Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown

13

Comments

  • pdalowskypdalowsky Doncaster,UK Posts: 15,096
    Jesus of Surburbia aside i thought AI was shit.

    as a fan of Green day from the Kerplunk days (yep before Dookie hit), I just found it pathetic, like a an attempt to change their image, and subscribe to the new teen trendy crowd and play arenas and the likes.

    Green were an awesome club band, but they are bland and average in an arena. AI was produced for mass appeal and the radio, its like listening to My chemical romance/Sum41/Blink 182.

    I got the new album just in case it was good and because I love Green day but still havent managed to play the damn thing.

    That is something I will not be able to do when the Rancid record hits soon.
  • spearheadspearhead Posts: 600
    Oh my. I am going to apologize in advance for probably sounding like a dick in responding to your post. This is the exact mentality that is running this country into the ground. You want Green Day to fit into a nice, neat little box and produce the kind of music that first introduced you to them. You give them no permission to grow or to grow up. I pity people who engage with the world at 40 years old in the same way they did when they were 21. People like that haven't even bothered to live their lives. Seriously, you want the 40-year-olds singing about jerking off and farts? Really?
    Green Day was a good band before American Idiot. Now they're a great band. They are making music that matters. They are branching out and growing as musicians and as human beings. There is nothing contrived about what they are doing. They see how fucked up things have become and feel obligated to comment on it. And thank goodness for that. American Idiot is a masterpiece. 21st Century Breakdown is in the same ballpark. It's filled with songs that convey poignant and profound social commentary. As depressing as that commentary might be, people need to hear it.

    ....Yeah...what he said!

    I wish everyone on this thread could have seen this band throw it down at Webster Hall last week here in NYC ... they ended any debate at all. They are a great band with great songs and lots of attitude and stage presence and they can rock the fuck out of a packed room of sweaty fans rocking their asses off ... you can't fake that
    I was alone and far away when I heard the band start playing!

    ...I was always a DeadHead, but when I first heard Winston Rodney, aka the Burning Spear, sing, I became a SpearHead too!
  • Ryan_WFCRyan_WFC Posts: 1,350
    The notion that they "sold out" or tried to appeal to teens by recording rock operas with nine-minute songs baffles me.

    The reason "American Idiot" sold so well is it was great.
    "They said ... timing was everything
    made him ... want to be everywhere
    there's a ... lot to be said for nowhere."
  • pdalowskypdalowsky Doncaster,UK Posts: 15,096
    spearhead wrote:
    Oh my. I am going to apologize in advance for probably sounding like a dick in responding to your post. This is the exact mentality that is running this country into the ground. You want Green Day to fit into a nice, neat little box and produce the kind of music that first introduced you to them. You give them no permission to grow or to grow up. I pity people who engage with the world at 40 years old in the same way they did when they were 21. People like that haven't even bothered to live their lives. Seriously, you want the 40-year-olds singing about jerking off and farts? Really?
    Green Day was a good band before American Idiot. Now they're a great band. They are making music that matters. They are branching out and growing as musicians and as human beings. There is nothing contrived about what they are doing. They see how fucked up things have become and feel obligated to comment on it. And thank goodness for that. American Idiot is a masterpiece. 21st Century Breakdown is in the same ballpark. It's filled with songs that convey poignant and profound social commentary. As depressing as that commentary might be, people need to hear it.

    ....Yeah...what he said!

    I wish everyone on this thread could have seen this band throw it down at Webster Hall last week here in NYC ... they ended any debate at all. They are a great band with great songs and lots of attitude and stage presence and they can rock the fuck out of a packed room of sweaty fans rocking their asses off ... you can't
    fake that


    nah you dont sound like a dick, but I dont agree with what you say.

    Its like this, your point about farts and wanking is true, but did Green Day really use those as material that much? take insomniac as an example.....sure it had its fair share of drugs references but musically its not from the same box as Dookie was, not by a long way, in fact if you play 1039....and then Warning, you'll see bthat green day never stood still, they never conformed to that one particular sound, and aside from Keplunk and 1039 none of the records sound the same IMO. They matured on their scene over their whole careers, but for the reasons I mention above AI in my book just doesnt cut it, its not that great at all.

    Their live show on the insomniac tour and the Nimrod tour was insane, a real blast of a show, Nottingham Rock City was their ideal. totally blew me away. However doing this 'rock opera' shit with an additonal 'add' on guitarist just didnt work in the arenas, they looked lost. The stage presence just wasnt there, well thats unless you were and had your school tie on and your hair dyed black just like Billie.

