Does anyone actually listen to Dos! ?

[Mollyluna]

Hello! I‘m actually still listening to Dos. And following the lyrics, especially for Lazy Bones. To me this song seems like a pure cry for help. And I wonder whether back then Mike and Tre didn’t realize what state Billie was in to write these words. Maybe IHeart could have been avoided. But maybe they DID try to help and he didn’t accept it? We‘ll never know.

People say that Dos is such a fun album. Yes, for the most part. But this song isn’t fun, and I love it even more for it. It just fits into these fucked up times…

[jengd]

I think they said later that everyone knew Billie had to go to rehab but they were caught in the classic “just one more show” type thing.  

[Mollyluna]

22 minutes ago, jengd said:

I think they said later that everyone knew Billie had to go to rehab but they were caught in the classic “just one more show” type thing.  

Ah I see. And maybe he just wasn’t ready for rehab before the great crash at IHeart. Whatever, this song and its lyrics are touching me deeply…

[Cris.]

3 hours ago, Mollyluna said:

Hello! I‘m actually still listening to Dos. And following the lyrics, especially for Lazy Bones. To me this song seems like a pure cry for help. And I wonder whether back then Mike and Tre didn’t realize what state Billie was in to write these words. Maybe IHeart could have been avoided. But maybe they DID try to help and he didn’t accept it? We‘ll never know.

People say that Dos is such a fun album. Yes, for the most part. But this song isn’t fun, and I love it even more for it. It just fits into these fucked up times…

I remember Billie gave an interview after IHeartRadio and rehab were he was relatively open about how things went down. I'll try to find for you. If I remember correctly, some attempts were made to have him go to rehab before the whole thing exploded.

And yes, Lazy Bones in retrospective was a very clear cry for help. The whole album - the whole trilogy actually - really feels a lot like that, a very broken and vulnerable mental health state that is trying to be  kept hidden or "under control" by partying recklessly. Having revisited the trilogy after my return to the Green Day world, and after having lived a bit more during my time away 😅, I feel a bit guilty that I was so hard on it back then. Don't get me wrong, I'm still not a big fan of some of the songs in the trilogy, but I can understand it now and see where it was coming from.

[Cris.]

Voila: https://padackllins.tumblr.com/post/44148427032/full-billie-joe-armstrong-interview-for-rolling  @Mollyluna

That's the interview I had in mind. I have the feeling there was a bit more to it, like they asked Mike and maybe Tre a couple questions too which I don't see here, but maybe I'm miss remembering. And the original source is behind a paywall in Rolling Stones, so I cannot check.

Maybe others will know if there's any other interview where he also spoke candidly about that period.

[jengd]

Agreed, he was very open in the rolling stone article.  Is it on here in the magazine scans?

[Mollyluna]

1 hour ago, Cris. said:

Voila: https://padackllins.tumblr.com/post/44148427032/full-billie-joe-armstrong-interview-for-rolling  @Mollyluna

That's the interview I had in mind. I have the feeling there was a bit more to it, like they asked Mike and maybe Tre a couple questions too which I don't see here, but maybe I'm miss remembering. And the original source is behind a paywall in Rolling Stones, so I cannot check.

Maybe others will know if there's any other interview where he also spoke candidly about that period.

Wow, that was really interesting. Thank you very much! And it was as I suspected: he obviously needed that meltdown to really feel the necessity of going into rehab. Nevertheless I see Lazy Bones as a cry for help, even if he wasn’t ready to accept it…

[Jesus-of-nowhere]

I have the CD (I have all studios minus RR and saviors) and I listen to it sometime but overall the trilogy just feels so filler that I have a hard time listening to any of them except uno, which has the best of the tracks I think. Dos! does have some good songs I just usually prefer Uno! I give the congrats though on trying what they did instead of 2 similar albums to a whole trilogy, I just wish they would have worked on it more and gave some time for Billy to recoup after the breakdown during making 21st. Overall good album though

[Saviour]

Stray Heart is one of the best songs on the entire Trilogy and a top-20 Green Day all-timer IMO.

Unfortunately like all three Trilogy albums it badly suffers from bloat. They just spread themselves too thinly. 

