Dookie - Green Day > Reviews > Green Day Energy

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	great range of music
Disadvantages:	not that long

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

This album was in the sale in Our Price for about a fiver, and as I had unfortunately not been influenced by rock music in my younger years, and as my sister (who was with me) had, told me it was well worth a buy, I thought I would depart with a note.

This was four years ago I think, and it was only then that I was becoming more independent, and started to develop my own musical tastes. Knowing that some of mates liked this kind of music, I did feel slightly deprived that I did not experience the likes of Green Day and Nirvana when they were at their album sales peak.

Anyway, at that price the album was worth it. As soon as my sister drove us home, the CD was in the player, and Basket Case was beaming out the speakers straight away. This song seemed to be an anthem at the time it was released, and is still considered by some to be the best Green Day track of all time.

To sum up this album in one word would be easy, but harsh. There are a lot of tracks on here about different aspects of teenage life, which is probably why it was so popular at the time, and so there a lot of references to rude and crude…activities. (!)

Teenage boredom (Burnout and Sassafras Roots), suicide (Having a Blast), sorry to mention it but, masturbation (Longview) leaving home (Welcome to Paradise), violent girlfriends (Pulling Teeth), ‘cracking up’ (Basket Case), loneliness (She) and teenage life in general (Coming Clean). Green Day covered a lot of topics relevant to that time, as shown above.

The album songs themselves do not vary too much, but I do not see that as a disadvantage to the album. Green Day were one of the main trend setters in the ‘three chord’ songs, and this is reflected in this album, with simple guitar parts being played alongside a great variation in bass and drum beats. It is really hard to describe each track on the album separately because they are all so energetic, and are bound to get you jumping around, or at least nodding your head in a vigorous manor. The verses are usually sung on quieter music with the chorus’s blasting out on heavy guitar and bass music, with the lyrics being half-shouted down the microphone by Billie Joe with his ever distinctive voice.

The highlights on this album include Basket Case, Longview and Welcome to Paradise, all still played regularly on Green Day’s tour, which was at Wembley in December last year. The album is quite short, but this is one of Green Day’s trademarks, with a good few of their songs being just a couple of minutes long. A classic rock album which, once bought, will never be far from you.