One Of The Albums Of The Year
Green Day are back and what an audacious album they are back with, not afraid to experiment with two nine minute tracks; ‘Jesus of Suburbia’ and ‘Homecoming’. The album ‘American Idiot’ is a fantastic concept punk album, which details the alienation and disillusionment of the American citizen under Bush's post-War On Terror administration.
This to me is what punk was all about; opposing the current system, music of protest and anger. ‘American Idiot’ shows the depth of feeling and anger, and this comes through in the title track that opens the album. It lays bare for all to see the alienation and disillusionment of a wide section of people, Green Day are their spokesmen, and boy they are doing it well.
‘Jesus of Suburbia’ is the first of a very audacious attempt to mix classic American rock with their brand of punk. This is a great crossover track that lasts for nine minutes and every minute is worthwhile. There are two tracks on here that last nine minutes, the second being ‘Homecoming’. Again a fantastic track, you can really feel the angst and pent up frustration that Green Day feel towards America at this moment in time.
There are some really fantastic tracks on this album; ‘St Jimmy’ has that old fashioned punk rock feel about it, ‘Boulevard Of Broken Dreams’, a good old fashioned punk wake-up call that hopes are dashed, by the powers that be and wake up to what is around you. One of my personal favourite tracks on the album is ‘Give Me Novacaine’ a great crossover tune, a mixture of rock and punk, that is sheer brilliance.
‘She’s A Rebel’ could be anyone, male or female and I am sure we have all felt like the “………missing link on the brink of destruction” there are bound to be many people who can identify with the anger in the track. Especially those who feel dispossessed and not represented by their government.
I could go on and on about individual tracks, as there is so much on this album that is worth talking about. ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends’ is such a powerful and evocative track that manages to combine the tender with the powerful.
This album shows that Green Day are back in form, this is an absolutely fantastic album that I cannot praise highly enough. This may be different to some of the things that they have done in the past, but this album smacks you between the eyes and demands you take notice of it. One of my favourite albums of the year and I can guarantee I shall be playing again and again.