Through Being Cool is the second studio album by American rock band Saves the Day, released on November 2, 1999, by Equal Vision. The songs on Through Being Cool were written while the band members attended New York University. The album was recorded in 11 days and represented the band's transition from a melodic hardcore sound to a more pop punk style. It was produced by Steve Evetts at Trax East Recording Studio in South River, New Jersey. The band's members dropped out of college to tour alongside Snapcase, New Found Glory, Hot Water Music, and Face to Face, among others. A music video was filmed for the song "Shoulder to the Wheel."

Eventually selling 50,000 copies, the success of Through Being Cool helped Saves the Day to sign with Vagrant Records. It was named one of Alternative Press 10 most influential albums of 1999. To celebrate the album's 15th anniversary, the band played the album front-to-back on tour and Equal Vision re-pressed the album on vinyl. Vocalist Chris Conley considers it "the most important record that we did."

Background

Saves the Day formed in late 1997. Their debut album, Can't Slow Down, was released through Equal Vision in August 1998. The band promoted the album with two tours helping to expand its fan base. Initially, they were heckled at each appearance. Drummer Bryan Newman said that the group was "totally out of place" among the other bands on the tour. Saves the Day had three different lineup changes while touring in support of Can't Slow Down, leaving vocalist Chris Conley and Newman as the only original members remaining. The EP was released in mid-1999 on Immigrant Sun Records, and only 500 copies were pressed.

Recording

Through Being Cool was recorded with producer Steve Evetts in June 1999 at Trax East Recording Studio purely because he had worked earlier with Lifetime a band that Conley loved.|group="nb" Evetts always kept the band "in line" and was "definitely the guru of the whole thing", according to Newman. He liked several hardcore bands, but had played their albums "to death" and wanted to look for other sources of inspiration. From left to right on the couch of the album artwork are Ted Alexander, Chris Conley, Eben D'Amico, Bryan Newman, and David Soloway. The album booklet continues the outcast theme. Through Being Cool was released on November 2 on Equal Vision Records.|group="nb" The band played a release show with The Get Up Kids, At the Drive-In, and Midtown. and then with Snapcase in late January until early February. The video was filmed at Soloway's parents' house and featured the band's friends. The band was uncomfortable with Doan's ideas during the making of the video, and Newman said the group "hated it as soon as [they] saw it". They rejoined the tour on the Seattle date. By the time this run had ended, the album had sold nearly 50,000 copies – a massive number for Equal Vision. Rich Egan, founder of Vagrant, became their manager. in early August. Following this, the band played shows with Face to Face, New Found Glory, and Alkaline Trio in late August They again joined Face to Face from late October to mid November.

Reception

AllMusic reviewer Vincent Jeffries noted that, for Through Being Cool, the band went for a "punchier production," using it to foreground Conley's "romantic teen declarations". Alternative Press also included the album on their list of the most influential albums of 1999. NME listed the album was one of 20 Pop Punk Albums Which Will Make You Nostalgic. BuzzFeed included it at number 5 on its list of 36 Pop Punk Albums You Need To Hear Before You F——ing Die. The album was included in Rock Sounds 101 Modern Classics list at number 60, with the notation that "pop-punk has not been the same since [1999], and this record play[ed] a major role in that change." Fall Out Boy's vocalist Patrick Stump listed the album at number 10 on his list of 10 Records That Changed My Life. Stump revealed that he would not "have been in Fall Out Boy if it weren't for this record". Journalists Leslie Simon and Trevor Kelley included the album in their list of the most essential emo releases in their book Everybody Hurts: An Essential Guide to Emo Culture (2007), while Stereogum listed "Rocks Tonic Juice Magic" as one of 30 Essential Songs From The Golden Era of Emo.

Saves the Day performed the album in its entirety at a secret show in Brooklyn in September 2013. On September 4, 2014, Saves the Day and Say Anything announced a co-headlining U.S. tour with support from Reggie and the Full Effect. On the tour, Saves the Day played Through Being Cool, Say Anything played ...Is a Real Boy (2004), and Reggie and the Full Effect played Under the Tray (2003). The tour lasted from November 14 to December 21. The idea for the tour came about from a conversation between Conley and Say Anything's frontman Max Bemis.

;Saves the Day

  • Chris Conley – vocals
  • Bryan Newman – drums
  • Eben D'Amico – bass
  • Ted Alexander – rhythm guitar
  • David Soloway – lead guitar

;Production

  • Steve Evetts – producer, engineering
  • Alan Douches – mastering
  • Saves the Day, Luke Hoverman – design concept
  • Frank Davidson – layout
  • Luke Hoverman – photography
  • Lenny Zimkus – assistant photography
  • Megan Delany – styling

References

; Footnotes

; Citations

;Sources

<!-- This is a licensed stream for the album, which is allowed under Wikipedia polices -->

  • Through Being Cool at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)