Music: Green Day
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Paul Watson wrote: It is the best album I have bought all year. I think it's awesome, to say the least, and a well timed release. I like this review... "...That, essentially, is the crux of American Idiot, Green Day's seventh studio album. Four years in the making, it's the story of the alienated, de-motivated Average Joe living under Bush's administration and the American media. 'Where have all the riots gone?' frontman Billie Joe Armstrong sings, '...the television's an obstructionist.' As far as content is concerned then, the album's political discontent is nothing new; topical, sure, and undoubtedly poetic, but not groundbreaking. In terms of shape and form however, American Idiot takes an audacious leap from today's pack of punk-poppers. It's a narrative driven 'concept' album framed by two nine-minute, five-part tracks. Rather like T.S. Eliot's epic modernist poem The Waste Land, the album's fragmentary, hazy story revolves around several enigmatic characters, held together by themes and images that recur throughout its thirteen songs. The tales of "Jesus of Suburbia", "St. Jimmy" and "Whatsername" are loosely woven together, united by 'rage and love'. Musically, Green Day have matured beyond belief since their debut LP, 39/Smooth (1990). Their trademark power-chord beef and manic drumming may now be tempered from time to time by the sound of church bells, piano and glockenspiel(!), but the band have never sounded so damn vast. "Are We The Waiting" resounds with jaw-dropping, eye-watering beauty, while the centrepiece harmony four minutes into "Jesus Of Suburbia" sends an inspirational shiver up the spine. In fact, only on "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" do Green Day trip up - tone down the distortion and exchange Billie Joe's adenoidal vocal for Liam Gallagher's and the track could easily belong to Oasis." http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/rockandalt/reviews/greenday_idiot.shtml[^] Later, JoeSox CPMCv1.0 ↔ humanaiproject.org ↔ joeswammi.com/sinfest
Ah good, someone agrees. Thought I was on drugs for awhile there. From the other, negative, comments I think "matured beyond belief" is the crux of the matter for Green Day fans. There is no Basket Case in this latest album but there is oh so much more. Funny how a band can mature, evolve and improve and in the process loose what they were famous for in the begining. Part of growing up though surely. The band members have aged. Times have changed, serious matters have risen their head which catchy toonz aren't going to tackle. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Michael Dunn wrote: "except the sod who voted this a 1, NO SOUP FOR YOU" Crikey! ain't life grand?
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I listened and had one overrinding thought: how absolutely banal.
I Do Whatever My Rice Krispies Tell Me To. Toasty0.com
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Paul Watson wrote: It is the best album I have bought all year. I think it's awesome, to say the least, and a well timed release. I like this review... "...That, essentially, is the crux of American Idiot, Green Day's seventh studio album. Four years in the making, it's the story of the alienated, de-motivated Average Joe living under Bush's administration and the American media. 'Where have all the riots gone?' frontman Billie Joe Armstrong sings, '...the television's an obstructionist.' As far as content is concerned then, the album's political discontent is nothing new; topical, sure, and undoubtedly poetic, but not groundbreaking. In terms of shape and form however, American Idiot takes an audacious leap from today's pack of punk-poppers. It's a narrative driven 'concept' album framed by two nine-minute, five-part tracks. Rather like T.S. Eliot's epic modernist poem The Waste Land, the album's fragmentary, hazy story revolves around several enigmatic characters, held together by themes and images that recur throughout its thirteen songs. The tales of "Jesus of Suburbia", "St. Jimmy" and "Whatsername" are loosely woven together, united by 'rage and love'. Musically, Green Day have matured beyond belief since their debut LP, 39/Smooth (1990). Their trademark power-chord beef and manic drumming may now be tempered from time to time by the sound of church bells, piano and glockenspiel(!), but the band have never sounded so damn vast. "Are We The Waiting" resounds with jaw-dropping, eye-watering beauty, while the centrepiece harmony four minutes into "Jesus Of Suburbia" sends an inspirational shiver up the spine. In fact, only on "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" do Green Day trip up - tone down the distortion and exchange Billie Joe's adenoidal vocal for Liam Gallagher's and the track could easily belong to Oasis." http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/rockandalt/reviews/greenday_idiot.shtml[^] Later, JoeSox CPMCv1.0 ↔ humanaiproject.org ↔ joeswammi.com/sinfest
i think the guy that did the review over at allmusic.com got a bit carried away... "...their version of a Who album, the next logical step forward from the Kinks-inspired popcraft of their underrated 2000 effort, Warning, but things aren't quite that simple. American Idiot is an unapologetic, unabashed rock opera, a form that Pete Townshend pioneered with Tommy, but Green Day doesn't use that for a blueprint as much as they use the Who's mini-opera "A Quick One, While He's Away," whose whirlwind succession of 90-second songs isn't only emulated on two song suites here, but provides the template for the larger 13-song cycle. But the Who are only one of many inspirations on this audacious, immensely entertaining album. The story of St. Jimmy has an arc similar to Hüsker Dü's landmark punk-opera Zen Arcade, while the music has grandiose flourishes straight out of both Queen and Rocky Horror Picture Show (the '50s pastiche "Rock and Roll Girlfriend" is punk rock Meat Loaf), all tied together with a nervy urgency and a political passion reminiscent of the Clash, or all the anti-Reagan American hardcore bands of the '80s." :confused: Windows NT crashed. I am the Blue Screen of Death. No one hears your screams.
