Thoughts of an Aspiring Music Snob: Week 57 - Green Day

[woven_basketcase]

He's pretty much exactly on par with his thoughts on 21st Century Breakdown. I like him.

[ANJI]

That was a really great read! Thanks for posting

[Maddy.]

Alanna, I think as a reviewer you don't have the time to do all that jazz.

[JHyena86]

Good review from someone who is just a casual fan of the band.

There was one line i completely don't agree with though

I think if Green Day really were trying to capatalise on American Idiots success they would have had an album out in 2006. The Hype around American Idiot was completely gone by the time 21st CB came out in 2009. But that might just be a matter of opinion.

This exactly.

I'm glad someone reviewed them in a neutral way, not a OMG best band ever or wow GD sucks and should go die like most.

[klytaemnestra]

i disliked the bits towards the end but that's just my opinion, that was an excellent review.

[sampy]

Yes, this was an awesome, great review! I enjoyed reading it, great job

And thank you for sharing this!

[Tre_Gina]

thanks for sharing, is a good read.

[Hermione]

Ehh, it's OK. I kind of feel like the reason he's come to the conclusion that Dookie and AI are their only remarkable albums is he's barely listened to their other albums. And some of the criticism seems like it's just there for the sake of trying to be "balanced". It's all a bit simplistic. Some good stuff there though.

[Maddy.]

He could have paid a bit more attention to the latest album. I mean, to say that it wants to capitalise on American Idiot's succes is false. It was released a good 5 years after American Idiot. It's truly a remarkable album and a masterpiece and he just dismissed it with false words.

[Katarina.]

Nice, thanks for posting

[Christina.]

It's all a bit simplistic.

I agree with this but overall I think it's a good review and unbiased.

Thanks for posting!

[in_your_face]

Pretty good review!! thanks for posting mate!! :happy:

[Kayfabe]

pretty sound review.

[Ila Reto]

Alanna, I think as a reviewer you don't have the time to do all that jazz.

exactly!

therefore things like that should no be reviewed by them, hurmfh!!!

its idealistic of course.

i just dont think he went deep enough into the albums.

all that stuff he wrote about dookie and american idiot....

like some 7th grader could have written after watching and reading enough interviews .

[Mommy's Little Nightmare]

It was definitely an interesting read, but I didn't like alot of what he had to say. He barely seemed to care about albums that were not American Idiot or Dookie, and he admitted to that. If he'd really, truly listened to them, perhaps he'd be better to form some sort of opinion.

And the final bit about Billie's voice being irritating and nasally was upsetting to me. He has a very unique voice- you can pick it out amongst any other singer/artist, and have always been able to. I love his voice.

[Homicidal_llama]

I really enjoyed reading this review. Obviously because it's just opinions there are some things I disagree on but like someone said previously it's good that the band were reviewed in a mature way.

As for the line about 21st Century Breakdown captalising off American Idiot's success I think that point has some slight truth in it. Although it was released five years later 21stCBD does sort of seem like American Idiot 2 revolving around the same subject matters but in a less snotty and abrasive way. The fact that a few 21stCBD songs were put into the American Idiot musical kind of demonstrates this. Although I do love the album for what is I do sort of see them as making one with similar themes to American Idiot because it was so successful the first time even if that wasn't their intention.

[Mommy's Little Nightmare]

I really enjoyed reading this review. Obviously because it's just opinions there are some things I disagree on but like someone said previously it's good that the band were reviewed in a mature way.

As for the line about 21st Century Breakdown captalising off American Idiot's success I think that point has some slight truth in it. Although it was released five years later 21stCBD does sort of seem like American Idiot 2 revolving around the same subject matters but in a less snotty and abrasive way. The fact that a few 21stCBD songs were put into the American Idiot musical kind of demonstrates this. Although I do love the album for what is I do sort of see them as making one with similar themes to American Idiot because it was so successful the first time even if that wasn't their intention.

I'd always sort of questioned that, but in the end- I don't think that's the case. I mean, Green Day's music has changed and evolved, but at the core- alot of it still stays on the same subject matter. Love, apathy, anger, resentment (Political, or otherwise). That's just Green Day. I didn't see 21st Century Breakdown as trying to capitalize off of American Idiot. I saw it as Green Day found something they were good at with the rock opera type of format, and wanted to push themselves and do it even better. Which, I think they achieved.

Another reason I can't seem to agree that it was meant to capitalize off of AI is because it was marketed so poorly. The boys definitely know what they're doing with marketing, they've been around long enough for that. If they wanted to, this could have been just as well promoted as American Idiot was. I don't quite understand why it wasn't, but the only logical reason I could come up with being that they wanted to seperate from American Idiot, as far as the album goes.

Songs from it being in the musical- I think that had more to do with Michael Mayer trying to flesh out the story. When I read his piece in the American Idiot cast album, he was talking about wanting more, and he'd heard those songs and decided that he could flesh out the storyline with them. While Green Day okayed it, I don't quite think it was them having "Let's continue on with our success of American Idiot by using these songs." so much as "Let's let Michael use them so he can make this musical the best he possibly can."

[Homicidal_llama]

I'd always sort of questioned that, but in the end- I don't think that's the case. I mean, Green Day's music has changed and evolved, but at the core- alot of it still stays on the same subject matter. Love, apathy, anger, resentment (Political, or otherwise). That's just Green Day. I didn't see 21st Century Breakdown as trying to capitalize off of American Idiot. I saw it as Green Day found something they were good at with the rock opera type of format, and wanted to push themselves and do it even better. Which, I think they achieved.

