21CB Deserves more...

[RobyRoom]

the whole promotion for this album has been absolutely terrible.

That's true and it keeps going worse and worse... right now I'm realizing that GD are in Italy and no one is gonna interview them, I guess that apart from the people that will go to the concerts really no one knows they are here. Radio and tv didn't mentioned them at all and it's a shame because the single is out and they are neither promoting it properly

[pisquano]

Here in Italy the album is not well promotioned, but it is going quite well on the Fimi charts. I think American Idiot is an opera, and 21st Century breakdown doesn't reach the quality of his predecessor. In my opinion, every song of American Idiot is pretty, 21st century breakdown has better songs, but also worse ones (21st century breakdown is my 2nd best green day song, but also piano songs are sometimes awful...too much pop). In the US 21 guns reached no.56 on the airplay chart, and I think this is one of the problems. I agree with who says that today most people listen to pop or rap/hip hop music. Difficultly the album will have the success of American idiot, although we are only 5 months after the release.

[Vanilla Shake]

If they had used East Jesus Nowhere instead of Know Your Enemy, I think the album would have done a lot better. And I'm pretty sure that the band themselves had little control over what song was released first. The label probably thought "Hey, we need to release a catchy song to hook people in". Unfortunately it wore off within the first week. I still find myself listening to East Jesus Nowhere constantly ever since the album came out.

But hey, it is what it is. No use bitching about it. The album is by no means a failure. Probably their best selling album apart from Dookie and American Idiot, and it's probably the most critically acclaimed album of 2009. It will definitely see more sales, but it will never achieve the status that American Idiot reached.

[Maddy.]

Some dude about American Idiot:

There's no question that this is the best song of the last 10 years. As well as being a simply awesome and high-energy rock tune, it showed the world that Green Day can be rebellious about things that actually matter. It reignited their career and they are still riding the wave today. Of course, its content was also perfectly timed, and frankly probably did quite a lot of good for the image of America in the rest of the world. It showed other countries that a massive number of people in the US always realised that what was going on in the political world was total idiocy, and may have gone some way to dispelling a lot of the semi-racist myths about American people all being idiots. Plus it pissed off the far right in the US, which is always a good thing. But, above all, it's just a brilliantly written song to which it's impossible not to at least tap your feet, or at most jump around and go completely mental.

Pretty much sums it all up why AI was such a hit. Good timing, good theme.

[Katarina.]

Exactly. I think American Eulogy would make an amazing single, and it would show people the album has more substance than songs like KYE and 21 Guns. Peacemaker would be good too. I actually think BTL would be good, but I dunno. Shaking things up a bit has always been good for them. EJN and 21CB are out, though, and have cool videos.

Peacemaker would be awesome. It would make a great music vid as well!

[Guest Hayley]

I personally consider 21CB a good album it's not my favourite one but it's a really good one and yeah it deserves more attention.

[Mrs. Nobody]

21st CB is definitely not my favorite album. It's still brilliant, no doubt about it, but it hasn't got the 'bang' that American Idiot had. AI was their comeback, the first to feature 9min songs, a 'rock opera', and just it's title American Idiot everyone was talking about it.

And yeah, I do also believe that KYE wasn't the best song to put out first. but still, they're doing extremly well tour-wise so far, they've just announced stadium shows. It's not a complete catastrophe.

I actually like the fact that there's 'less' interviews. I kind of like the fact that not everyone is going apeshit on this album. I can't really explain why.. argh i'm trying to find words but I cant

But yes, i'm sure that had they put AE or HAH out first, they would have been a different percpective

[dolce]

^ I get what you're saying about liking the CD being more "hush-hush" (although it is my favorite album!).

To me, people liked American Idiot whether they were fans of Green Day or not. Which is great, I mean - I hope TONS of people got exposed to the band who wouldn't ordinarily. That's great. However - many of those people jumped ship after the promotional buzz when down.

This was the ultimate test of who the true fans are. Some "old-school" fans left with AI because they couldn't accept Green Day's progressing sound. Many, many new listeners got into Green Day through AI, but treated them as another trend when the album went out of style. And then there were the true fans - both old and new - who waited. And when 21CB came out, the true fans were the first to proclaim how much they appreciated the album, regardless of how popular it is.