Then when you hear some of the better-produced Demolicious versions (Baby Eyes is the best example here) then you realise just how wide of the mark the production is on these albums. Honestly give the two versions of Baby Eyes a listen back to back. The guitars are too clean, too thin, lack any life and are way too over-compressed. The entire Trilogy just lacks dynamics.

Like with pretty much everything post-AI, I pick and choose album tracks what to listen to. 

Although the obvious should be stated: Nightlife and Amy are both absolutely awful and should've been nowhere near any release. Fuck Time would probably bundled in with that too but it's slightly redeemed because it's a bop. The lyrics are... regrettable at best, misogynistic nonsense at worst. 

[Hermione]

3 hours ago, Saviour said:

Stray Heart is one of the best songs on the entire Trilogy and a top-20 Green Day all-timer IMO.

Unfortunately like all three Trilogy albums it badly suffers from bloat. They just spread themselves too thinly. 

Then when you hear some of the better-produced Demolicious versions (Baby Eyes is the best example here) then you realise just how wide of the mark the production is on these albums. Honestly give the two versions of Baby Eyes a listen back to back. The guitars are too clean, too thin, lack any life and are way too over-compressed. The entire Trilogy just lacks dynamics.

Like with pretty much everything post-AI, I pick and choose album tracks what to listen to. 

Although the obvious should be stated: Nightlife and Amy are both absolutely awful and should've been nowhere near any release. Fuck Time would probably bundled in with that too but it's slightly redeemed because it's a bop. The lyrics are... regrettable at best, misogynistic nonsense at worst. 

I don't see how it's misogynistic tbh. It's just about wanting to have sex, with someone he knows and is just as into it as him based on the first verse and the context of the album. There's the choking thing but that part is mostly just a play on the Rolling Stones song Miss Amanda Jones plus some people are into that. It was written as a joke for the American Idiot musical cast (because they used to get in a circle and say "it's fuck time" before performances) and as a Foxboro Hot Tubs song so can't take it too seriously. But from how Billie's talked about it I don't think he was writing about the sex stuff on the album flippantly, it sounds like he really felt he should be honest about having those thoughts/fantasies and dove as deep into himself to write it as he does with anything else (even if some might have come out a bit cringe). I can't remember where I heard him saying it now but it gave an interesting perspective on it.

[Radio victim]

Dos has some of my favorite deep cuts tbh,, Wild One, Baby Eyes, Lazy Bones and Ashley are all great songs and Lazy Bones specifically I'd consider to be one of their best songs post-21st century breakdown. The biggest problem with Dos (and to be fair, the entire trilogy) are the lyrics, specially in Nightlife (which does have a really cool instrumental). In the end, I don't feel that it's the worst of the trilogy (Uno takes that title for me) but it's not the best either and iI usually rank it on the lower half of their discography.

[Cris.]

On 2/11/2025 at 3:06 PM, Saviour said:

Stray Heart is one of the best songs on the entire Trilogy and a top-20 Green Day all-timer IMO.

Unfortunately like all three Trilogy albums it badly suffers from bloat. They just spread themselves too thinly. 

Then when you hear some of the better-produced Demolicious versions (Baby Eyes is the best example here) then you realise just how wide of the mark the production is on these albums. Honestly give the two versions of Baby Eyes a listen back to back. The guitars are too clean, too thin, lack any life and are way too over-compressed. The entire Trilogy just lacks dynamics.

Like with pretty much everything post-AI, I pick and choose album tracks what to listen to. 

Although the obvious should be stated: Nightlife and Amy are both absolutely awful and should've been nowhere near any release. Fuck Time would probably bundled in with that too but it's slightly redeemed because it's a bop. The lyrics are... regrettable at best, misogynistic nonsense at worst. 

