Unpopular Green Day Opinions

[Hermione]

Skill is more than just playing the most complicated stuff you can, part of being a musician is knowing when to keep things simple to fit the style you're going for. As Billie once said "they don't need to hear a 15 minute cocaine wank guitar fest and we don't give it to them". They make their music simple because they want it to sound like that. I don't know why anyone would assume that the whole band doesn't feel that way, as far as I know neither Mike nor Tre have ever said anything to indicate that they feel held back. Just because a musician doesn't play the most complicated stuff they possibly can it doesn't mean they don't have skills or they're not allowed to use their skills, it's called having restraint.

I think that Tre is started losing his drums skills... Also, Tre Cool is really dumb nickname.

If it makes a difference the Tre part isn't dumb, he was nicknamed that by his family as a toddler because his real name is Frank Edwin Wright the Third, and "tre" is Italian for "three". The Cool part is dumb but it's supposed to be, at 11 he joined a fun punk band and the leader of it, Larry Livermore, turned his nickname into a fittingly punky, fun one. And it still fits today with Green Day's habit of having a good sense of humour and not taking themselves too seriously. More than just dumb I think, and he didn't even choose it himself so can't blame him anyway!

He does not get to show off his drumming skills because of Billie Joe. He can't sing anything with off beats. So Tre cant show off his drumming skills .

How do you know that?

[Drinkin' The Kool Aid]

Skill is more than just playing the most complicated stuff you can, part of being a musician is knowing when to keep things simple to fit the style you're going for. As Billie once said "they don't need to hear a 15 minute cocaine wank guitar fest and we don't give it to them". They make their music simple because they want it to sound like that. I don't know why anyone would assume that the whole band doesn't feel that way, as far as I know neither Mike nor Tre have ever said anything to indicate that they feel held back.

If it makes a difference the Tre part isn't dumb, he was nicknamed that by his family as a toddler because his real name is Frank Edwin Wright the Third, and "tre" is Italian for "three". The Cool part is very fitting too, at 11 he joined a fun punk band and the leader of it, Larry Livermore, turned his nickname into a fittingly punky, fun one. More than just dumb I think, and he didn't even choose it himself so can't blame him anyway!

How do you know that?

They don't have any off time songs . That how I know .

[Hermione]

They don't have any off time songs . That how I know .

How do you know that's why though? They might just not want them, or it might be one or more of their instruments that they have trouble playing that way rather than Billie's voice.

[The Disappearing Boy]

What does 'off time songs' actually mean? Like sings written in a different time signature (other than 4/4), cos there are bits here and there.

[Guest]

What does 'off time songs' actually mean? Like sings written in a different time signature (other than 4/4), cos there are bits here and there.

I think he means that, as well as off beats on the drums.

Brutal Love, Dearly Beloved, and Rest. Don't think there's anything else that's outside of 4/4. Although I think Platypus is 8/8, but that hardly counts.

[The Disappearing Boy]

They've done bits of 3/4 here and there and Before the Lobotomy is 7/8 in some parts of the verse, so that is the exception. But otherwise it would be quite good to see them use some more funky time signatures to see how that affects the sound of a song.

[Guest]

They've done bits of 3/4 here and there and Before the Lobotomy is 7/8 in some parts of the verse, so that is the exception. But otherwise it would be quite good to see them use some more funky time signatures to see how that affects the sound of a song.

What I'd give to hear Mike playing slap bass again, even in 4/4. Live versions of 16 are just ear-sex.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmGEJYExLoU

[Drinkin' The Kool Aid]

How do you know that's why though? They might just not want them, or it might be one or more of their instruments that they have trouble playing that way rather than Billie's voice.

mike is a good bassist and Tre is a good drummer. They are the rhythm section . So your saying that they are bad musicians ?

[The Disappearing Boy]

What I'd give to hear Mike playing slap bass again, even in 4/4. Live versions of 16 are just ear-sex.

If that sound were food I'd eat it for the rest of my life.

My favourite Mike video is a little more recent:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mktDU3qIrbw

[Guest]

If that sound were food I'd eat it for the rest of my life.

My favourite Mike video is a little more recent:

FUCK ME

That's it. Mike and Tré need to ditch Billie Joe and do a record of that stuff, with Mike writing and singing. It would be my favourite thing of all time.

[November's Storms]

I think that Tre is started losing his drums skills... Also, Tre Cool is really dumb nickname.

Friend and fellow drummer Aaron Cometbus says that Tré's drumming was incredible when he took over from Al Sobrante and that during the 21stCB tour he was still as amazing as ever. I doubt he's lost any skill at all and has probably gotten better.

[Guest]

Friend and fellow drummer Aaron Cometbus says that Tré's drumming was incredible when he took over from Al Sobrante and that during the 21stCB tour he was still as amazing as ever. I doubt he's lost any skill at all and has probably gotten better.

Ironically enough, 21stCB was probably the creative low point of his drumming. Even his fills on that album were pretty dull. There are a few exceptions though, mainly Restless Heart Syndrome's outro.