To true Green Day fans, it doesn't matter if millions of copies are sold. It doesn't matter if they sell out the venues they play at. It doesn't matter if they're all over the radio, or in advertisements, or on tv. All we care about is the guys and the music. They've said more than once that 21CB, they feel, is the best they've every created. I don't know about you guys, but if they're happy, I'm happy. I think this album is incredible, and I don't need the media to tell me that.

[Blond-O-Sonic Shimmer Trap]

American Idiot is waay more iconic, the cover is iconic and the title is iconic, since it seems to be describing the guy who was the most powerful man in the world at that time. 21st Century Breakdown is a pretty shit title and the cover is by miles the worst they've had. Plus the characters are better in American Idiot, St.Jimmy is a much better song than Christian's Inferno for example. The story is so much better in American Idiot, but although there's characters and "acts" in 21st Century Breakdown I never felt there was much of a story, just Billie-Joe using two different people as like muses to convey his different sides to his personality.

I should add, when you're talking about records that go down in history these are the little details that make the difference.

[dolce]

Yeah, see - I feel the story for 21CB is a lot better (although I will agree with you on the cover art!!!). I feel this album is so much more emotional than AI.

To me, 21CB is miles above AI. It has a more diverse sound, more in depth lyrics - it's just better to me.

[Anja]

haha yes, you're a world traveler!

It must have been awesome to see Green Day perform in their home town.

and seriously with the MTV shit, i dont even bother anymore.

I try And yes, it was definitely not comparable to the other shows I have seen which are the arena shows.

But back to topic: I think we should give it more time! Didn't it take Dookie 10 years or so to reach Diamond? The album isn't even out for a year yet so there's still a chance it'll sell a few more million copies. AI got back to #1 three months after it came out as well.

[Chad is Rad]

I think Green Day should put out a single that would show people how rocking the album is, like Hermione kind of said. If 'Peacemaker,' 'American Eulogy' or something was a single, people might be more interested.

But, the album has sold a couple million copies, and they are still filling up big arenas when they play, so I think 21CB has been successful. Not as successful as AI, but AI was their comeback, pretty much; and 21CB isn't as controversial as AI. The single 'American Idiot' got everyone talking, and KYE was just a fun song for people to sing along to. If that makes sense.

I love the album, but I think it's doing alright. Part of me doesn't want it to be as successful as AI, just because I don't want to deal with an explosion like that. When you read articles on the album, reviews, etc. it seems like people understand how awesome the album is, and that's all you can really ask for. Sometimes it feels like it needs more recognition, but, in general, I think everything's fine how it is.

I definitely agree. I would actually be pretty upset if it got as huge as American Idiot did, not because the songs aren't as good...but idk. I haven't heard anyone mention any of the songs of 21CB (except the big fans), and I think that's great. I don't want to get sick of this cd, and part of what gets me sick of music is hearing people talk about it all the time. It just shows how lame the people who listen to the radio all the time are...they can't even recognize how great of a cd it is, because they just don't care. It's kind of sad, really.

[HoneyDo666]

EVERYONE knows 21 Guns, and most of them love it!

The album is doing well, it shows with all the awards. I think they have excellent Grammy chances! This album has so much potential!

I actually love KYE! That riff is infectious and it is an in-your-face song!

[Laura!]

EVERYONE knows 21 Guns, and most of them love it!

The album is doing well, it shows with all the awards. I think they have excellent Grammy chances! This album has so much potential!

I actually love KYE! That riff is infectious and it is an in-your-face song!

All of the people that I know that aren't big Green Day fans love 21 Guns.

And I hope they get Grammys! They definitely deserve it! I wonder when the nominations come out.

I like KYE too. It's easy to get in your head.

[HoneyDo666]

All of the people that I know that aren't big Green Day fans love 21 Guns.

And I hope they get Grammys! They definitely deserve it! I wonder when the nominations come out.

I like KYE too. It's easy to get in your head.

The Grammy nominations come out early next month! Green Day are on everyone's lips if you type 2010 Grammy predictions into Google!

I think a little thing called Album of the Year could really skyrocket 21CB!

[Jacob.]

The american idiot story line is alot more clearer than 21st Century Breakdown.

