It's big news that Green Day are one of the best punk bands of the modern era. They've always been more about hooks, pop songs even, which explains Dookie's amazing amount of copies sold in 1994 and the band's deep and undeniable influence on the 90's alt-rock mainstream. (Do you think we'd have the latest wave of punk/ska without them?) But it isn't until now, with Nimrod, that these Berkeley boys really come to terms with their own pop selves. It's the best move they've ever made.

Not that Nimrod, their third major- label release and sixth overall, is that much of a stretch: they're still the hyperactive trio with the razor- edge sound (Rob Cavallo again with production) complete with the most accurate Brit-vocal inflection this side of the pond. But here, the punk posturing is beginning to erode away, leaving power pop songs to shimmer and shine. Classic stuff, really: cuts like "Redundant," "Worry Rock" and even the suicide- themed "Uptight" are pure bubblegum- chewing satisfaction, owing as much to Cheap Trick as to the Sex Pistols. Sure, there are the typical Green Day gallop-y tunes and self- deprecation, but such bursts are overshadowed by other stellar moments, like guitar leads that jangle heavenly, lonesome harmonicas and giddy horn lines.
Near the close of Nimrod is "Good Riddance," an acoustic/ string- laden ballad that finds Billie Joe Armstrong taking a surprisingly tender, grown-up look into the past. "I hope you had the time of your life," he sings, acknowledging the difference between then and now -- this from a band whose breakthrough record was titled after the slang for feces (Dookie). Sometimes growing up is the right thing to do.
In my opinion this album is Green Day's second best album. Weighing in with a hefty 18 tracks, it combines punk and rock with some of the traditional Green Day pop that we all love! This album is lyrically quite depressing, and the music is aggressive at times, ideal when you're in a bad mood and want to get some of that frustration out of your system.

The songs on the album are as follows:

Track 1

Nice Guys Finish Last: A Great song to start off with. It is a very up-beat song with great vocals supplied by Billie Joe. This song is about how the nice guys always finish last in life (hence the title) and if you have to be mean in order to get something, then do it. Full of Billie Joe's sarcasm. This song was one of the first to be released from this album and is one of the best

Track 2

Hitchin' a ride: Ultimately the best song on the album in my opinion, with the great violin solo at the beginning then combined with great guitar riffs from Billie Joe ranging from from high to low. Not great lyrics but a great song.

Track 3

The Grouch: All about an old man dissilusioned with the world . He tells us how everything was fine "until I got hurt". Another quite heavy, in your face track. Starts with " i was a young a boy that had big plans, now i'm just another sh**y old man"

Track 4

Redundant: A bit slower this time, with a love song for a couple that have been going through hard times, but are still madly in love. It has really good lyrics "I cannot speak, I lost my voice, speechless and redundant cos I love you's not enough, I'm lost for words". Brilliant. Not to my likely though.

Track 5

Scattered: One of the best songs on the album. It's about Billie seeing things like pictures which remind him of an old girlfriend. Great guitars and a fantastic bass line. This is Green day at their finest, playing to all thier strengths.

Track 6

All the time: Another fast one. This one is about someone who just doesn't care amymore. A weaker track to follow scattered the fast paced scattered.

Track 7

Worry Rock: About the deterioration of a relationship. Its actually quite similar to redundant, in a way - musically, in its slowness, and could be seen as a foll-on to that track.

Track 8

Platypus (i hat you): (HA HA!!!!) Billie doesn't like the guy this song is about. It is so offensive the lyrics aren't in the book. It's basically angry music, loud guitars, very fast. Perfect if you're in a bad mood or even if your not - great song - must hear!!!

Track 9

Uptight: This is funny. It's just the image the music creates, kind of slow guitar, building up to the chorus explosion. This song is about someone about to commint suicide, that someonec - i don't know!! might be Billie Joe talking in 3rd Person!

Track 10

Last Ride in: Not the greatest Green Day track. It's slow, music only and a bit jazzy. However, what follows is.....

Track 11

Jinx: Another really fast loud angry track, with great lyrics. It's about a guy and nothing ever goes right for him. He thinks he's jinxed and tells evryone to go away.

Track 12

Haushinka: Yet another loud track, with a great chorus, about waiting for the girl you love to realise you exist, basically stating that he'll be waiting for her until then. One of my favourites.

Track 13

Walking Alone: a combination of Nice Guys Finish Last and Platypus (i hate you), lyrically, not musically, in that he would he would push people over who get in his way in order to get what he wants so it is more like 'Nice Guys Finish Last.'

Track 14

Reject: Not a bad track, but not great either. It's a song about being a reject, but how he's going to rise again (hence the title). Again, it may be written in 3rd Person by Billie Joe.

Track 15

Take Back: Quite a nasty track with distorted vocals and guitars, in the same vain as Platypus (i hate you), is about getting revenge on someone you don't like ( good old Billie Joe!! ha ha)

Track 16

King for a Day: A bit of a comedy track with trombones and trumpets about being a transvesite and dressing up in womens clothes. Has to be seen live to witness Billie runnning around in a thong and they sort of mess up the end. It then leads into....

Track 17

Good Riddance (Time of your life): An acoustic calm moment, Green Day's most beautiful track ever. It's all about looking back at a previous relationship and remembering all the best times, but at the same time knowing it's over. Sad but beautiful, it's very, very moving. "It's something unpredictable but in the end it's right. I hope you had the time of your life". Meaning that i hoped you enjoyed the times we spent together. Great Song.

Track 18

Prosthetic Head: A reasonably good song to end on. I feel it would be better left with Time of Your Life. It's about a guy who doesn't know or do anything. When i first heard it, it sounded a bit like Welcome to Paradise and Longview but know they seem a bit more different.

This is a great album, especially for a new Green Day fan. It has a number of really brilliant tracks, it is great music. You may not like it at first but keep listening to it and it will grow in appeal.

This is how i would rate the songs (best to worst):

1. Hitchin' a Ride
2. Time of Your life
3. Nice Guys Finish Last
4. Platypus ( I hate you)
5. King for a Day
6. Scattered
7. Redundant
8. The Grouch
9. Jinx
10. Prosthetic Head
11.Uptight
12.Walking Alone
13.Haushinka
14.Take Back
15.Worry Rock
16.All the time
17.Reject
18.Last Ride in

end