21CB Deserves more...

[Psycho Britney]

^That's an interesting idea actually...

[Juan]

it doesn't. Better albums have been shat on and don't exist to say...everybody except hardcore music fans.

[HoneyDo666]

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.

They were on every late night show known to mankind, the cover of Rolling Stone, and Good Morning America.

They kind of covered the spectrum.

[Sarahnade.]

I agree with dolce. Nothing more, nothing less.

[newsflash777]

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.

My thoughts too.

[HoneyDo666]

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.

I really don't see this album as being on the DL. Green Day has picked up an award at pretty much every show this year, including 3 VMAs! They are also likely to be nominated for multiple Grammys. I can see them winning Best Rock Album again and maybe Album of the Year. Plus the Recording Academy will probably go nuts over 21 Guns, it's the biggest rock hit that will be nominated in multiple categories. I see the Academy choosing it over "Use Somebody" or "I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight."

The American Music Awards could help bump them back up the charts. A lot of people will be tuning in because it caters to all genres and tastes, and then they'll see Green Day's mind-blowing performance! And also, they have a shot at winning if we keep voting!

[Hermione]

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

21st Century Breakdown doesn't have a linear storyline. The songs share characters and themes, that's all.

Since when did having a storyline make an album superior? It's just one of thousands of directions to go down with making an album, most albums don't have storylines.

[Mega Man]

Don't get ahead of yourself, this album will live on.

I mean, Green Day said it's their best album yet, and after the first listen, I didn't think so. After I really got to listen to it, I think they might be right. Plus there's definately gonna be more singles to come, and you know their gonna strike gold with one (Viva La Gloria (Little Girls)?)...

[shoegazeloser]

Christian's Inferno needs more attention.

21 Guns doesn't need that much attention.

[HoneyDo666]

Don't get ahead of yourself, this album will live on.

I mean, Green Day said it's their best album yet, and after the first listen, I didn't think so. After I really got to listen to it, I think they might be right. Plus there's definately gonna be more singles to come, and you know their gonna strike gold with one (Viva La Gloria (Little Girls)?)...

It definitely will! I can't wait for 21CB to be released in the US

*waits anxiously for next week*

[novacaine_kid]

I definitely get the impression this album is really a "fans" album. And I think the band love that. Just look how relaxed they are in interviews now days compared to the AI era. They seem so laid back about everything now.

[Mari91]

It definitely will! I can't wait for 21CB to be released in the US

*waits anxiously for next week*

its being released next week?

where have i been?!

I definitely get the impression this album is really a "fans" album. And I think the band love that. Just look how relaxed they are in interviews now days compared to the AI era. They seem so laid back about everything now.

you know i never realized that, but they are much more relaxed

i do feel this is more of a fans album as well.

[Mari91]

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.

this sums up everything perfectly

[HoneyDo666]

its being released next week?

where have i been?!

The CD single is out next week just before Thanksgiving! Hopefully that means the video will explode and the song will hit the radio

[darenmay]

i live in philippines asia.

i can totally see the difference between the green day in 2004 and the one in 2009. i mean the albums. american idiot was so, so popular back then (singles from it are still even played today). and i don't think 21st century breakdown is topping that status. not to mention, the album sales. 21st CB isn't as controversial as A.I.

i miss it how rock music was at its best popularity here. cuz now, it's all about that rnb, pop, country, etc., etc.

[Bastard of 1967]

I dunno; it's a quiet masterpiece.

That.

[Helly 77]

i totaly agree with you!! all the songs are awesome in every thing...but i think that green day didn't choose the right songs to be singles (except 21 guns)... i mean the type of songs that everybody will listen to like static sge, vival la gloria (both) ,RHS or peacemaker, not the songs that only punk rock fans will love...i hope you understand what i mean

[Kate Austen]

I kind of made a post about this in another thread. But here is how it goes...

Musically, the album is just as good as American Idiot. However, the album is too bloated. There are at least 5 tracks that should be cut. The site I work for is actually putting up a piece later today about a shortened version of 21st Century Breakdown - and I will post a link so you guys can read it. I actually agree with the article (even tho I didn't write it). But the gist of it is, when 21st Century is broken down to a 13 track album (similar to American Idiot length) - it flows MUCH better. Not only musically, but as a story it plays out better. Much better pacing. I know it's lame changing an album - I personally hate doing that. But, I think you guys should check it out, and really give it a try.

As far as the album being sold short - I agree and disagree. American Idiot captured a whole nations feelings - it captured an era/time. 21st Century really doesn't do that. The other issue with the album is that well, the band IMO is selling the album short. They spent so much time writing an incredible story, but only play half the songs live. Now..I completely understand that older fans might not want to see it. BUT - they easily could have played the 1 hour album, 20 min intermission, then 1 hour + 10 min of oldies. If that sounds like too much, they could have played shows on the side that were marked as front to back shows.