[Mary Daze]

Ironically enough, 21stCB was probably the creative low point of his drumming. Even his fills on that album were pretty dull. There are a few exceptions though, mainly Restless Heart Syndrome's outro.

The outro is so amazing though, really. The off beat in Dearly Beloved is what I probably like the most about Jesus of Suburbia (music-wise, not lyrics-wise), it just brings a nice change into the rhythm throughout the long-ass song which makes it anything else than hard to listen to in full.

I also 100% agree with what Hermione said here:

Skill is more than just playing the most complicated stuff you can, part of being a musician is knowing when to keep things simple to fit the style you're going for. As Billie once said "they don't need to hear a 15 minute cocaine wank guitar fest and we don't give it to them". They make their music simple because they want it to sound like that. I don't know why anyone would assume that the whole band doesn't feel that way, as far as I know neither Mike nor Tre have ever said anything to indicate that they feel held back. Just because a musician doesn't play the most complicated stuff they possibly can it doesn't mean they don't have skills or they're not allowed to use their skills, it's called having restraint.

If it makes a difference the Tre part isn't dumb, he was nicknamed that by his family as a toddler because his real name is Frank Edwin Wright the Third, and "tre" is Italian for "three". The Cool part is dumb but it's supposed to be, at 11 he joined a fun punk band and the leader of it, Larry Livermore, turned his nickname into a fittingly punky, fun one. And it still fits today with Green Day's habit of having a good sense of humour and not taking themselves too seriously. More than just dumb I think, and he didn't even choose it himself so can't blame him anyway!

How do you know that?

Also I remember Billie saying something like they'd especially wanted their music to sound rather simple so to prove that anyone can go out and make great music no matter if they are highly skilled or just a bloody beginner. This is actually the kind of philosophy that inspired me to play guitar myself - at first I thought I'd never be good enough at it but then I realized that it is still fun even if I'm by far not the best at it and so that kept me going.

[Guest]

The outro is so amazing though, really.

Also I 100% agree with what Hermione said here:

Also I remember Billie saying something like they'd especially wanted their music to sound rather simple so to prove that anyone can go out and make great music no matter if they are highly skilled or just a bloody beginner. This is actually the kind of philosophy that inspired me to play guitar myself - at first I thought I'd never be good enough at it but then I realized that it is still fun even if I'm by far not the best at it and so that kept me going.

The problem with that is that Green Day have been doing that for 11 albums, and there's only so far you can take that simplicity before you start to repeat yourself. Just look at the trilogy. It's awash with copied riffs, similar melodies, and poor lyrics. Green Day do simple very well, but they can't do it forever.

[Mary Daze]

The problem with that is that Green Day have been doing that for 11 albums, and there's only so far you can take that simplicity before you start to repeat yourself. Just look at the trilogy. It's awash with copied riffs, similar melodies, and poor lyrics. Green Day do simple very well, but they can't do it forever.

Well, that kind of bothers me about Little Boy Named Train… it just sounds so much like Carpe Diem - or is it just me?

Sure, they theoretically can't do it forever but it's Green Day, they really do whatever they want. Who knows, maybe we might get more stuff like Kill The DJ or another side-project kind of thing or… whatever goes on in their heads.

[Spike]

Tre said one of the wisest things I've heard when it comes to musicianship - play the song, not the instrument. He and Mike are fantastic at their respective instruments, and they know how and when to hold back. Unless you want to hear freedom neo classical jazz wankfests, they can't go wild all the time. The trilogy has its moments for both of them, and they're there to support the songs. That's how it should be.

[Guest]

Well, that kind of bothers me about Little Boy Named Train… it just sounds so much like Carpe Diem - or is it just me?

Sure, they theoretically can't do it forever but it's Green Day, they really do whatever they want. Who knows, maybe we might get more stuff like Kill The DJ or another side-project kind of thing or… whatever goes on in their heads.

Little Boy Named Train is the least of the copies on those albums

Yeah, they can keep going forever, but there's the law of diminishing returns. If they don't change something, every album is going to get worse and worse.

I'd have no problem with an entire album of KTDJ style stuff, as long as the lyrics aren't fucking awful this time

Tre said one of the wisest things I've heard when it comes to musicianship - play the song, not the instrument. He and Mike are fantastic at their respective instruments, and they know how and when to hold back. Unless you want to hear freedom neo classical jazz wankfests, they can't go wild all the time. The trilogy has its moments for both of them, and they're there to support the songs. That's how it should be.

You don't need to do neo-classical jazz wankfests to show off just how good a musician you are. Just write a damn good song. I bring these guys up WAY too often, but Biffy Clyro have never written a song longer than 6 minutes (and are usually around the 3-4 minute mark) and are amongst the most technically proficient musicians I've ever seen. And they show it, on every song.

[Hermione]

mike is a good bassist and Tre is a good drummer. They are the rhythm section . So your saying that they are bad musicians ?

