Editing Descendents (section)

==Artistry==
===Musical style and instrumentation===
{{Listen
 |filename     = Descendents - Myage.ogg
 |title        = "Myage" from ''Milo Goes to College'' (1982)
 |description  = Bassist [[Tony Lombardo]]'s use of [[eighth note]] [[chord progression]]s, played in [[run (music)|run]]s, provides a foundation for the [[melody]] of the songs on the album.<ref name="Filmage: Tony's bass style">''Filmage: The Story of Descendents/All''. Event occurs at 16:30.</ref> He and guitarist [[Frank Navetta]] played all [[downpicking|down strokes]] rather than [[alternate picking]], to give the songs a more aggressive sound.<ref name="Lombardo Short">"The Lombardo Short". ''Filmage:The Story of Descendents/All''. Event occurs at 0:10.</ref>}}
Over the years, the Descendents style of music has changed from short under a minute hardcore style songs to average length 2–3 minute punk rock songs. The lyrical content of the Descendents made them being cited at the time as one of the most significant punk bands of the 1980s hardcore punk movement. Critics have cited that their earlier music style which reflected [[hardcore punk]] being influential to modern day [[skate punk]] and [[pop-punk]]. [[Steven Blush]], author of ''[[American Hardcore: A Tribal History]]'', remarked that their "cheeky love songs disguised as hardcore blasts became the most aped formula in rock."<ref name="Blush"/> Ned Raggett of [[AllMusic]] in his review of ''Milo Goes to College'' called it "an unpretentious, catchy winner. The playing of the core band is even better than before, never mistaking increased skill with needing to show off; the Lombardo/Stevenson rhythm section is in perfect sync, while Navetta provides the corrosive power. Add in Aukerman's in-your-face hilarity and fuck-off stance, and it's punk rock that wears both its adolescence and brains on its sleeve."<ref name="Raggett">{{cite web |last=Raggett |first=Ned |title=Review: ''Milo Goes to College'' |website=[[AllMusic]] |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/milo-goes-to-college-mw0000118064 |access-date=February 4, 2010}}</ref>

Bill Stevenson attributed the change of their sound to the band's invention of the "Bonus Cup": "We took ⅓ of a cup of instant coffee grounds, added some hot water, threw in about 5 spoonfuls of sugar, and proceeded to play 10 second songs. The Bonus Cup became a part of everyday Descendents life."<ref name="Hallraker"/> Aukerman later recalled: "We started drinking too much coffee; 'cause of that and the addition of me, the music became very quick and all about bursts of energy. It's interesting: we started very melodic, then moved to hardcore, but melded the two at a certain point and became [[melodic hardcore]]."<ref name="Blush"/>

During the band's first reformation, the songs got longer, darker, and experimental. ''Enjoy!'' was marked by the use of [[toilet humor]], with references to [[defecation]] and [[flatulence]] in its artwork, the title track, and "Orgofart". It also displayed a darker, more [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]]-influenced sound in songs like "Hürtin' Crüe", "Days Are Blood", and "Orgo 51", with other songs recalling the pop-influenced punk of the band's previous efforts.

===Lyrics===
The songs on ''Everything Sucks'' and ''Cool to Be You'' address topics including love and relationships, sociopolitical commentary, the death of parents, [[nerd]]iness, and [[flatulence]].<ref name="Interviews"/><ref name="Paul">{{cite web |last=Paul |first=Aubin |title=Review: ''Cool to Be You'' |date=March 23, 2004 |website=Punknews.org |url=http://www.punknews.org/review/2785 |access-date=September 8, 2010}}</ref> {{" '}}Merican" addresses positive and negative aspects of [[History of the United States|American history]], celebrating cultural figures such as [[Otis Redding]], [[Duke Ellington]], and [[Walt Whitman]] while condemning [[Slavery in the United States|slavery]], [[Joseph McCarthy]], the [[Ku Klux Klan]], and the [[Vietnam War]].<ref name="Luerssen">{{cite web |last=Luerssen |first=John D. |title=Review: ''<nowiki>'</nowiki>Merican'' |website=[[AllMusic]] |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r678521|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=February 16, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Campbell">{{cite web |last=Campbell |first=Al |title=Review: ''Cool to Be You'' |website=[[AllMusic]] |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r683734|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=February 16, 2010}}</ref> Stevenson wrote "One More Day" about the death of his father, who he had taken in and cared for throughout the last year of his life: "He and I always had a terrible relationship. We spent a good part of my adult life being somewhat estranged from each other. He became ill and I took care of him for a little while. And then he died. That song is just about his and my relationship. Just to get that out of me and not holding it inside anymore, is a huge relief for me [...] Every single time I hear that song, it just freaks me out. I've never, ever written a song that's freaked me out that much."<ref name="Interviews"/>