Bill Gates and Stephen Hawking exploded trying to figure out the 21st Century Breakdown storyline , but I'll give it a shot I guess. So we start out in the 21st Century and everything's great, then bam everybody gets herpes and forgets their enemies. Next thing you know some emo chick named Gloria is running around cutting herself because she hates the seasons, then a guy gets a lobotomy. Then Christian is filled with seething rage so he writes a heartfelt love song, then Jesus makes him angrier. Then he goes out and buys a Pacemaker, but mistakenly reads the label. All of the sudden all of the chicks in America die except one so she is forced to breed endlessly in the Murder City, this causes Christian to run around screaming Gloria? Then Obama tries to change health-care, and everyone is forced to eat prescription drugs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Next the couple plays a friendly game of Horseshoes and Hangrenades because they can't see a thing in the Static Age. Then the cops shoot twenty-one guns at everyone so they sing the American Eulogy, then the sun blows up and their is a big light.

21st Century Breakdown story line not so clear

[dolce]

^ In the 21CB subforum, where the topics go song-by-song, each song is pretty much broken down for you by another poster. I'd tell you my thoughts on it right now, but I'm too tired.

Anyhoo - the 21CB storyline was way easier for me to decipher, understand, and connect with than American Idiot. That's just me. I thought AI had a great storyline, but I LOVE 21CB's storyline.

[Sarahnade.]

I definitely agree. I would actually be pretty upset if it got as huge as American Idiot did, not because the songs aren't as good...but idk. I haven't heard anyone mention any of the songs of 21CB (except the big fans), and I think that's great. I don't want to get sick of this cd, and part of what gets me sick of music is hearing people talk about it all the time. It just shows how lame the people who listen to the radio all the time are...they can't even recognize how great of a cd it is, because they just don't care. It's kind of sad, really.

Yeah. The people at my school and stuff only really know KYE and 21 Guns. Most people are just oblivious to EJN and 21CB. I dunno. I never really realized how swept under the covers this album seems to be. As someone said earlier, their promotion for this album has kind of sucked. They don't do a lot of interviews or anything. But, like I said, I kind of like it being a quiet success. The record is doing good, they are selling out places, so I think they don't mind. And they are still winning awards and stuff.

I just think American Idiot was a perfect moment in time for them. Just the title 'American Idiot' interested people. And they had single after single after single that was so perfect, catchy, and could be played on TV and radio 24/7. They were all over the place with that. With 21CB, it's different. They probably like it like that too. But, I don't really care. As long as their music is still good, and it's still out for people to hear, that's awesome. And Green Day are Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-Bound and living legends, compared to the majority of todays modern music, so the fact that their success this time around is more low-key and subtle is probably cool for them; I would think it would be relaxing. It's not like they put a piece of shit out and no one's talking about it because it sucks. I dunno; it's a quiet masterpiece.

[Sarahnade.]

Anyhoo - the 21CB storyline was way easier for me to decipher, understand, and connect with than American Idiot. That's just me. I thought AI had a great storyline, but I LOVE 21CB's storyline.

Personally, American Idiot is my favorite record, and 21CB is, like, my 3rd or 4th. I love both of them a lot, but American Idiot is awesome because of it's storyline. 21CB doesn't really have a linear storyline. I love the story and concept of American Idiot more than what happens with 21CB. I like 21CB because it focuses on two lovers sort of dealing in the modern chaos of the nation, but I like the idea of JOS leaving home, dealing with issues and losing his since of individuality from all of the bs in the world. In a way, they are similiar, I guess. I never really realized that.

When you compare the singles that were released for American Idiot, someone would probably much rather spend their money at that album than 21CB. AI has AI, BOBD, Holiday, and WMUWSE, mainly. Each of those songs were played to death on radio and TV because they were so catchy, and they were relatable and what people wanted to hear at the time. With 21CB, it's like, KYE and 21 Guns, mainly. Those don't have as important meanings as the singles from AI. And people usually make their first impressions of an album from the singles.

I dunno, I'm kind of rambeling. Just..if I wasn't that big of a Green Day fan, and just heard KYE and 21 Guns on the radio, I'd kind of figure that was the best the album could give, when it's not. I think that's where GD are messing up. KYE and 21 Guns work as singles, and they did a good job with putting EJN and 21CB out, but their next single should be American Eulogy. Or Peacemaker. Or Restless Heart Syndrome.

[bjrules]

Yeah, I definitely think that 21CB should have been given more recognition. I've never seen an ad on TV or anything for the album, and I've only ever seen 21 Guns on TV once. I think East Jesus Nowhere would have been way better than Know Your Enemy as the first single. 21 Guns was a good choice though.

