J'net Posted May 30, 2009 Posted May 30, 2009 For those of you who aren't familiar with the AllMusicGuide (www.allmusicguide.com), it is probably the largest data repository about music in existence. AMG sells their data to a multitude of web sites that want music-related data but don't want to have to maintain it. So, for example, if I go to Zune Marketplace or Borders.com or many others, any information I find about Green Day (bio, discography, reviews, album cover images, etc.) comes from AMG. You may have noticed that, on some music sites, you read the exact same information that you've seen on others. That's why.Anyway, this is AMG's review of Breakdown, and it's what people all over the world will be reading when they search various music marketplaces trying to decide what to buy.I'm rather pleased with it if not 100% in agreement. What do you think?Link to ReviewReviewby Stephen Thomas ErlewineAmerican Idiot was a rarity of the 21st century: a bona fide four-quadrant hit, earning critical and commercial respect, roping in new fans young and old alike. It was so big it turned Green Day into something it had never been before — respected, serious rockers, something they were never considered during their first flight of success with Dookie. Back then, they were clearly (and proudly) slacker rebels with a natural gift for a pop hook, but American Idiot was a big album with big ideas, a political rock opera in an era devoid of both protest rock and wild ambition, so its success was a surprise. It also ratcheted up high expectations for its successor, and Green Day consciously plays toward those expectations on 2009's 21st Century Breakdown, another political rock opera that isn't an explicit sequel but could easily be mistaken for one, especially as its narrative follows a young couple through the wilderness of modern urban America. Heady stuff, but like the best rock operas, the concept doesn't get in the way of the music, which is a bit of an accomplishment because 21st Century Breakdown leaves behind the punchy '60s Who fascination for Queen and '70s Who, giving this more than its share of pomp and circumstance. Then again, puffed-up protest is kind of the point of 21st Century Breakdown: it's meant to be taken seriously, so it's not entirely surprising that Green Day fall into many of the same pompous tarpits as their heroes, ratcheting up the stately pianos, vocal harmonies, repeated musical motifs, doubled and tripled guitars, and synthesized effects that substitute for strings, then adding some orchestras for good measure. It would all sound cluttered, even turgid, if it weren't for Green Day's unerring knack for writing muscular pop and natural inclination to run clean and lean, letting only one song run over five minutes and never letting the arrangements overshadow the song. Although Green Day's other natural gift, that for impish irreverent humor, is missed — they left it all behind on their 2008 garage rock side project Foxboro Hot Tubs — the band manages to have 21st Century Breakdown work on a grand scale without losing either their punk or pop roots, which makes the album not only a sequel to American Idiot, but its equal.
amy_runs Posted May 30, 2009 Posted May 30, 2009 I did like that review. Except for the "that for impish irreverent humor, is missed". It is not missing!
greendaytone Posted May 30, 2009 Posted May 30, 2009 Cool thanks for that J'net. Its a positive review overall isn't it. Its funny, quite a few people have said its lacking in humour, but i don't really see what they mean by that. Like what humour are they referring to any previous albums that is missing on this?
Clockwise Posted May 30, 2009 Posted May 30, 2009 I was expecting it to be humorless when I got it, since all the reviews describing that but it really, really isn't. Anyways, overall good review.
J'net Posted May 30, 2009 Author Posted May 30, 2009 Cool thanks for that J'net. Its a positive review overall isn't it. Its funny, quite a few people have said its lacking in humour, but i don't really see what they mean by that. Like what humour are they referring to any previous albums that is missing on this?Tony, I think the humor is here, but it's not the blatant, straightforward humor they've had in a lot of their previous songs. There's no Dominated Love Slave or King for a Day or Blood, Sex, and Booze on this album. While that's true, there's nothing like that on American Idiot, either, but no one seemed to complain about that. I think there's at least as much (if not more) humor on Breakdown as there is on AI. But, of course, that's just my opinion . It seems to me that once one person says something like "no humor" everyone else who writes a review has to pick up on it and use the same idea. So that could be part of it. Who knows?
tuwlol Posted May 30, 2009 Posted May 30, 2009 Thanks! Though, the link posted to the actual review is http://www.allmusicguide.com//www.allmusic...10:gcfwxz90ldte so it doesn't work.
