like the song "Wonder" is some great work.
Josh
2025-08-07 00:23:29 +0000 UTCMy favorite Descendents record, glad you enjoyed it!! Definitely agree with "Dry Spell" being such a good closer. If you get a chance definitely check Chris Demakes interview with Bill Stevenson on the song "One More Day" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hz8QGDD4yxU
John Bentley
2025-08-04 22:28:57 +0000 UTCThe first song is about talking, I think yada yada yada is the Seinfeld reference for talking and that was intentional
Matthew Pucci
2025-08-04 14:52:08 +0000 UTCAnchor Grill is a classic American diner in Cincinnati (technically Covington, KY). There is mention of “goetta” at the end of the song, which is a scrapple-like food native to the region.
Alex Jamieson
2025-08-03 20:03:15 +0000 UTCOne day, Mark, you’ll have to do a review of Milo Goes to College (you did Myage so it’s eligible). It’s just kind of a must. Different guitarist and bassist, but younger and pissed off. Very cathartic.
CJ LoBaido
2025-08-02 23:59:43 +0000 UTCAnother excellent one in the books. Glad to know you enjoyed, “Anchor Grill” and, “Dry Spell” as much as I do! Always thought they were stellar songs, as I said in another comment on the August calendar. “One More Day” is on another level of masterclass entirely. Just great songwriting and playing from everyone. I know what Mark Hoppus meant when he said hearing Descendents for the first time was like hearing a punk rock Beach Boys because of the note choices and harmonies, and that’s on even earlier work. My condolences again on the loss of a family member, my guy. Try to stay positive and remember that it’s the difficult times that shape us as people and help us grow. Be well, bud! 👍
PRDinPDX
2025-08-02 15:51:26 +0000 UTCYou should ask Bill Stevenson for the isolated bass tracks to the Descendents stuff. He's a super nice guy and would probably provide them for analysis purposes. Cheers!
Steve
2025-08-02 12:15:12 +0000 UTCmerican is a really special song
Dan P
2025-08-02 11:26:21 +0000 UTCI'm so sorry for your loss Mark. Please take whatever time you need for healing--no apologies necessary. A fantastic bass album, so happy you got to it. Looking forward to watching this later!
Ray Dweck
2025-08-02 03:09:29 +0000 UTCBeautiful review, man. Had a smile on my dumb face the whole time and had me choked up as well. This album tends to get me in all the feels. Thank you for doing this one, brother.
Ian
2025-08-01 22:48:20 +0000 UTCCool to Be You came out when I was halfway through college. At that time, I was all in on fast punk. Give me double-time, give me moshing, give me your crazy, energetic songs. As a result, I really didn't spend any time with Cool to Be You. I most definitely listened to "'Merican" and "I Quit" (off the "'Merican EP"), but that was about it. Then I aged, slowed down, got some life experience, and moderated. I'm middle-aged-but-never-grew-out-of-punk-music guy. Now, Cool to Be You is by far my favorite Descendents album - not even close. It emotionally resonates with me so much more. It makes sense though, right? The band members were all about 40 years old when they made the album. That's about how old many of us are right now. We all have the same things to reflect on at certain age markers. (P.S. @Mark - "I Quit" is the only song you haven't heard from the Descendents from this era of the band. If you ever want to circle back, the song is there. The bass rips as you expect it should.)
CM
2025-08-01 22:37:42 +0000 UTCFrom what I remember, the sub division punchy technique is there live.
Aacc
2025-08-01 22:37:20 +0000 UTCYep, the album is a masterpiece. And they are probably the tightest band I’ve ever seen live Even still considering they’re in the early 60s.
Conor s
2025-08-01 22:34:27 +0000 UTCMUG MUG MUG
PRDinPDX
2025-08-01 20:36:48 +0000 UTCPart of the ending of Mass Nerder came from the Germs' We Must Bleed.
Patrick Kim
2025-08-01 19:58:15 +0000 UTCThis is a great shout, I was going to post the same. Worth checking out Steve's Boy by The Lemonheads, also Bill's song about his dad. Was this also on the podcast? Can't remember.
Tom Wheeler
2025-08-01 19:55:29 +0000 UTCFirst full album watch for me. No need to apologize. Take care of yourself. Anyone who doesn’t get it has never lost someone close to them or is just maybe really insensitive. You do you and take your time. Appreciate all that you do ❤️
Catherine Stowell
2025-08-01 19:52:55 +0000 UTCChris deMakes from Less Than Jake has an interview with Bill on his podcast where he goes through the meaning of the song One More Day. Fair warning, tears will be shed!
Ned
2025-08-01 19:46:49 +0000 UTCJust finished to video and I’m so glad that somebody FINALLY has the same favorite songs on this album. I always love it when somebody shares the same love for the deep cuts on albums as much as I do. They even tend to be my absolute favorites by a band. So glad I finally heard somebody praise She Don’t Care and Dry Spell. I’ve literally never heard anybody say those are their favorites besides me.
Zack
2025-08-01 19:18:53 +0000 UTCThe 3 Bill songs on the album all have chromatic / atonal sections. He mentioned on DeMakes that’s just what he was into at the time. These sections just accentuate the level of « discomfort » you’re already in due to the sensitive topics of the songs.
Jean-Sébastien Cyr
2025-08-01 19:17:01 +0000 UTCreally pretty blue on that bass!
Mia
2025-08-01 19:07:54 +0000 UTCSince you brought it up, I saw All and Lagwagon play in NYC in (probably) 1999. If I remember correctly, I missed the second half of Lagwagon's set because I was puking up my guts in the bathroom sink. But, to answer your question about Karl's playing live, yes, you do feel that subdivision and it's even more energetic feeling live than on record. I got teased for 10 years after because I drunkenly screamed "hes the bass master" right into my friend's ear in between songs and the entire club heard me and snickered.
Ceej Luige
2025-08-01 18:33:54 +0000 UTCMy condolences Mark. Descendents are my all time favorite band . Glad you're digging them!
Jeremy McNally
2025-08-01 17:35:10 +0000 UTCSee last post for my comments on this post - keep going, I love your insight!
Corey
2025-08-01 17:33:47 +0000 UTCJust gonna grab a cup of coffee and then enjoying this video.
Ceej Luige
2025-08-01 17:31:28 +0000 UTCSee ya in a couple hours
Steve E
2025-08-01 17:28:59 +0000 UTC