Same as @Hermione, I've never seen those lyrics as misogynistic either... they are far from being my favorite Green Day lyrics, but I've always seen Fuck Time and Stop When the Red Lights Flash as a kinky bundle 😅 The whole "chock you 'til you're blue in the face" and "hold you 'til you're paralyzed", mixed with the rough language he's using, and the fact that it's followed by Stop When the Red Lights Flash, what with "red" being the most universally recognized safeword for people who engage in kink activities, and lines like "I'll kill it if you want me to", "I'm not the hurting kind", "stop when the red lights flash", it has always made me think that these two songs are just talking about some kinky sex experience / fantasy. The initial rush and excitement of the thing in Fuck Time, the reaching the limits in the Stop When the Red Light Flash. And then he comes crashing down from the excitement in Lazy Bones, only to go off in another bender 2 songs later in Makeout Party. Dude is just trying to escape his feelings by any means in every other song.  

[billy1986]

Trilogy as a whole I think should have been a double album…Dos should have been a true Foxboro follow up..Stay the Night I feel I’d the standout track should have been a single as well as 8th Ave Serenade and Missing You…Dos! I feel is a very dark album lyric wise and is not their best f-time/make out party/baby eyes…kinda filler. Ashley is a standout I wonder who that was about I always felt Dos might be about Billie’s AI musical days where there was partying and Ashley, Stray Heart, maybe we’re about the actor who played Whatsernsme on the original tour run…Billie and here seemed close in documentaries and I wonder if he may have had a fling or feelings for her…infidelity seems to be a theme and making amends…still feel the Trilogy is a dark spot in the bands ears just because of what was going on behind the scenes….just a theory so don’t get mad. 

[The Grohl]

Dos isn't my least fave in the Trilogy...that would be Tre...but it's not my fave either. Still, as others have pointed out there are some great songs here: Stray Heart, Lazy Bones, even Makeout Party - that song is a lot of fun! But just like the entire trilogy, there's too much filler. Lady Cobra is a joke, Nightlife would've been cool without Lady Cobra, and songs like Wow! That's Loud and Baby Eyes are inoffensive yet forgettable. 

[GreenDayJunkie86]

I actually did a cover of Nightlife on bass. It's a super groovy fun song to play. I have a mindset where I think albums have feelings, haha. When I haven't listened to an album in a long time I start to listen to it because I feel bad for it, lol. Does anyone else feel that way? Kind of OCD to be honest. Anyways, I love Dos. Super great album, despite what people say. 

[Undómiel]

That interview was really interesting, I've never read/heard anything before about Billie going deep about his faling off the wagon. Even in the dax shepherd interview I don't think he talked about it 🤔 

It's absolutely none of my business, but I find the most interesting part how it affected the dynamics of the band. How is it being someone’s best friend but also their business partner (essentially), and then seeing them go through something like that (Mike)? I mean, unless one of them writes an autobiography, which I can't see happening, we'll never know... 

 

I wonder if they now try and keep a dry backstage? 

Is Dilemna a reference to this episode (2013) or has he fallen off since then? 

[Rumpelstiltskin2000]

40 minutes ago, Undómiel said:

🤔 Is Dilemma a reference to this episode (2013) or has he fallen off since then? 

Sadly it was since but it probably relates to alcoholism generally? Anyone please feel free to correct me if wrong

[mikedirntseviltwin]

(controversial take, I know ) I think the Trilogy is some of GD's most free and just fun work. Uno and Tre are always in my playlist, I have the CD of those albums playing semi constantly. They're just kick-ass punk records and you gotta (at least begrudgingly) like them. Dos feels more, experimental isn't quite the word, but definitely more 'let's try this and see what happens' and sometimes it works (Stray Heart, Baby Eyes, Stop When the Red Lights Flash) and sometimes....it really doesn't. Mixed bag for me, but still a fun album.  Wow! That's Loud! is one of my favorite songs on the Trilogy as a whole. So yeah, I definitely give it a spin once in a while.

Also there's F**K Time. You gotta at least admire any band that releases a song called F**K Time.

Edited February 17 by mikedirntseviltwin
Just forget to mention something

[Undómiel]

3 hours ago, Rumpelstiltskin2000 said:

Sadly it was since but it probably relates to alcoholism generally? Anyone please feel free to correct me if wrong

Something in my mind was telling me it was since. I wasn't really following then, but some of those Longshot shows look quite... wet. 😅

 

I'm not judging at all, I have a very personal connection to alcoholism and addiction, and know it's extremely difficult for someone to stay completely sober. They've got to really really want to, and have an absolutely iron will. I don't think it's a character flaw if they don't because I know I wouldn't be able to do it. The problem with "oh, I'll just have a one," is that if you've got an addictive personality it can quickly slide to much much more. Which can make the "one drink" extremely stressful for those who care about the person in question. 

