American Idiot (Parental Advisory) [PA] - Green Day > Reviews > THEY'RE BACK.....

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Excellent

Advantages:	-
Disadvantages:	-

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Following 2000’s release of ‘Warning’, fans were left with the distinct feeling that something was seriously wrong in the Green Day camp - the lyrics were heart-felt (almost vomit inducing in some cases), the sound was far more mellowed and the promotion for the record was virtually non existent. What these same fans hadn’t previously comprehended was that the members of the band were now in their late 20’s and couldn’t portray themselves as the same snot nosed punks that 1994 had seen them to be - they had grown up, and with that, as had their music. Billie Joe Armstrong was still the master tactician, but there was no way he could still write tracks about masturbation and save face in the process, something had to give. It was, in fairness, a process that had begun back in 1997 with the release of Nimrod, an album that showed evident wholesale changes from the bands previous work such as Dookie and Insomniac, and a change that had to be welcomed by fans if things were to work out for the bands sake. Luckily most fans took on board that the band had little option, and as such Warning was, in large a rousing success - little did these same fans know what was to come in four years time, undoubtedly the bands finest work ever, American Idiot.

After a four year (and rather lengthy) hiatus, news broke that the masters of modern day punk-rock were to release an as yet untitled album in the autumn of 2004, something that threatened to break the mould of all that had come before. At this point, rumours of a supposed rock opera were taken with a pinch of salt, rather seen as further unwanted exposure for the album, but what people should by now know, is that when a certain Mr. Armstrong sets his sights on something, he more often than not pulls it off. Forgoing the 2002 release of ‘Shenanigans’, a collection of rarities and B-sides, this would be the first ‘new’ material from the band in four years, which would lead to an awful lot of questions needing answering. What had changed lyrically, was the sound the same, were the guys the same within themselves - maybe all crucial points, but irrelevant to anyone who knows what the band are about. Obviously, once the news broke that the record were to be titled ‘American Idiot’, and considering Billie Joe’s previous vitriol’s against the US President, the thoughts that sprung to mind ranged from an anti-America record, to something of a full on scathing assault.

In truth, what we have is something of a rock opera that integrates the current issues within the US into it’s story. The lead character (St. Jimmy), could easily be your everyday American, coping with the everyday issues that Billie Joe writes of, with ‘Holiday’ being the one legit attack at Bush and his regime. ‘American Idiot’, the albums lead single, began gaining radio play toward the middle of 2004, instantly topping charts in every corner of the globe, whilst going pretty unchallenged as to it’s stance. It’s stance, although negative, was something that the American public could relate to and see from Billie Joe’s perspective as to what he was feeling toward the government that were (and still are) running his homeland with little regard as to the people within it. Subsequent number one’s, coupled with rave reviews, left the band with no doubts as to how well received they were to be, but little did they know as to just how well. As the release date came over the horizon, stores were heard to have excessive pre-orders for the album, as well raging demand on shop level itself. It was to eventually sell a mere (yeah right) 1 million in it’s first two weeks on general sale, as well as staggering online sales, making it the must have release of 2004.

American Idiot (the single) had laid the path for what were to follow, that being the subtle yet special, Boulevard Of Broken Dreams. Instant memories came flooding back of Time Of Your Life and as to whether this was the next big ‘it’ song for Green Day - question answered emphatically. It’s a scene that is easily pictured, your everyday teen, head down, walking alone on the ‘Boulevard Of Broken Dreams’, wondering as to how their life got in the state that they find it - as previously mentioned, it’s a concept album that caters for everyday life. The song in itself, probably contains some of the most heart-felt lyrics that Billie Joe has ever written, putting it up there with the like of Good Riddance and When I Come Around as one of the bands finest hours, with critical acclaim to follow, the world was seemingly their oyster. When it comes to speaking your mind, there is no stronger in modern day music than Billie Joe Armstrong, a man as much in love with his homeland as any other, yet a man in shame of the way it’s being run by the current US President - his statement, critical as it may seem, is the albums third (and current) single, ‘Holiday’.

It’s politically fuelled, anger induced lyrics are something that, although likely to go largely unnoticed by anyone that really matters, opens your eyes to just how bad things are for some people, and how strongly certain individuals feel about it. The music, although seemingly irrelevant in certain cases of the record, is top drawer and as good as ever - although it’s an album that urges you to focus on the lyrics just as much as anything else. ‘Holiday’ is generally the peak of the anger that fuels the album, with the remaining tracks instead telling the tale of St. Jimmy and his many adventures with his (equally) many friends. ‘Are We The Waiting’, another of the albums finer points, tells the tale of a lost soul, lost as to what they want, need and feel in regards to themselves and the people around them, whilst asking the question as to whether ‘We Are The Waiting’. On the faster side of things, ‘She’s A Rebel’ tells the tale of the character that we will eventually know as ‘Whatsername’, a lost love to St. Jimmy, and one that he struggles to ignore whilst fighting his feelings as to what she’s doing and where she‘s at (see: ‘Whatsername’).

Although merely an album at this stage, talks are supposedly underway as to whether there is a realistic chance of the record becoming an official ‘rock-opera’, much along the lines of past famous releases. It’s a direction that the band have personally stated interest in taking the album, yet with their gruelling tour schedule taking up the following two years, hopes of that are likely to be laid to rest for the foreseeable future at least. Putting aside the lyrical side of the record, rather choosing to concentrate on the music itself, American Idiot is in my opinion one of the finest albums of all time - it follows a steady path whilst being highly adventurous for a band of their nature, it’s relatable on so many levels and the music in itself is as good as anything that has been offered up since the early 90’s. The mere fact that the album contains two tracks that clear the nine minute mark (Jesus Of Suburbia, Homecoming) is an unheard of stat as far as Green Day and their music goes, showing the maturity and ambition that their music has gained in the last ten years. Those tracks, built around five centre piece stints, form the base of American Idiot, whilst taking the bands music to an entirely new level.

‘Letterbomb’, a strong personal favourite of mine, talks of the disarray within the albums main setting, mentioning destruction and unrest in it’s three and a half minutes of full on rock, a track that would have been at home on any one of the bands past releases. Anyway, to refrain from any further waffling, I shall cut to the chase. Green Day, considering the band they once were - singing songs of masturbation etc - have produced undoubtedly one of the finest albums in music history, far surpassing anything that they personally have given us before. An unheard of feat, they’ve produced a rock-opera concept record that, whilst talking from an anti-America perspective, is easily relatable to anyone that feels the need. The story (and the tracks) gel beautifully to make an all round success that fully deserves the critical acclaim for which it has received over the past 6 months, and the Grammy Award that it received last night !

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Track Listing

1. American Idiot
2. Jesus Of Suburbia
~ Jesus Of Suburbia
~ City Of The Damned
~ I Don’t Care
~ Dearly Beloved
~ Tales Of Another Broken Home
3. Holiday
4. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
5. Are We The Waiting
6. St. Jimmy
7. Give Me Novacaine
8. She’s A Rebel
9. Extraordinary Girl
10. Letterbomb
11. Wake Me Up When September Ends
12. Homecoming
~The Death Of St. Jimmy
~ East 12th St.
~ Nobody Likes You
~ Rock And Roll Girlfriend
~ We’re Coming Home Again
13. Whatsername

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