[Velocity]

And Green Day are Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-Bound and living legends, compared to the majority of todays modern music, so the fact that their success this time around is more low-key and subtle is probably cool for them; I would think it would be relaxing. It's not like they put a piece of shit out and no one's talking about it because it sucks. I dunno; it's a quiet masterpiece.

I never really thought of it that way, but I agree with what you're saying. Green Day were probably really burnt out after American Idiot, so the fact that 21CB isn't as big may be a bit of a relief to them. The album is still selling well, they're selling out concerts all over the world, but things aren't quite as hectic. They're probably able to relax a bit more instead of being engulfed in media attention. 21CB is some of, if not their best work and as long as they realize that, I think everything will be alright.

[dolce]

Personally, American Idiot is my favorite record, and 21CB is, like, my 3rd or 4th. I love both of them a lot, but American Idiot is awesome because of it's storyline. 21CB doesn't really have a linear storyline. I love the story and concept of American Idiot more than what happens with 21CB. I like 21CB because it focuses on two lovers sort of dealing in the modern chaos of the nation, but I like the idea of JOS leaving home, dealing with issues and losing his since of individuality from all of the bs in the world. In a way, they are similiar, I guess. I never really realized that.

When you compare the singles that were released for American Idiot, someone would probably much rather spend their money at that album than 21CB. AI has AI, BOBD, Holiday, and WMUWSE, mainly. Each of those songs were played to death on radio and TV because they were so catchy, and they were relatable and what people wanted to hear at the time. With 21CB, it's like, KYE and 21 Guns, mainly. Those don't have as important meanings as the singles from AI. And people usually make their first impressions of an album from the singles.

I dunno, I'm kind of rambeling. Just..if I wasn't that big of a Green Day fan, and just heard KYE and 21 Guns on the radio, I'd kind of figure that was the best the album could give, when it's not. I think that's where GD are messing up. KYE and 21 Guns work as singles, and they did a good job with putting EJN and 21CB out, but their next single should be American Eulogy. Or Peacemaker. Or Restless Heart Syndrome.

I understand your ramblings.

I guess I see what you mean about AI's storyline. I do love American Idiot and it's story. I guess I just like 21CB better anyway.

AI had much stronger singles than 21CB. I think that's because so many of the AI songs could've been stand-alone and amazing - each one had their own message. 21CB is an entirely different kind of album - you NEED to hear the whole thing to genuinely appreciate it. For fans, that's awesome, but as far as everyday radio listeners - not so much.

[Sarahnade.]

^Exactly. 21CB is a total album. You have to hear the whole thing, not just singles. With AI, it was a little different.

I never really thought of it that way, but I agree with what you're saying. Green Day were probably really burnt out after American Idiot, so the fact that 21CB isn't as big may be a bit of a relief to them. The album is still selling well, they're selling out concerts all over the world, but things aren't quite as hectic. They're probably able to relax a bit more instead of being engulfed in media attention. 21CB is some of, if not their best work and as long as they realize that, I think everything will be alright.

Exactly! You worded things better.

[Psycho Britney]

I don't mean to sound whiney but I think the promotion for the album wasn't that good. Yes they've done some tv now but with the release of it they didn't. A lot of the stuff they were doing was targeted at 'the fans' who already knew about the album and loved GD anyway, such as the instore signings, and wasn't really about interesting new people. I don't know if this makes sense. Also I'm not entirly sure what's happened with the singles released-again not much marketing, and it's been a bit confusing about what's being released and when.

[dolce]

You know - even though I wish Green Day all the success in the world if that's what they want - they don't seem to be crying over 21CB not being the megahit that AI was. They're very proud of their latest work (I am, too!) and are having a blast on tour. It's not like they need the money from record sales or are crazy about winning every award in the world. They're quietly celebrating a fucking amazing album that their fans really love. It's a lot more intimate this time around - only those who really care are getting to appreciate their music, whereas last time around EVERYONE had their nose in the band's business, whether they were true fans or not. IDK - I love the quieter vibe this time around. I love that everything is on the down-low. We still get to see them at award shows and doing interviews, to get our fix, but - it's just for us to enjoy. Not the whole world who, let's be honest, probably doesn't deserve to be around Green Day on a regular basis.