Another reason I can't seem to agree that it was meant to capitalize off of AI is because it was marketed so poorly. The boys definitely know what they're doing with marketing, they've been around long enough for that. If they wanted to, this could have been just as well promoted as American Idiot was. I don't quite understand why it wasn't, but the only logical reason I could come up with being that they wanted to seperate from American Idiot, as far as the album goes.

Songs from it being in the musical- I think that had more to do with Michael Mayer trying to flesh out the story. When I read his piece in the American Idiot cast album, he was talking about wanting more, and he'd heard those songs and decided that he could flesh out the storyline with them. While Green Day okayed it, I don't quite think it was them having "Let's continue on with our success of American Idiot by using these songs." so much as "Let's let Michael use them so he can make this musical the best he possibly can."

This is a great post and I can tell that you feel passionately about this topic . I think you misinterpreted me a little bit though, I never said the album did captalise of the success of American Idiot I just said it had some slight truth. It's just two rock operas, one after the other with similar subject matters could seem a little bit suspicious to fans outside of the loop. I understand that they're writing in a very specific style now but as I said previously before it does come across as AI 2.

As for marketing, chances are the band had absolutely nothing to do with that. It would have all been down the record companies marketing team.

[Mommy's Little Nightmare]

This is a great post and I can tell that you feel passionately about this topic . I think you misinterpreted me a little bit though, I never said the album did captalise of the success of American Idiot I just said it had some slight truth. It's just two rock operas, one after the other with similar subject matters could seem a little bit suspicious to fans outside of the loop. I understand that they're writing in a very specific style now but as I said previously before it does come across as AI 2.

As for marketing, chances are the band had absolutely nothing to do with that. It would have all been down the record companies marketing team.

I think I did misinterpret what you were saying, but I was also thinking of the original review in which that was mentioned.

I'm sure the band has some say in the marketing, but I do agree that it probably isn't all them. Still, they have been around long enough for me to question the marketing decisions- whether or not it has anything to do with them. Those in charge of the marketing this time around don't seem to be doing a particularly great job. And I can't understand why.

[Holly]

Thanks for sharing this, its a good read.

I like how although he isn't a serious Green Day fan and until now hasn't listened to a full album he says that they have always been there as a part of his life. I think that whole point was my favourite.

The sudden turn though is a bit.. meh.

I don't like that he has written 21CB off as capitalising the success of AI. I suppose that by simply listening through the albums once or twice you probably can't get a real feel for Green Day and who they are. And from someone who isn't a fan I'd say that is a pretty typical comment to make. I have a stupid, pretentious friend who also uses this argument.

As for the line about 21st Century Breakdown captalising off American Idiot's success I think that point has some slight truth in it. Although it was released five years later 21stCBD does sort of seem like American Idiot 2 revolving around the same subject matters but in a less snotty and abrasive way. The fact that a few 21stCBD songs were put into the American Idiot musical kind of demonstrates this. Although I do love the album for what is I do sort of see them as making one with similar themes to American Idiot because it was so successful the first time even if that wasn't their intention.

Ahh, i don't agree. Why would they not carry on making music that they're good at? Okay, so American Idiot was obviously very popular and then they came out with another 'rock opera' but surely this is all they would do other than change their sort of genre again. Surely they wouldn't go back to writing like they did before, that's not progress at all and for a band to be around as long as Green Day have they need to keep evolving? They couldn't release an album as epic and as massively successful as American Idiot but then going back to writing in their old style. As Billie Joe said in an interview I read somewhere, their next album will be this concept album type thing again, because they are just too good at it

EDIT: Oh and Matt? That post isn't meant to be just at your opinion or anything, just read your posts after that and I understand your view I guess, well I see where you're coming from. Its just kind of replying to the review

[Mommy's Little Nightmare]

Thanks for sharing this, its a good read.

I like how although he isn't a serious Green Day fan and until now hasn't listened to a full album he says that they have always been there as a part of his life. I think that whole point was my favourite.

The sudden turn though is a bit.. meh.

I don't like that he has written 21CB off as capitalising the success of AI. I suppose that by simply listening through the albums once or twice you probably can't get a real feel for Green Day and who they are. And from someone who isn't a fan I'd say that is a pretty typical comment to make. I have a stupid, pretentious friend who also uses this argument.

Ahh, i don't agree. Why would they not carry on making music that they're good at? Okay, so American Idiot was obviously very popular and then they came out with another 'rock opera' but surely this is all they would do other than change their sort of genre again. Surely they wouldn't go back to writing like they did before, that's not progress at all and for a band to be around as long as Green Day have they need to keep evolving? They couldn't release an album as epic and as massively successful as American Idiot but then going back to writing in their old style. As Billie Joe said in an interview I read somewhere, their next album will be this concept album type thing again, because they are just too good at it

EDIT: Oh and Matt? That post isn't meant to be just at your opinion or anything, just read your posts after that and I understand your view I guess, well I see where you're coming from. Its just kind of replying to the review

100% agreed.

[Heidi Holiday]

Any music critic out there wishing to point out the band's flaws (as much as we may loathe hearing them), should take note of the second half of this blog.

[Sharmellow]

This is one hell of a review. I really enjoyed reading his insights about Green Day's music. The author was down to earth, engaging, and wasn't afraid to speak his mind. I'm glad he acknowledged the fact that Nimrod and Warning are overlooked albums. Overall, this review is exceptional.

Thank you very much for sharing this review, I really enjoyed reading it.

[tommy_huggs]

Great review. Enjoyed reading it.