21st Century Breakdown was released 16 years ago today

[solongfromthestars]

21st Century Breakdown has been out for 16 years today. I was 14 when it was released and the album is now older than that. How is that even possible?! 😳

It's still my favourite Green Day album and probably my favourite album of all time. Sentimentally my favourite song from it is still ¡Viva La Gloria! but objectively I think American Eulogy is the best and also one of Green Day's best live songs. Only Forever Now can compete.

[Gwen Stacy]

My gosh, has it been that long? Crazy. 
 

This record changed my life. I still remember listening to it for the first time. I put it on while playing video games and by the time of Christian’s Inferno I paused the game and was simply entranced. 21st Century Breakdown made me a Green Day fan. American Idiot felt like it belonged to everyone but Breakdown felt like it could be mine. Maybe not my *favorite* GD record anymore but the songwriting hasn’t been matched since, the production is the best anyone not named Rob Cavallo has done for them, it’s just brimming with musical ideas. And of course that tour- you just had to be there. The emo aesthetic put a lot non-fans off this record but they’re missing out.

[Fuzz]

21CB remains one of my top 3 Green Day albums. Honestly probably top 2. I always go back to it. East Jesus Nowhere and Horseshoes and Hand grenades are still two of the most pump-ass songs Green Day has released.

[Gwen Stacy]

9 minutes ago, Fuzz said:

pump-ass

Static Noise reboot when?

[billy1986]

This is their best along with Insomniac. Still shocked that Last Night On Earth wasn’t a single or Restless Heart Syndrome.

[jengd]

Goodness, how is that possible!  I remember running out of work up to the record shop to buy the CD and it was playing when I went in.  It’s also the first tour I saw them live and I just couldn’t believe how amazing they were live.  We had a ton of hassle with tickets but it was still worth it.   Still love the whole album and listen to it regularly.  

[Dingle]

1 hour ago, Gwen Stacy said:

My gosh, has it been that long? Crazy. 
 

This record changed my life. I still remember listening to it for the first time. I put it on while playing video games and by the time of Christian’s Inferno I paused the game and was simply entranced. 21st Century Breakdown made me a Green Day fan. American Idiot felt like it belonged to everyone but Breakdown felt like it could be mine. Maybe not my *favorite* GD record anymore but the songwriting hasn’t been matched since, the production is the best anyone not named Rob Cavallo has done for them, it’s just brimming with musical ideas. And of course that tour- you just had to be there. The emo aesthetic put a lot non-fans off this record but they’re missing out.

Your right the 21st C tour was amazing, although AI is still my fav. If you want to see and experience the ultimate live show on planet earth, only GD has done that. 

[greendepent]

Still by far their best. It had everything. We won't see this level again

[Mollyluna]

44 minutes ago, greendepent said:

We won't see this level again

Probably. But taking into account how much this effort cost Billie, I think it’s okay. Very happy with the level of Saviors!

[greendepent]

45 minutes ago, Mollyluna said:

Probably. But taking into account how much this effort cost Billie, I think it’s okay. Very happy with the level of Saviors!

I know that, I didn't mean that they can't make good stuff today, because they clearly can (Fancy Sauce is my top 2 Green Day song of all time), and by no means I want them to go that path again with all the backlashes it had. I'm truly greatful they are still making music in their terms, and in the end, that's what is the most important to me.

 

This won't change my opinion that 21stCB era is clearly their golden era from a fanbase point of view. Their best shows were made there. Promo was amazing, MVs mostly flawless, my first show was in 2010. I can't overstate this enough

[Dingle]

I suppose it's to late now of any chance of a Bullet in Bible 2, double CD/DVD of 21st C live show? 

[jengd]

Oooh, maybe if we start campaigning now we will get a live show for the 20th anniversary?

[Tomcat20]

I really hope they’ll play the song 21st Century Breakdown live again someday. I love that song—ever since the first time I heard the demo version.

[nowshesgone]

ill never understand why CI specifically was only played 4 times
imagine if they pull it out this year whenever they get LNOE back on the setlist

[billy1986]

I wish they would team up with Bitch Vig again. The sounds on this album are perfection. 

[Gonzalo17]

Wait 4 more years for the Deluxe edition 😟

[solongfromthestars]

Christian's Inferno needs to replace St. Jimmy for at least a few shows.