Well are you saying Billie's a bad singer? Nah, I'm not saying that, I'm just saying we don't know what the reason is. Usually when a band doesn't do something with their music it's simply because they don't want to, seems the most likely explanation to me.

[Spike]

You don't need to do neo-classical jazz wankfests to show off just how good a musician you are. Just write a damn good song. I bring these guys up WAY too often, but Biffy Clyro have never written a song longer than 6 minutes (and are usually around the 3-4 minute mark) and are amongst the most technically proficient musicians I've ever seen. And they show it, on every song.

They still do write good songs. As much stick as the trilogy gets, there are enough good songs on it to make a damn good album, it's the quality control that's diminished, not songwriting ability.

I see what you mean about Biffy, but they're a different style of band altogether, and they're going to be fresher since they haven't been going nearly as long.

But what does song length have to do with anything? Rush's YYZ is about 4 minutes and is one of the most technically proficient pieces of music I've ever heard.

[Guest]

They still do write good songs. As much stick as the trilogy gets, there are enough good songs on it to make a damn good album, it's the quality control that's diminished, not songwriting ability.

I see what you mean about Biffy, but they're a different style of band altogether, and they're going to be fresher since they haven't been going nearly as long.

But what does song length have to do with anything? Rush's YYZ is about 4 minutes and is one of the most technically proficient pieces of music I've ever heard.

I'm not saying they don't still write them, it's just that they really do seem to be scraping the barrel a lot these days

I guess that's true, good point. Their style does lend them to a more creative sound. Incidentally, have you ever heard their early demos? They sound exactly like Kerplunk-era Green Day, it's scary.

I dunno where that came from, I think just thought that neo-classical jazz wankfests sounded like they would be very long

[Spike]

I'm not saying they don't still write them, it's just that they really do seem to be scraping the barrel a lot these days

I guess that's true, good point. Their style does lend them to a more creative sound. Incidentally, have you ever heard their early demos? They sound exactly like Kerplunk-era Green Day, it's scary.

I dunno where that came from, I think just thought that neo-classical jazz wankfests sounded like they would be very long

Ha, fair enough. I do find it kind of annoying how they feel like their releases MUST get more and more ambitious, regardless of quality. I get the impression they seem to think it'd be shameful to release a standard 10-14 track album or something, and end up using songs they maybe shouldn't.

I haven't actually, I might have to check them out. Sounds interesting! For what it's worth, my favourite Biffy song is Folding Stars, which is obviously hardly the height of intricacy

Haha, fair enough! It's a fair assumption if you've ever listened to King Crimson

[munns6691]

You guys complaining realize Billie is arguably the most important member right? A mike and tre band have maybe 2 albums and no one knows them.

[November's Storms]

Ironically enough, 21stCB was probably the creative low point of his drumming. Even his fills on that album were pretty dull. There are a few exceptions though, mainly Restless Heart Syndrome's outro.

I think that album was a creative lull in general though, it doesn't say much against his abilities.

You guys complaining realize Billie is arguably the most important member right? A mike and tre band have maybe 2 albums and no one knows them.

Billie is the frontman so naturally he gets most of the attention. He's good looking and outspoken too, so of course he's going to grab the limelight but I wouldn't say he's much more talented than the other 2. Without the rythm section, particularly in the early years when the guitars weren't so loud and frequent, Mike and Tré shone through.

[Anaïs.]

I think "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" is the most perfect song they've ever recorded. Not their best, or my favorite, but in terms of crafting a hit single. As evidenced by its chart performance.

[Guest]

Ha, fair enough. I do find it kind of annoying how they feel like their releases MUST get more and more ambitious, regardless of quality. I get the impression they seem to think it'd be shameful to release a standard 10-14 track album or something, and end up using songs they maybe shouldn't.

I haven't actually, I might have to check them out. Sounds interesting! For what it's worth, my favourite Biffy song is Folding Stars, which is obviously hardly the height of intricacy

Haha, fair enough! It's a fair assumption if you've ever listened to King Crimson

Yeah, that pisses me off. It's like WE HAVE TO TOP THE LAST ALBUM. No, you don't. At this rate it just seems like they're still trying way too hard to top AI, which will never happen. I can see their next album being something like Nimrod, in terms of lyrical tone, at least.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPuN3jnOlug

Tell me that doesn't sound exactly like something off Kerplunk. Haha, yeah, Folding Stars isn't their best in terms of musicality, but in terms of lyrics it's fucking amazing.

Never heard of them Kinda glad actually.

You guys complaining realize Billie is arguably the most important member right? A mike and tre band have maybe 2 albums and no one knows them.

I gotta agree with Stephen here, Billie is probably their least talented member. The only reason he's deemed important is because he's reasonably attractive and he's a great lyric writer. He's a middling enough singer and guitar player. The whole point of a Mike and Tré album obviously wouldn't be to top the charts or make money, but to make cool sounds without being limited by Billie. Anyway, making music in order to get noticed is pretty sad.