I am so happy I saw this thread. As far as the descendents, well other then GNR and Sublime being me ALL TIME favorite bands the descendents are right their next to them.16 years ago at 13 years old I bought Milo goes to college and it changed my life, along with the rancid lets go album. I became the " punk rock kid ". The only true one at that, when you had other punks aka posers listening to blink182 and sum41, I was listening to descendents, rancid, and bad religion. ANYWAY, The new album " Hypercaffium Spazzinate " is a real solid album. Songs like on paper and shameless halo are just awesome and in true descendent form. As far as Karl Alverez, he's one of my bigger influences on my playing these days. His basslines I call " talking basslines " biggest not only do Karl and Bill have one of the tightest rhythm sections I've ever herd, but the basslines go with the melody of Milos vocals. You don't hear those kind of basslines in punk rock music typically. The descendents always had great melody, tone, lyrics, chemistry, you name it. They're all great musicians and song writers as well. ALL is almost as awesome but have their own chapter in history.