J'net Posted May 30, 2009 Author Posted May 30, 2009 Thanks! Though, the link posted to the actual review is http://www.allmusicguide.com//www.allmusic...10:gcfwxz90ldte so it doesn't work.Thanks! The real problem was that it had two instances of http:// but I've fixed it now. I appreciate you pointing that out!
norcalgreendayfan Posted May 30, 2009 Posted May 30, 2009 Thanks for posting the review. I felt it was a good review overall but I think there still is a bit of the humor there so I am in agreement with others here that feel the same way. It just is a bit more subtle and not as easy to pick up on the album
Nova-Caine Posted May 30, 2009 Posted May 30, 2009 Thanks I enjoyed reading that, don't like the pomp references though I've had to defend this on a sports forum I go on. I don't see this album as being at all pompous or pretentious like some have slung at me, I see bravery, having the guts to do what they feel is right and not letting anyone persuade them any other way.That is what I love about GD is that they do what they want, how they want it and the world can go fuck itself.Christ I bet they've been nervous though.
Joey Posted May 30, 2009 Posted May 30, 2009 It's an interesting review. It doesn't really mention any of the songs in particular and the track picks are downright bizarre. Still, I'm happy with the rating and a nod to the Foxboro Hot Tubs is deserved.
Joey F. Posted May 30, 2009 Posted May 30, 2009 HA I read this review 2 weeks ago. Whenever I listen to 21st century breakdown on Windows Media Player, this review is underneath it.
J'net Posted May 30, 2009 Author Posted May 30, 2009 It's an interesting review. It doesn't really mention any of the songs in particular and the track picks are downright bizarre. Still, I'm happy with the rating and a nod to the Foxboro Hot Tubs is deserved.Typically AMG's reviews are short and don't focus on specific songs. They're meant for short attention spans and small bits of space on marketplace web sites, so they can't get too wordy. And, yeah, I have no idea what's up with those track picks. 21 Guns is the only one that wasn't in any way surprising. I really like LotAG, but to pick it over some of the ones they ignored was a bit incomprehensible to me .HA I read this review 2 weeks ago. Whenever I listen to 21st century breakdown on Windows Media Player, this review is underneath it.So I guess there's another example of where AMG is selling their data .
SOMERTEN Posted May 31, 2009 Posted May 31, 2009 These reviews all seem identical. I wish these dinosaurs would stop going on about Dookie. I've yet to read a rewiew that doesn't waffle on about it. It pisses me off because of the fantastic music that Green Day have put out since then. I would like to give the reviews marks out of ten for originality, most of them wouldn't get more than two.How can a music press so devoid of humour moan about anyone else lacking in humour? Or maybe given some of the crap they hail as brilliant music maybe they are funnier than we give them credit for.
Guitar4Girl Posted May 31, 2009 Posted May 31, 2009 Thanks J'net for posting. It's an interesting and positive review, although in my opinion I still think there's some humour on 21CB
Katarina. Posted May 31, 2009 Posted May 31, 2009 Thanks for posting, J'net!Interesting read, quite positive as well. Though I have to say 21CB is not humourless at all.
Hermione Posted May 31, 2009 Posted May 31, 2009 That was pretty good, I agree with others that there's still plenty of humour going on though! In fact when they say they've ditched humour in exchange for pomposity I think they miss the point entirely. I think a lot of the "pomp" they talk about is very much part of the fun and humour of the album. I mean a song like Horseshoes and Handgrenades wouldn't be nearly as much fun if it wasn't so overstated. These "puffed up" songs definitely look fun live that's for sure!And didn't they hear Peacemaker and Little Girl?! How much tongue in cheek humour do they want in the music?
J'net Posted May 31, 2009 Author Posted May 31, 2009 That was pretty good, I agree with others that there's still plenty of humour going on though! In fact when they say they've ditched humour in exchange for pomposity I think they miss the point entirely. I think a lot of the "pomp" they talk about is very much part of the fun and humour of the album. I mean a song like Horseshoes and Handgrenades wouldn't be nearly as much fun if it wasn't so overstated. These "puffed up" songs definitely look fun live that's for sure!And didn't they hear Peacemaker and Little Girl?! How much tongue in cheek humour do they want in the music?You've hit the nail right on the head, Hermione, as usual! There's a lot of humor in this album, it's just a different brand of humor than some of their previous stuff. It's more subtle ... hmmm ... maybe that's why these reviewers are missing it !
*withoutadoubt* Posted May 31, 2009 Posted May 31, 2009 You've hit the nail right on the head, Hermione, as usual! There's a lot of humor in this album, it's just a different brand of humor than some of their previous stuff. It's more subtle ... hmmm ... maybe that's why these reviewers are missing it !Yep, I agree with both of you - sometimes if humor is not totally 'in your face' obvious, it's not as easy to get. Although I love all the previous types of fun songs, these are great in a different way. Sort of (if I dare say this...) more mature-like? Thanks for posting, J'net - interesting read.
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