Descendents - Milo Goes to College

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Free Music Notes for Milo Goes to College

Free Music Review: Induct this band into the R&R All of Fame (spelling intended
Hit: 5 Stars

As a young teenager who felt critical of the mainstream and was obsessed with music, coffee, food, girls, fishing and running my identification with these songs was immediate. Over the years my admiration for this band (and its off-shoot All) has only grown. The Descendents have undeniably left a strong mark on this genre and this album was its first major success.

The songs are catchy, melodic, bursting with energy, fun and poignant. The lyrical content spans a wide range of topics from Tony's whimsical hankering for a hot Japanese chick (Kabuki Girl - ironically a traditional kabuki "girl" is actually a man playing a woman - latent H?) to Bill's lament about teenage suicide (Jean is Dead). Another recurring theme is in their biting insight into the insecurity, frustration and stupidity young people face in our image obsessed society. Lyrical content aside the playing is riveting. Bill = power, musicality, speed and a natural feel (see more below)! Tony Lumbardo executes his contrapuntal bass lines with vigor and accuracy and carries the melody at important points but not in a obtrusive way (Bikeage). Frank Nevatta seems to be going for a rough, "surf" guitar tone which is just right for this band. As a rhythm section they nail not only to straight-ahead 4/4 punk stuff but the syncopated riffs as well.

This is truly a rewarding listen and I reward myself on a regular basis!

More on Bill Stevenson:
I consider the day I was finally able to not only keep up with Bill Stevenson's playing but capture its musicality a milestone in my development as a drummer. Listening Max Roach and Bill Stevenson taught me how to play fast, think musically and stay relaxed. When All stopped in my town I asked Bill how he was able to play so fast for so long (there shows tend to last over an hour). He compared his longevity in playing to longevity in another important activity - thinking about baseball. The secret is to not let your mind focus on what you (and only you) are doing. Think about what is going on around you and how what you are doing contributes to the larger picture. In other words focus on the band as a whole and what the audience is hearing rather than on your own playing. Using this method one's girlfriend may enjoy longer, more satisfying baseball games.

Lastly, I just have to respond to the critique posed by the articulate music fan who states, "They are the worst and are posers of Less Than Jake and Blink182." To begin with, when one "poses of" another band one usually starts producing music AFTER the band in which you copy.
The Descendents' first recording: released in 1979.
Less Than Jake's first release: 1995
Blink182's first release: 1994
Both bands would site The Descendents as an important influence on their own music.
Conclusion: you're dumb

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