High-energy alternative/punk about growing up, feeling bad, and all the folks you love

“Malt liquor doesn‰’t make you young‰Û. An amusing but slightly sober (no pun intended) line from the opening track, “Get Old Forever‰Û, that is a good introduction to the lyrical themes on We Cool?. The album explores Jeff Rosenstock‰’s intensely personal experiences of “feeling bad‰” – getting drunk all alone, having a nice day ruined by terrible news, watching someone break down at a party, not being able to express feelings to loved ones, and (perhaps heaviest of all) having the realization that no one ever stops getting old. But despite the emotional weight of these awkward personal anecdotes, the music used to deliver them is surprisingly boisterous and fun. Fast-paced guitar riffs, barebones bass, layered vocals, and a horn section kick off the album with a jolt of high-energy, and each successive song has it‰’s own unique flavor: “Nausea‰” is driven by a delightful piano melody, “Beers Again Alone‰” is close to a power-ballad featuring someone belting on a harmonica, and “I‰’m Serious, I‰’m Sorry‰” is reminiscent of grunge-rock with powerful bass in the chorus – just to name a few. The album will leave you feeling good, then bad, then good again, then a little introspective, then even worse than before, but then kind of ok in the end.

RIYL: Bomb The Music Industry!, Shinobu, Hard Girls

Recommended: 1, 4, 6, 7