    I respect any band from moving on, but I dont understand the comment that the mentality of 'dont fix it if it aint broken' is running the country into the ground??? no an artist uses his expereinces as subject matter for his lyrics and music, I went ahead and read through the lyrcis for the new record and lets be honest here its hardly fucking peace and war is it?

    My reference point once again is Rancid. Check em out live, and my god there is a lesson to learn right there. Punks biggest selling band from the 90's - and still releavnt today and top class whether they are stuck in their little boxes or not.
  • Ryan_WFCRyan_WFC Posts: 1,350
    It sounds like you just don't like the rock opera sound, which is fine. But the only evidence I see you presenting about them selling out is Billy Jo dying his hair, which is pretty weak.

    The way for them to "sell out" would have been to re-do "Dookie" six times.

    "American Idiot" alienated half the country right off the bat.
    "They said ... timing was everything
    made him ... want to be everywhere
    there's a ... lot to be said for nowhere."
  • pdalowskypdalowsky Doncaster,UK Posts: 15,096
    Ryan_WFC wrote:
    It sounds like you just don't like the rock opera sound, which is fine. But the only evidence I see you presenting about them selling out is Billy Jo dying his hair, which is pretty weak.

    The way for them to "sell out" would have been to re-do "Dookie" six times.

    "American Idiot" alienated half the country right off the bat.


    I think you hit the nail on the head, the rock opera thing isnt my cuppa.....and when you play Green Days other material next to AI there is no contest. Sure some people like it, some dont, all part of the fun of the music critique I guess....hell some people hate the Advocado record and I love it.....tastes I guess

    as for the dying hair comment, not entirely valid as he's dyed his hair since day one any number of wacky colours.....
  • Ryan_WFCRyan_WFC Posts: 1,350
    That's cool. I'm also coming at it from the opposite perspective -- I knew about Green Day but was never really a fan until "American Idiot."
    "They said ... timing was everything
    made him ... want to be everywhere
    there's a ... lot to be said for nowhere."
  • gabersgabers Posts: 2,787
    Did anyone catch their performance on The Colbert Report the other day? I thought it was great and great interview as always by Colbert. Make sure and watch Colbert's patriotic performance right before their set. Frickin' hilarious.

    http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2009 ... s-colbert/
  • prytocorduroyprytocorduroy Posts: 4,355
    Ryan_WFC wrote:
    The reason "American Idiot" sold so well is it was great.
    I would just like to point out that Vanilla Ice's To the Extreme sold eleven million copies. So just because an album sells well does not make it great.

    Dookie rocks.
  • Ryan_WFCRyan_WFC Posts: 1,350
    danny72688 wrote:
    Ryan_WFC wrote:
    The reason "American Idiot" sold so well is it was great.
    I would just like to point out that Vanilla Ice's To the Extreme sold eleven million copies. So just because an album sells well does not make it great.

    Dookie rocks.

    I didn't say something has to be great to sell a lot. I said "American Idiot" sold a lot because it was great, not because Green Day sold out or pandered to teens or whatever.
    "They said ... timing was everything
    made him ... want to be everywhere
    there's a ... lot to be said for nowhere."
  • pdalowskypdalowsky Doncaster,UK Posts: 15,096
    Ryan_WFC wrote:
    danny72688 wrote:
    Ryan_WFC wrote:
    The reason "American Idiot" sold so well is it was great.
    I would just like to point out that Vanilla Ice's To the Extreme sold eleven million copies. So just because an album sells well does not make it great.

    Dookie rocks.

    I didn't say something has to be great to sell a lot. I said "American Idiot" sold a lot because it was great, not because Green Day sold out or pandered to teens or whatever.

    although they did ;)
  • NoCode_1NoCode_1 Posts: 44
    "American Idiot" is one of the best albums released in the last 5 years. It is great from start to finish. If "21st Century Breakdown" is half as good as "American Idiot" then I will be satisfied. I am holding out on listening to the album until I get the CD on Friday.

    I agree. That and avocado, nothing else!
    I just hate how they've changed their image! grrrr!
    Stay who you are! Not something you ain't!

    whats changed? they still wear stupid makeup and play three chords
  • NoCode_1NoCode_1 Posts: 44
    Ryan_WFC wrote:
    It sounds like you just don't like the rock opera sound, which is fine. But the only evidence I see you presenting about them selling out is Billy Jo dying his hair, which is pretty weak.

