Dookie - Green Day > Reviews > The birth of popular punk

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money

Advantages:	Green Day at there finest
Disadvantages:	Bit short clocking in at about 35mins

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Thanks to Time of Your Life from 1997's Nimrod CD, Green Day and their singer/guitarist/writer Billie Joe Armstrong have belatedly gotten some respect. Billie Joe has matured a little but he has been making good music since the band broke through with Dookie.

The songs on Dookie aren't cerebral but eight million Dookie buyers weren't wrong. Dookie is filled with tight, exciting adrenaline filled rock. Billie Joe's guitar playing is pretty basic but strong and the band keeps the music moving at a great, energized pace. The lyrics are juvenile but Billie Joe simply expressed his audience's confusion about growing up and not knowing where you're going. The appeal of Basket Case, is also undeniable. Billie Joe's self described melodramatic whine about feeling like he's cracking up actually has a fun, self deprecating side and the music is fast and exhilarating.

The main draw of Dookie is the energy of the music. Dookie has a lot of excellent rockers. Welcome to Paradise, a song about a runaway finding a home on the streets that was also on the band's Kerplunk CD, is great juiced up three chord rock. The lightning quick She is very good fun. When I Come Around has a great guitar riff and a little more sophistication than most of Dookie. On Pulling Teeth, about staying with a girl out of her fear of her violence, the band winningly pulls up, and emphasizes good harmonies. Dookie was a real sounding depiction of the torments of a troubled youth. More importantly, the music is exciting rock. The lyrics aren't sophisticated but Billie Joe showed a definite talent for making likeable, fast music. There were also a few signs that the band would be interesting performers if they ever grew up.