I do not know punk music very well. I was never a fan of 80's punk music or punk in general. When I hear 80's punk I think Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, and Husker Du. Out of all the punk I've listened to the Descendents are the best out there. Milo Goes To College is one of those albums that contains no bad tracks and every song is at least good, but most of these are great. The Descendents formed in 1981, and this is the bands sophomore album, and their best.
The Descendents mix together a perfect combination of pop-punk, funny lyrics, and anger. I mean, with songs like "I Wanna Be A Bear" you know this isn't going to be your typical punk album. This is a poppy album, there are no raging guitar solos and rough edged vocals. The thing that keeps me coming back for me is that every song on here is so damn catchy. I don't usually fall for music like this, but the guitar riffs, drum beats, and basslines are so catchy that it will force you to listen to another song. Milo Goes To College is possibly the most accessible punk album I have heard. The music is catchy yet there are some raw tracks that have a more punk edge. The lyrics are funny, humourous, and sometimes they can actually be serious. Milo sings about girls, sex, not being a loser and his desires to become a bear. The Descendents tackle almost everything on here, the lyrics are great coming from a punk band. Sometimes the Descendents can be more serious with their lyrics, it still works and keeps the album more raw. Throughout catchy pop hooks, funny lyrics, and a few raw tracks the Descendents have created a pop-punk gem.
The instruments featured on here are superb. The bass is amazing, just listen to the opening riff on "Myage." The quick basslines are catchy and fun, they are very well done and if you want to conquer these basslines you need some talent. It feels good to listen to a pop-punk band that has a good bassist and don't just have a solid guitar player. The guitar is just as amazing as the bass is. The guitars riffs are fast, catchy as hell, and fun. Compared to other punk bands the guitar seems just as good. Like all punk music, the guitar is the center of attention and it does a good job. The drums are good aswell. They make a decent rythm section, and although they don't do anything amazing the drums have their moments. Mixing with these instruments would be Milos vocals. He has a somewhat high-pitched voice, and sounds like a 20 punk. On a few songs he really sounds rough and raw like he's going to kill somebody. That only happens on two or three tracks, most of the time is has a high-pitched, somewhat whiny voice. Milos vocals mix great with the music, and he creates an amazing pop-punk sound.
Overall this album is a pop-punk gem. While bands like Panic! At The Disco and Fall Out Boy are called "pop-punk" the Descendents are the true pop-punk band and the two bands I just talked about are pop bands. Some people may call the Descendents a punk band, it is all a matter of opinion. The instruments are superb, the vocals mix well with the album and the lyrics are hilarious. This is a pop-punk or a punk gem. If you are trying to get into punk music than this is the perfect place to start. Now, if you are a punk fan than you need to get this, it's that essential. The Descendents are one of the few 80's punk bands that I can get into, this is simply a brilliant album in all aspects.
