I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk about this album on here (maybe there has in the political section?). Honestly, ten years ago, if you would've told me I would be sitting here today talking about the new Green Day album... the new Green Day album that's a friggin' OPERA!, I would've said you were crazy.
Let me preface this by saying that I'm a fan. I have all of their albums, and I love their work. I think they get successively better with each album (with the exception of Insomniac), and this one holds true to that.
I'm sure you guys have probably heard the single "American Idiot", and yeah, it has very political overtones to it. Whether it's anti-American or unpatriotic is up to the listener, I guess. However, I think that song is not a good representation of the rest of the album. Like I said, it's a concept album that's more about the denegration of the moral fabric of America than booting Bush out of office.
The story's main character is named Jesus of Suburbia. He's supposed to be a sort of modern messiah, and the album follows him as he sees the hatred and destruction tearing the country apart right now. His only true friend is a drug dealer named St. Jimmy, who drags him down into the pits of the hatred with the rest of them. In the end, Jimmy kills himself with no explanation, leaving no real resolution and no sense of hope for Jesus of Suburbia.
Music-wise, Green Day really branch out. They manage to have a 9-minute punk song that never gets old. Some songs fall flat, but most are entertaining, and some ("Wake Me Up When September Ends", in particular) are among their greatest work.
I guess all I'm saying is give them a chance, don't judge the whole album by that one song. Or do. It doesn't really matter. I guess if you're going to like this CD, you would already have it by now.
Let me preface this by saying that I'm a fan. I have all of their albums, and I love their work. I think they get successively better with each album (with the exception of Insomniac), and this one holds true to that.
I'm sure you guys have probably heard the single "American Idiot", and yeah, it has very political overtones to it. Whether it's anti-American or unpatriotic is up to the listener, I guess. However, I think that song is not a good representation of the rest of the album. Like I said, it's a concept album that's more about the denegration of the moral fabric of America than booting Bush out of office.
The story's main character is named Jesus of Suburbia. He's supposed to be a sort of modern messiah, and the album follows him as he sees the hatred and destruction tearing the country apart right now. His only true friend is a drug dealer named St. Jimmy, who drags him down into the pits of the hatred with the rest of them. In the end, Jimmy kills himself with no explanation, leaving no real resolution and no sense of hope for Jesus of Suburbia.
Music-wise, Green Day really branch out. They manage to have a 9-minute punk song that never gets old. Some songs fall flat, but most are entertaining, and some ("Wake Me Up When September Ends", in particular) are among their greatest work.
I guess all I'm saying is give them a chance, don't judge the whole album by that one song. Or do. It doesn't really matter. I guess if you're going to like this CD, you would already have it by now.