 

Which I suppose, really, is what Dilemma is about. 

[Rumpelstiltskin2000]

5 minutes ago, Undómiel said:

Something in my mind was telling me it was since. I wasn't really following then, but some of those Longshot shows look quite... wet. 😅

 

I'm not judging at all, I have a very personal connection to alcoholism and addiction, and know it's extremely difficult for someone to stay completely sober. They've got to really really want to, and have an absolutely iron will. I don't think it's a character flaw if they don't because I know I wouldn't be able to do it. The problem with "oh, I'll just have a one," is that if you've got an addictive personality it can quickly slide to much much more. Which can make the "one drink" extremely stressful for those who care about the person in question. 

 

Which I suppose, really, is what Dilemma is about. 

Yeah exactly (I'll be 37 years sober in June!). Still need to pack up smoking though

[GreenDayJunkie86]

20 minutes ago, Rumpelstiltskin2000 said:

Yeah exactly (I'll be 37 years sober in June!). Still need to pack up smoking though

Congratulations  !!!

[jengd]

I think the general belief is he was ok until part way through the HM tour when it snuck up on him again.  I’m sure he said in a Saviors interview that he’d thought he was ok to drink a little and blamed the drugs but has since realised he can’t and is now completely sober.  There has been a lot of analysing what he’s been seen drinking but it’s always been alcohol free recently.  I just want him to take care of himself but there is no denying he sounds and looks better when he’s well.  

[nowshesgone]

4 minutes ago, jengd said:

I think the general belief is he was ok until part way through the HM tour when it snuck up on him again.  I’m sure he said in a Saviors interview that he’d thought he was ok to drink a little and blamed the drugs but has since realised he can’t and is now completely sober.  There has been a lot of analysing what he’s been seen drinking but it’s always been alcohol free recently.  I just want him to take care of himself but there is no denying he sounds and looks better when he’s well.  

i wouldn't be surprised if what sent him fully off of the wagon was the show they did during tre's birthday party

[Mollyluna]

5 hours ago, Undómiel said:

Something in my mind was telling me it was since. I wasn't really following then, but some of those Longshot shows look quite... wet. 😅

 

I'm not judging at all, I have a very personal connection to alcoholism and addiction, and know it's extremely difficult for someone to stay completely sober. They've got to really really want to, and have an absolutely iron will. I don't think it's a character flaw if they don't because I know I wouldn't be able to do it. The problem with "oh, I'll just have a one," is that if you've got an addictive personality it can quickly slide to much much more. Which can make the "one drink" extremely stressful for those who care about the person in question. 

 

Which I suppose, really, is what Dilemma is about. 

According to the interviews I've read he relapsed in 2017 and again in 2022. If I remember correctly Dilemma was written in 2022 while being drunk. On the Howard Stern Show of January 2024 he talked about it and said he's sober now because he was fed up with being drunk and feeling tired all the time. For his own sake I really wish he manages to keep it that way. He seems so happy and healthy now!❤️

[Cris.]

2 hours ago, jengd said:

I think the general belief is he was ok until part way through the HM tour when it snuck up on him again.  I’m sure he said in a Saviors interview that he’d thought he was ok to drink a little and blamed the drugs but has since realised he can’t and is now completely sober.  There has been a lot of analysing what he’s been seen drinking but it’s always been alcohol free recently.  I just want him to take care of himself but there is no denying he sounds and looks better when he’s well.  

I was talking about this with my sister after the European leg of the Saviors tour. She's the sis who went with me with to the AI and 21CBD tour shows in the US, and she asked if the band was still as energetic and so on, and I was trying to explain that yes they are, but in a less manic sort of way? It's hard to explain, but definitely I can perceive the difference between the Billie of the 21CBD tour and the Billie of the Saviors tours, like he's more present somehow? It's a very positive change and it makes me happy for him.