Just noticed the review formatting has returned, thank god for that
Just noticed the review formatting has returned, thank god for that
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As they are probably one of the forerunners in the Ska rock scene I thought it only fair that my next op be on Green Day. Probably the first band in this musical genre I got into and of course they are very much the trendsetters for all the other bands that have followed.
The bad are made up of;
Billie Joe; Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica Mike Drint; Bass, Vocals Tre Cool; Drums, Bongo’s, Tambourine.
With 18 tracks the album times in at just under the 50-minute mark so you get your money’s worth out of the tracks.
1 Nice Guys Finish Last 2 Hitchin’ a Ride 3 The Grouch 4 Redundant 5 Scattered 6 All The Time 7 Worry Rock 8 Platypus 9 Uptight 10 Last Ride in 11 Jinx 12 Haushinka 13 Walking Alone 14 Reject 15 Take Back 16 King For A Day 17 Good Riddance 18 Prosthetic Head
The first track “Nice Guys Finish Last” starts with a quick drum beat and loud guitars in true punk/rock/SKA style. Its a good song to start the album with as it is really upbeat and great for nice days like today. The songs really explained in the title, its about Nice guys finishing last. Next up is Hitchin’ a Ride, again starts with the drum beat then the vocals come in. The lyrics don’t
seem to follow any particular meaning and sort of drift past as you find yourself humming along.
Third track on the album is about him getting old and distrusting everything that goes on and how when he was younger he had such big plans. The song starts with the vocals on there own before being joined by guitars and drums. Another typical fast paced songs with a tune you end up humming along to again.
A slower feel to “Redundant”. The drums start the song off before everything else joins in. The songs about everything being the same all the time and how you just wish it would change from time to time. Track 5 “Scattered” is another song about lost love and how he’s got the pictures all over the floor. A much faster paced song that has some real get up and go. A good one if you like singing along as the words aren’t hard to learn and its quite an enjoyable song. Although you get the feeling this is meant to be a sad song it’s quite lively musically, which adds to the appeal.
The 6th track on the Album “All The Time” was one of the first Green Day tracks I heard and thought it was superb. Another fast paced song with simple beat and easygoing lyrics. I think the great thing about Green Day is the knack they have of writing catch, easy going songs like this. A fast paced intro into “Worry Rock” but this is another song about a broken relationship, which fits in nicely in this portion of the album. Again there is a simple beat and easygoing guitars and I bet you won’t notice that you’re singing along to start with.
The next track “Platypus” is basically the sort of rant you’d want to have at someone you didn’t like at all. It’s very fast but the lyrics are basically just shouting and not much else to be honest. Goes past very quickly but the music is quite catchy as it is so fast paced. Of course if you’re not at your happiest this would be a great song to listen to.
Track 9 is “Uptight” and compared to the last one it is a completely different tempo. The instantly noticeable guitar and drum beat is there once again, with quieter lyrics. The chorus as always sticks in you’re mind and you end up joining in as it passes by. “Last Ride In” is a purely instrumental track and provides a great little interlude to the heavier rock based song. All this is done to the swishing of the waves on the beach which gives it a very peaceful feel.
Right back into it with track 11 as the drums and guitars tell you the time for a peaceful tune have gone and now were back into the loud parts. “Jinx” is basically about someone who is just the most unlucky person you could ever wish to meet. The song again carries you through and before you know it, you’ve carried straight on into track 12. The lyrics here are a little slower and clearer as the instruments play the same bit on a loop before they start to take off. The same drumbeat is used through most of the Green Day tracks, which seems to makes the tracks all seem to sound the same at times.
Track 13 “Walking Alone” is another slow starter with a harmonica intro before the lyrics come in. Of course the beat is there and again its easy to remember lyrics, which makes it a lot simpler to listen to as you’re not really thinking about it too much. This track is followed by “Reject”, which is a lot faster and sounds better for it as you may have felt you were getting into a bit of a rut with the last couple but this lifts you out and dusts you off.
The next track “Take Back” is a bit of a let down as you can’t really work out what’s being said and just seems to fly by and you end up missing it (hang on that’s a good thing). Not one that I’d recommend. Track 16 comes across as a comedy song. It’s about someone dressing up in his Mum’s clothes. “King For A Day” is a fairly amusing song and has a sort of Clown accompaniment with it as the instruments are used to sound sort of comical as well. A good song to just listen to as it doesn’t seem to stand for too much except for maybe Billie’s desire to dress up in Women’s clothes!!! Also mentions wanting his friends to see him in drag.
The next track “Good Riddance” is probably my favourite Green Day song. An acoustic song with just Billie Joe strumming away at his guitar without any thing else going on. A very beautiful song, which can be used to help you drift away or even if you’re a little sad and want to sing along to something this would be for you. Some string sections within the song really help to set the mood.
The final track on the album is “Prosthetic Head”, which is a little bit more upbeat but another good solid track with that sing a long type of feel. This time the drums and guitars are all back in full working order as there are some areas in the middle where it really lifts off then after a little goes back into a quiet sound.
Released: 1997 Label: Reprise Produced By: Rob Cavallo.
Recommended.
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Great review, This was a good Greenday album. What gets me though is that Good Riddance was actually release over a year before this album as a b-side.
Kyle
Nimrodcame along two years after 1995'sInsomniacand was the first indication of Green ... more
Day's willingness to stretch the boundaries of punk rock. The fullness of the record is first hinted at on "Hitchin' a Ride", which starts out chug-a-lugging and then...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Nimrodcame along two years after 1995'sInsomniacand was the first indication of Green ... more
Day's willingness to stretch the boundaries of punk rock. The fullness of the record is first hinted at on "Hitchin' a Ride", which starts out chug-a-lugging and then...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Nimrod came along two years after 1995's Insomniac and was the first indication of Green ... more
Day's willingness to stretch the boundaries of punk rock. The fullness of the record is first hinted at on "Hitchin' a Ride", which starts out chug-a-lugging and t...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Mar 18th, 2003
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