    The way for them to "sell out" would have been to re-do "Dookie" six times.

    "American Idiot" alienated half the country right off the bat.


    people just write on forums to hate, usually because they didnt get enough attention during their formative years.

    i'm glad the internet wasnt around before the 90's
  • g under pg under p Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,209
    spearhead wrote:
    Oh my. I am going to apologize in advance for probably sounding like a dick in responding to your post. This is the exact mentality that is running this country into the ground. You want Green Day to fit into a nice, neat little box and produce the kind of music that first introduced you to them. You give them no permission to grow or to grow up. I pity people who engage with the world at 40 years old in the same way they did when they were 21. People like that haven't even bothered to live their lives. Seriously, you want the 40-year-olds singing about jerking off and farts? Really?
    Green Day was a good band before American Idiot. Now they're a great band. They are making music that matters. They are branching out and growing as musicians and as human beings. There is nothing contrived about what they are doing. They see how fucked up things have become and feel obligated to comment on it. And thank goodness for that. American Idiot is a masterpiece. 21st Century Breakdown is in the same ballpark. It's filled with songs that convey poignant and profound social commentary. As depressing as that commentary might be, people need to hear it.

    ....Yeah...what he said!

    I wish everyone on this thread could have seen this band throw it down at Webster Hall last week here in NYC ... they ended any debate at all. They are a great band with great songs and lots of attitude and stage presence and they can rock the fuck out of a packed room of sweaty fans rocking their asses off ... you can't fake that

    WOW they play played Webster Hall, that tiny place. I really like that club Michael Franti and his band played their 2 years ago on the "Yell Fire" Tour he rocked the place till the fans and the walls were all sweating.

    I picked up Green Day last week and I loved this album but I had put it down just to avoid rearing it out. I've been a longtime fan just didn't buy anything till "American Idiot". Then started shopping for their albums going back in time to towards their first. It's then I recogized this is a truly great band besides I love 3 member bands...love RUSH. :)

    Peace & Stay Human
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • CommyCommy Posts: 4,984
    21 guns-great song
  • The title track is my favorite song on the album and probably my favorite Green Day song ever, just an amazing song. I also love Horseshoes and Handgrenades, Restless Heart Syndrome, Know Your Enemy, and Last of the American Girls.
  • Thoughts_ArriveThoughts_Arrive Melbourne, Australia Posts: 15,165
    I hope they release that song as a single.
    21st Century Breakdown > Know your enemy
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
  • Ryan_WFCRyan_WFC Posts: 1,350
    Murder City kicks ass
    "They said ... timing was everything
    made him ... want to be everywhere
    there's a ... lot to be said for nowhere."
  • g under pg under p Surfing The far side of THE Sombrero Galaxy Posts: 18,209
    g under p wrote:
    spearhead wrote:
    Oh my. I am going to apologize in advance for probably sounding like a dick in responding to your post. This is the exact mentality that is running this country into the ground. You want Green Day to fit into a nice, neat little box and produce the kind of music that first introduced you to them. You give them no permission to grow or to grow up. I pity people who engage with the world at 40 years old in the same way they did when they were 21. People like that haven't even bothered to live their lives. Seriously, you want the 40-year-olds singing about jerking off and farts? Really?
    Green Day was a good band before American Idiot. Now they're a great band. They are making music that matters. They are branching out and growing as musicians and as human beings. There is nothing contrived about what they are doing. They see how fucked up things have become and feel obligated to comment on it. And thank goodness for that. American Idiot is a masterpiece. 21st Century Breakdown is in the same ballpark. It's filled with songs that convey poignant and profound social commentary. As depressing as that commentary might be, people need to hear it.

    ....Yeah...what he said!

    I wish everyone on this thread could have seen this band throw it down at Webster Hall last week here in NYC ... they ended any debate at all. They are a great band with great songs and lots of attitude and stage presence and they can rock the fuck out of a packed room of sweaty fans rocking their asses off ... you can't fake that

    WOW they play played Webster Hall, that tiny place. I really like that club Michael Franti and his band played their 2 years ago on the "Yell Fire" Tour he rocked the place till the fans and the walls were all sweating.

    I picked up Green Day last week and I loved this album but I had put it down just to avoid rearing it out. I've been a longtime fan just didn't buy anything till "American Idiot". Then started shopping for their albums going back in time to towards their first. It's then I recogized this is a truly great band besides I love 3 member bands...love RUSH. :)

    Peace & Stay Human

    My favorite has to PEACEMAKER, I like songs that are constructed with a different pace.