For an album this epic, I really think the band did a disservice by not playing it live front to back. Most bands that make concept albums play them front to back live - and they should. It's an opera, and it really should be played before an audience. So in some ways I def feel the band had some doing in the album not being praised as much on a musical level. Lastly, I honestly feel like the album on the whole is better without the singles. The non album singles is where it really shines. And in some cases, the singles (Know Your Enemy) - really only serves as a single, and doesn't play too much into the plot. One could argue it's a "theme" piece - fair enough. But IMO it ruins the flow of the album.

So, that is my take on 21st Century now that I've had time to digest it.

[Echo]

I've thought since the beginning that this is the most low-key promotion of a highly-anticipated album that's possible, and it works for me. This time round, it feels like the focus is on the music and rebuilding a connection with the fanbase rather than hyping the fuck out of everything. I love the performance-based videos they put up on their site, and I love it that they sent out the lyrics to those artists who made up the exhibition that travels with the tour. That's how these songs came to us first also - the words, without the music. There's this whole sense of collaboration, communication and participation that didn't exist in the AI era, running right thru to the people who get pulled up onstage to belt out their version of Longview.

AI is an explosive, in-your-face album - 21CB is a lot more subtle, and so intensely personal that I feel like it would be almost wrong to have it whored out for the biggest sales or exposure, or even for awards that are meaningless on the whole. Real, true music like this will always find its way to the people who need to hear it.

well said

[matteo263]

Ideal single right now would be Static Age

*Commercial

*Poppy (which seams to be one of the most popular styles today)

*Has a message (you know against the media)

*They play it in every concert

Ideal single right now would be Static Age

*Commercial

*Poppy (which seams to be one of the most popular styles today)

*Has a message (you know against the media)

*They play it in every concert

[Guest]

The only Single that actually Worked out was 21 Guns

i just think all the other singles (expect 21 Guns and 21stCB) were just randomly made

LEMME ASK A QUESTION..

Horseshoes and handgrenades sounds more powerful than KYE, and shouldnt it have been their first single ?

i mean KYE okay but i wonder what would happen if H&H was the first single. would it have gave 21stCB album a better first impression ??

[Kate Austen]

I still think Horseshoes is a bad song in the context of the album. On it's own, it's a pretty kick ass song - but sounds too much like that Hives song (yes, I know this has been beaten to death). Even tho it's not the same song, I can't help but feel like that style of song has been over done. As far as context goes, it sounds nothing like any of other tracks (especially the style/genre of this album) - that it always sounded jarring to me in context of the album.

[ad0lfpiffler]

i personally think it's a better album than american idiot

but i think the choice /release time of singles has been terrible

and i could really care less if the masses didn't like it

[Bastard of 1967]

I still think Horseshoes is a bad song in the context of the album. On it's own, it's a pretty kick ass song - but sounds too much like that Hives song (yes, I know this has been beaten to death). Even tho it's not the same song, I can't help but feel like that style of song has been over done. As far as context goes, it sounds nothing like any of other tracks (especially the style/genre of this album) - that it always sounded jarring to me in context of the album.

It sounds to me like The Hives borrowed some of Mike's bass line from the instrumental bridge in Prosthetic Head. If anything, H&H's bass line sounds a lot more like P.H. than Main Offender. Take a listen to P.H. at about 2:10 into the song and you'll hear the similarity.

[Kate Austen]

It sounds to me like The Hives borrowed some of Mike's bass line from the instrumental bridge in Prosthetic Head. If anything, H&H's bass line sounds a lot more like P.H. than Main Offender. Take a listen to P.H. at about 2:10 into the song and you'll hear the similarity.

Regardless of who came up with it first (it really doesn't matter to the point I was making) - that guitar riff/bass line has been done so many times before. I've heard that similar riff in too many songs. Even if they aren't the exact same riff, it's just over done - and I personally don't find Horseshoes to be unique or anything special compared to the other stuff on 21st. I think a lot of people like the song because it's "kick ass" - and shows Billie and co being all up in your fucking grill with this hard hitting song.

And that is fair enough. But musically (IMO) - the song has been done before, and it sounds NOTHING like the other tracks on the album (in terms of sound and theme). I find it to be quite distracting. Now, I'm not trying to over analyze guitar licks. Because look, at the end of the day it's pretty impossible to create something 100% unique. If you wanted to be anal and start combing through every song ever made, you would find similarities. So that isn't my point either. But at the same time, I just believe the overall sound to that song is just overdone and a bit dull.