Green Day - American Idiot

[Cart]

I'm hoping this forum because fairly busy, and talking about new releases would be a good way to get recommendations and heads-up on what's worth it and what isn;'t, so I'll start it off with Green Day's latest.

Personally, I can't say I was that excited about it, although I definitely enjoyed Warning I never felt that it was an exceptional album, whilst albums like Dookie were. After hearing the single "American Idiot" I expected pop/punk by the numbers, but the album pleasantly surprised me. For those who haven't already, it's a rock opera, much like The Who's "Tommy" but with less chords. It really is a solid album, and fairly diverse at times, and for me represents their best work since Dookie. The album functions on so many levels that it definitely requires repeated listenings, and generally becomes more endearing each time. Billy Joe's songwriting ability has grown tremendously and he manages to convey a vivid depiction of living in a post-9/11 US without descending into cliches.

I'd definitely recommend it, and the following tracks are probably the album's strongest:

-Jesus Of Suburbia (sprawling 9 minute epic)
-Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (possibly the poppiest track and a likely single, great song though)

[YourFavoriteWeapon]

So I'm looking at the lyrics of "Jesus of Suburbia," and just as I suspected, it's nothing to be proud of:

I'm the son of rage and love
The Jesus of suburbia
From the bible of none of the above
On a steady diet of

Soda pop and Ritalin
No one ever died for my sins in hell
As far as I can tell
At least the ones I got away with

And there's nothing wrong with me
This is how I'm supposed to be
In a land of make believe
That don't believe in me

Get my television fix
sitting on my crucifix
A living room on my private womb
While the moms and brads are away
To fall in love and fall in debt
To alcohol and cigarettes
And mary jane
To keep me insane
Doing someone else's cocaine

And there's nothing wrong with me
This is how I'm supposed to be
In a land of make believe
That don't believe in me


And at the same time, I'm also reminded of Bad Religion's "American Jesus," a three-minute song that lyrically and musically shits all over Green Day's "sprawling 9 minute epic":

I don't need to be a global citizen,
'Cause I'm blessed by nationality,
I'm a member of a growing populace,
We enforced our popularity
There are things that seem to pull us under and
There are things that drag us down,
But there's a power and a vital presence
That's lurking all around

We've got the American Jesus
See him on the interstate,
We've got the American Jesus
He helped build the president's estate

I feel sorry for the earth's population
'Cause so few live in the U.S.A,
At least the foreigners can copy our morality,
They can visit but they cannot stay,
Only precious few can garner our prosperity,
It makes us walk with renewed confidence,
We've got a place to go when we die
And the architect resides right here

We've got the American Jesus
Bolstering their ship of faith
We've got the American Jesus
Overwhelming millions every day

He's the farmer barren fields, (In God)
The force the army wields, (We trust)
The expression in the faces of the starving millions, (Because he's one of us)
The power of the man. (Break down)
He's the fuel that drives the Klan, (Cave in)
He's the motive and the conscience of the murderer (He can redeem your sins)
He's the preacher on TV, (Strong heart)
The false sincerity, (Clear mind)
The form letter that's written by the big computer, (And indefinitely kind)
He's the nuclear bombs, (You lose)
And the kids with no moms (We win)
And I'm fearful that he's inside me (He is our champion)

We've got the American Jesus
See him on the interstate
We've got the American Jesus
Exercising his authority
We've got the American Jesus
Bolstering their ship of faith
We've got the American Jesus
Overwhelming millions every day

One nation under God(x10)

Take from that what you will.

[Cart]

I don't think many bands compare lyrically to Bad Religion, and I can't wait to see them with Rise Against in a few weeks. Putting Green Day on a more realistic lyrical level though, I found it to be a compelling listen.

And as for the sprawling 9 minute epic comment, I'll stand by it, the song traverses many styles (hence the sprawling part), succeeds on a grandiose scale (hence the epic part) and also lasts 9 minutes (hence the 9 minute part).

[YourFavoriteWeapon]

I'll have to admit that I've been reluctant to download the album, and therefore had no basis when I said that Bad Religion's Jesus song shitted musically all over their Jesus song (even though I'm probably right), but I'm curious - does it really seem like a 9 minute song, or is it more like a bunch of 2 minute songs slapped together?

On a related note, people have always made a big deal about NOFX's "The Decline," for being some 17-minute epic masterpiece, even though I personally see it as nothing more than a shitpunk medley.

cheers

[Cart]

It's definitely more of a medley since it is essentialy 3/4 different songs that segue into each other, but it works really well. Like I said, I was apprehensive myself about their new album (especially after the anti-Bush punk by numbers that is the eponymous single) but I've been very impressed, the fact that it offers a decent narrative as well only makes it better.

And yeah, I don't think I've ever heard a punk band that could match BR myself with regards to lyrics, so don't go expecting that. I would be tempted to say that it's a better CD than "The Empire Strikes First" though.

[YourFavoriteWeapon]

Upon listening to the track, I can't say that I'm at all impressed. There was, however, a moment around the 4:24 mark that sounded like a punk version of Black Sabbath's "Children of the Grave." I mean, the accompanying lyrics do mention children and graves, but I'm not sure if I should be giving Green Day that much credit.

[WrathChild]

I'm listening to the album as I type this, and to be honest I think it's just "okay" :\ I've never been a big green day fan, and I almost have a hard time taking them seriously. The album is decent, but I doubt I'll be listening to it again. Like YFW said, green day may have a "pop-punk" advantage over alot of other political bands, but I'll still take bad religion and reagan youth over this.

[GriffiN^]

I haven't listened to Green Day forever.. Does this new album sound like their older stuff or is it more like Warning (which I couldn't stand for some reason)?

[NaTuRaL_KiLLA]

While I respect Green Day's contributuion to what Ill call the "punk" scene for lack of a better word, Im not really a huge fan. I used to be, but I guess my taste matured and they got left behind. However, I have indeed heard good things about this album so maybe Ill check it out.

[winter]

Upon listening to the track, I can't say that I'm at all impressed. There was, however, a moment around the 4:24 mark that sounded like a punk version of Black Sabbath's "Children of the Grave." I mean, the accompanying lyrics do mention children and graves, but I'm not sure if I should be giving Green Day that much credit.

I still find it extremely ironic that you always pop into threads and shit all over bands when your username is the title of one of the most generic pop punk albums ever.

[AxioN]

This is the first album since dookie that ive enjoyed by greenday.

[MeestarK]

This is the first album since dookie that ive enjoyed by greenday.
I am going to agree. It has earned its spot in my current 10 CDs in my little CD Holder that hangs from the visor in my truck

[YourFavoriteWeapon]

I still find it extremely ironic that you always pop into threads and shit all over bands when your username is the title of one of the most generic pop punk albums ever.

LOL!