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No no no, one line reviews are venal, but they do convey one thing--the listener's centempt of the music. :P Honestly, their music is very tired and should've been put to bed 3 to 4 years ago. Best, Jerry
I Do Whatever My Rice Krispies Tell Me To. Toasty0.com
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I have listened to a lot of Green Day in my short life but strangely have never owned one of their albums; Friends always had them to lend or the pool hall had the jukebox on repeat. So on seeing the new album, American Idiot*, in the store I put down the 'ash and bought it. It is the best album I have bought all year. If you have even a mild liking of Green Day you will like this. I haven't listened to them much recently but listening to it now I can hear how many recent bands are strongly influenced by Green Day. Anyway, just thought I would give my recommendation to the new album. * It is sad that I didn't put the name of the new album in the post title. I just know that if I did it would be voted down without having even been read. Just remember that Green Day is American. It's your fellow countrymen who are bashing America, not just us foreigners. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Michael Dunn wrote: "except the sod who voted this a 1, NO SOUP FOR YOU" Crikey! ain't life grand?
Color bands... Green Day Pink Floyd Deep Purple Black Sabbath (ok - no 'black is not a color' purists please) Blue Rodeo King Crimson . . . More? I'm looking for the next great band name here :)
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I thought it was disappointing personally. I much prefer Nimrod or Warning. Sorry. pseudonym67 My Articles[^] "They say there are strangers who threaten us, In our immigrants and infidels. They say there is strangeness too dangerous In our theaters and bookstore shelves. That those who know what's best for us Must rise and save us from ourselves." Rush
I like all their albums, however I believe the first one I bought was the best which was Dookie.
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pseudonym67 wrote: I much prefer Nimrod or Warning. Sorry. Any thoughts on 1,039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours or Kerplunk!? I still think they are excellent. Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So i had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash 24/04/2004
kerplunk would probably appear in my top 3 Green Day albums but I can't off the top of my head remember anything from smoothed out so I guess that says it all really. ;) pseudonym67 My Articles[^] "They say there are strangers who threaten us, In our immigrants and infidels. They say there is strangeness too dangerous In our theaters and bookstore shelves. That those who know what's best for us Must rise and save us from ourselves." Rush
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Color bands... Green Day Pink Floyd Deep Purple Black Sabbath (ok - no 'black is not a color' purists please) Blue Rodeo King Crimson . . . More? I'm looking for the next great band name here :)
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No no no, one line reviews are venal, but they do convey one thing--the listener's centempt of the music. :P Honestly, their music is very tired and should've been put to bed 3 to 4 years ago. Best, Jerry
I Do Whatever My Rice Krispies Tell Me To. Toasty0.com
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I have listened to a lot of Green Day in my short life but strangely have never owned one of their albums; Friends always had them to lend or the pool hall had the jukebox on repeat. So on seeing the new album, American Idiot*, in the store I put down the 'ash and bought it. It is the best album I have bought all year. If you have even a mild liking of Green Day you will like this. I haven't listened to them much recently but listening to it now I can hear how many recent bands are strongly influenced by Green Day. Anyway, just thought I would give my recommendation to the new album. * It is sad that I didn't put the name of the new album in the post title. I just know that if I did it would be voted down without having even been read. Just remember that Green Day is American. It's your fellow countrymen who are bashing America, not just us foreigners. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Michael Dunn wrote: "except the sod who voted this a 1, NO SOUP FOR YOU" Crikey! ain't life grand?
I agree. I haven't liked a Green Day record since Dookie. I really like their first three records, but after that totally lost interest. I think what really killed it for me was how the radio, as usually, played the hell out of a few songs. When I heard they were doing a 'rock opera' on their latest album, I had to give it a chance. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it was. I mean come on, you have what used to be a 2-minute punk band cranking out 9 minute songs? Crazy... My personal favorite is Jesus of Suburbia. Definitely a record that requires several listenings. I think it's a nice cross between solid Green Day tunes and Pink Floyd's The Wall.
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Color bands... Green Day Pink Floyd Deep Purple Black Sabbath (ok - no 'black is not a color' purists please) Blue Rodeo King Crimson . . . More? I'm looking for the next great band name here :)
Red Rider Whitesnake White Lion Blackfoot Rainbow(that's a stretch..) Black Flag Blue Murder Blue Cheer BLue Oyster Cult ... BW The Biggest Loser
"Farm Donkey makes us laugh.
Farm Donkey hauls some ass."
-The Stoves -
Maybe it isn't them at all but the whole genre that has grown stale... Maybe I should take some time and sample some recent faces to see what is developing. Best
I Do Whatever My Rice Krispies Tell Me To. Toasty0.com
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I have listened to a lot of Green Day in my short life but strangely have never owned one of their albums; Friends always had them to lend or the pool hall had the jukebox on repeat. So on seeing the new album, American Idiot*, in the store I put down the 'ash and bought it. It is the best album I have bought all year. If you have even a mild liking of Green Day you will like this. I haven't listened to them much recently but listening to it now I can hear how many recent bands are strongly influenced by Green Day. Anyway, just thought I would give my recommendation to the new album. * It is sad that I didn't put the name of the new album in the post title. I just know that if I did it would be voted down without having even been read. Just remember that Green Day is American. It's your fellow countrymen who are bashing America, not just us foreigners. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Michael Dunn wrote: "except the sod who voted this a 1, NO SOUP FOR YOU" Crikey! ain't life grand?