    Peace
    *We CAN bomb the World to pieces, but we CAN'T bomb it into PEACE*...Michael Franti

    *MUSIC IS the expression of EMOTION.....and that POLITICS IS merely the DECOY of PERCEPTION*
    .....song_Music & Politics....Michael Franti

    *The scientists of today think deeply instead of clearly. One must be sane to think clearly, but one can think deeply and be quite INSANE*....Nikola Tesla(a man who shaped our world of electricity with his futuristic inventions)


  • youngsteryoungster Boston Posts: 6,576
    The more I listen to this album, the more I love it. There are a lot of catchy riffs, great hooks and unforgettable melodies. Truly a classic. Almost like it as much as American Idiot. But for the record, Dookie was and will always be their best album.
    He who forgets will be destined to remember.

    9/29/04 Boston, 6/28/08 Mansfield, 8/23/09 Chicago, 5/15/10 Hartford
    5/17/10 Boston, 10/15/13 Worcester, 10/16/13 Worcester, 10/25/13 Hartford
    8/5/16 Fenway, 8/7/16 Fenway
    EV Solo: 6/16/11 Boston, 6/18/11 Hartford,
  • restlesssoulrestlesssoul Posts: 6,951
    ive listened about two times. pretty good stuff i have to say, much to my chagrin.
    Van '98, Sea I+II '00, Sea '01, Sea II '02, Van '03, Gorge, Van, Cal, Edm '05, Bos I+II, Phi I+II, DC, SF II+III, Port, Gorge I+II '06, DC, NY I+II '08, Sea I+II, Van, Ridge , LA III+IV' 09, Indy '10, Cal, Van '11, Lond, Van, Sea '13, Memphis '14, RRHOF '17, Sea I+II '18, Van I+II, Vegas I+II '24
  • Thoughts_ArriveThoughts_Arrive Melbourne, Australia Posts: 15,165
    Turned the tv on this morning and they were playing 21 Guns video.
    It is a live video, awesome stuff.
    I missed half of it, dammit!
    Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/2014
  • Back_PedalBack_Pedal Posts: 1,171
    Bought the new album on an impulse, and while a lot of the choruses are still samey and generic, there are quite a few good songs on it.
    Thanks EPOTTSIII!
    "Vinyl or not, you will need to pay someone to take RA of your hands" - Smile05
    424, xxx
  • libragirllibragirl Posts: 4,632
    I think it's a brilliant album. I loved AI but this one is a lot better imo.
    These cuts are leaving creases. Trace the scars to fit the pieces, to tell the story, you don't need to say a word.
  • bigeye21bigeye21 Posts: 981
    Saw the tour opener last night in Seattle and Green Day absolutely delivered! Awesome show and worth seeing if they are in your neck of the woods.

    Seattle Times review: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/m ... day04.html
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  • Brisk.Brisk. Posts: 11,567
    Im going to see them later this year

    I've given this record a few listens and there are some catchy songs in it, digging it a bit.
  • Tuolumne MamaTuolumne Mama Posts: 1,210
    I agree with Cropduster's comments. Dookie remains my favorite mainly due to that time of life. This album has some awesome songs that grow on me with each listen. Will be seeing them in 2 weeks and was impressed with their presales and fantastic seats we got thru my son's membership only since 2005. Been kicking it in and out of here since postcards but keep getting lost with each new forum. Not bitching about 10 and know other old timers this has happened. Just sayin GD has fewer club scalpers at shows.
    ======================================================================
    "What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal." Albert Pine.


  • libragirllibragirl Posts: 4,632
    bigeye21 wrote:
    Saw the tour opener last night in Seattle and Green Day absolutely delivered! Awesome show and worth seeing if they are in your neck of the woods.

    Seattle Times review: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/m ... day04.html

    Awesome review. I see them in a couple of weeks, I can't wait. Can't say I read too many reviews that called it a let down.
    These cuts are leaving creases. Trace the scars to fit the pieces, to tell the story, you don't need to say a word.
  • PatrickBatemanPatrickBateman Posts: 2,243
    Still listening to it once in awhile....taking my son and 2 nephews next Friday.
    If a man speaks in a forest and there is no woman around to hear him, is he still wrong?
  • Brisk.Brisk. Posts: 11,567
    Gloria and 21st century breakdown at stand out tracks.
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