On another note it took me a bit to realise my post had been turned into a thread and that I hadn't just forgotten I'd done it 😂

[Fuzz]

20 hours ago, Gwen Stacy said:

Static Noise reboot when?

Lmao. You don't know how happy it makes me that someone else picked up on that. I still use that phrase all the time and I think of the podcast every time. 

[Tomcat20]

Honestly the whole 21st CB era was peak Green Day.

[Cris.]

I remember when this album came out, so much excitement It's such an amazing album, the song writing is genius as usual, the story line is so good, and so many great songs! Starting with 21st Century Breakdown of course, but also American Eulogy, Peacemaker (one my top 5 GD songs I haven't seen live but would love to do).  The tour was amazing too, including the one and only show GD has done in Venezuelan 🥹 Amazing era for the fans, even if it was a tough one for the band.

 

18 hours ago, greendepent said:

Fancy Sauce is my top 2 Green Day song of all time

Always great to find a fellow Fancy Sauce fan 😁

[Hermione]

Incredible album! It was the first one I got to anticipate after becoming a fan from American Idiot and it was so much fun being on GDC for it. I still remember waiting for every little hint and speculating about it before there was real social media, and "team A and team B" on here (people who listened when it was released digitally and people who waited longer for the CD ). It was mindblowing hearing it, even bigger and more complex than AI and so worth the wait. Got to see them live the first time for the tour as well with probably their best setlists ever and again it was even more awesome because of getting to meet so many GDCers at the show. I'll always associate the album with the good times being a new member here.

I think this is one of their best (and possibly underrated) music videos

 

As well as best show opener ever (watching this video of the crowd always makes me HYPED to see GD live)

 

[Cris.]

1 hour ago, Hermione said:

Incredible album! It was the first one I got to anticipate after becoming a fan from American Idiot and it was so much fun being on GDC for it. I still remember waiting for every little hint and speculating about it before there was real social media, and "team A and team B" on here (people who listened when it was released digitally and people who waited longer for the CD ). It was mindblowing hearing it, even bigger and more complex than AI and so worth the wait. Got to see them live the first time for the tour as well with probably their best setlists ever and again it was even more awesome because of getting to meet so many GDCers at the show. I'll always associate the album with the good times being a new member here.

I think this is one of their best (and possibly underrated) music videos

 

As well as best show opener ever (watching this video of the crowd always makes me HYPED to see GD live)

 

Agreed on all accounts! Specially how good (and underrated) the 21CB video is.

[nowshesgone]

5 hours ago, solongfromthestars said:

Christian's Inferno needs to replace St. Jimmy for at least a few shows.

On another note it took me a bit to realise my post had been turned into a thread and that I hadn't just forgotten I'd done it 😂

I remember seeing a comment about how they only did CI 4 times because it was story tied (or smth like that) yet they still regularly do Jimmy, Are We and Letterbomb which are all tied to AI's story HEAVLY

[Christian's Inferno!]

Amazing album. I could spend hours talking about how fantastic it is. All 18 tracks imo are great.

What I will say is I think it's only getting more popular with time. While there have always been plenty of people who appreciate this album for the masterpiece it is, I think I'm seeing people call it their favourite album more and more over time. When people discover Green Day's music through American Idiot or Saviors or whatever new album they release, 21CB is likely going to be an album that stands out to them if they like those albums. The rise of Last Night on Earth on streaming (it's in the band's Top 10 on Spotify now despite that track being a non-single) is gonna bring more people to the album. And I think the variety that this album has compared to some of their other album's only makes it stand out more.

I think no matter what they did after American Idiot, it wasn't possible for the band to please everyone. But when people just listen to the album for what it is and don't try to think of it as the "follow up to American Idiot", they're much more likely to appreciate it for what it is.

[Dingle]

6 hours ago, Cris. said:

Agreed on all accounts! Specially how good (and underrated) the 21CB video is.

Talking of which, can't remember if we discuss 'Official Music Video's much? Do we love 'em, hate 'em, or just indifferent. 4, I think. 21st C, Know Your Enemy,  21 Guns & Last of the American Girls.  Imho 21st C just edges it. Remember seeing a doc' on making of 21 Guns, which was a tad scary.