Recording Cool to Be You

In the early 2000s, Aukerman took a break from biochemistry and reunited with the Descendents to record a new album. The recording sessions for Cool to Be You took place with Aukerman in February 2002 at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado , with additional recording done in April at Planet of Sound in Wilmington, Delaware , and were produced by Stevenson. The band recorded the music for the songs live in the studio with minimal overdubbing , and Aukerman’s vocals were recorded over the instrumental tracks. However, these recordings were not released for another two years. Stevenson explained that the gap of eight years between Descendents albums was due to the band members having children and to his father’s death.