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| Green Day21st Century Breakdown2009 Warner/Reprise 
 Review by: swank See others by this writer Green Day (link) Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on May 15th 2009
As a long-time Green Day fan, the release of their eighth studio album, 21st Century Breakdown marks the first time I've been able to admit something that many others and even the band themselves have surely come to grips with: 21st Century Breakdown is not a punk record. Following the mammoth American Idiot, the boys could have done (and considering Foxboro Hot Tubs and their "Simpsons" theme rendition amongst others, did) anything. Thankfully, it's not the self-aggrandizing U2 direction I feared they may have gone in, but It isn't the return to Insomniac-era I've been hoping for either. 21st Century Breakdown isn't a sharp turn in either direction, but rather a logical continuation of Idiot's aspirations. This is easily Green Day's most ambitious record to date in both sound and scope.
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The album score for my review below. Great Album! Some great solid punk songs in there and some slower songs. On my opinion, the album can take a while for it to start up (I enjoy the more solid punk songs in the album), Once you hit Act II it starts to get better and then Act III is probably the best part of the album. So if trying out the album dont listen to the first tracks and give up, listen to the whole thing, the album gets immensly better from half way through. Growing up listening to green day i can safely say this is one of their coolest records to date. I know this isn't green days normal punk but does any one recommend buying this CD?? anyone else think this album would be much better if it started with "east jesus nowhere" and went on from there? ive been listening to the album that way and i really do enjoy it. different, but definitely harkens back to warning for me, parts of it even remind me of kerplunk!. the first seven songs (with the exception, maybe, of the first viva la gloria) are kind of inexcusable, though. Did anyone mention how "Last of the American Girls"' chorus sounds like "Thrash Unreal"? Because, if not, I am. Pretty sure this reviewer has never actually heard Mott the Hoople. this album is unlistenable. "As far as it not sounding like Green Day ... I dunno. What about "Rest" (1990); "No One Knows", "Words I Might Have Ate" (1992); "Rotting", "Last Ride In", "Walking Alone" (1997); etc.? And I remember "Dookie"-era interviews where BJ talked about how The Who, The Beatles, Cheap Trick, etc. were an influence on him, so this album is not really all that surprising." Score is for Saves The Day's setlist. needs more Can't Slow Down. I can understand if this record doesn't do it for some people. I felt the same way about Warning when it came out — despite being a huge Green Day fan, I didn't even buy it for a few years — but it grew on me. "Warning" is still probably my least favorite GD record, but it didn't signal their demise; they followed it up with a record I enjoyed the hell out of. most best album everd!!!!!!!! sweet cover I've not listened to it, but I just know it sucks. the review says it all. green day have fucking sucked since warning. And that Funeral For A Friend comment... What are you talking about? You just sound like an angry loser. for people complaining about the money green day makes or is spending, that's irrelevant; when you have the money to make something, you'll probably spend it, and when people buy your records, you can't control the return of the investment. You fuckin' haters, you. It's not even cool to hate Green Day anymore, you know? Everyone loved them resulting in everyone hating them and now it's only cool to not say anything about Green Day. However, I'll say something and that is that, come on, what's the harm in a band starting as a punk band and then going in a different direction one day? Is that really such a fucking crime? You're the ones that need to get a grip. Score is to give a little credit to a band that is in it for the music. And I'll give it an actual score when I buy the album and hear everything on it. "Hey, guess what? Hey, guess what? Hey, guess what? I will never actually listen to this record, so my score is more a lifetime green day rating. I liked this album this first time ... when it was called American Idiot. Not a horribled record, but not what I really wanted ... Can't beat $4.99 on Amazon. I actually was surprised for this record. I wasn't a big fan of American Idiot and knowing that they weren't going to write a punk album, I was curious as to the direction they take. It sounds like Nimrod-era Green Day to me. Score is for this record, the cover art, and the dude a 100 posts below me that put The Rudiments and Choking Victim in the same sentence. So insulting to The Rudiments.... Just been listening to loads of Greenday pre-Idiot. i have yet to hear this album but im guessing Butch Vig's production ruined the album like on New Wave or Nevermind pfft i hate him I'm halfway through, and so far it sounds like Green Day trying to be JOURNEY. Havent listened to it, but i gotta say, well written review. Kudos. Just want to add that Rob Cavallo seems to know what makes these guys tick, brings out that "sound" of Green Day and after watching them last night, I can only say that they even looked bored performing the new stuff-oldpunker- These are the "Green Day ripping off Green Day" moments that immediately jump out to me: i was bored from start to finish...not a single stand out track for me....i mean, sure, it's green day and it sounds like green day, but yeah, bored. This album is dull, and if it wasn't a Green Day album then no one would care about it. Sounds more like Kaiser Chiefs than early Green Day, and that's probably why they've been tapped to open for them on tour. the voice of reason has emerged below me. How is this album any less or more "punk" than the rest of their albums? It's still straight up fucking Green Day only this time there might be a piano intro preceding the aforementioned straight up fucking Green Day. i like how all the old-guard punknews posters have returned to post comments here. Snooze-fest. It took five years to make this!? I've listened to it a few times, and there's a handful of ok songs here, but it's otherwise forgettable and completely mediocre. 4 stars? 9/10 This was a good review. Summed up my thoughts perfectly. This album isn't terrible by any means. I'll be interested to see where they go from here because i really don't think they can continue doing this concept anymore. Favorite tracks are 21st Century Breakdown, Restless Heart Syndrome, Murder City and 21 Guns. This album isn't terrible by any means. I'll be interested to see where they go from here because i really don't think they can continue doing this concept anymore. Favorite tracks are 21st Century Breakdown, Restless Heart Syndrome, Murder City and 21 Guns. You know, I think Money Money 2020 was maybe my favorite thing they've put out since Insomniac. Certainly Transistor's Gone Wild / Roshambo / Spike / Right-Hand-o-Rama were more interesting than any quartet of songs on any of the more recent albums. So, I guess it's established fact now that the two other mystery members were not part of Devo, but rather Jason White and Jason Freese. But who in the wide world of fuck was that Germanic nutter? Video Killed The Radio Star. Got it. But even The Static Age rips off something from the 80s that I can't put my finger on. Someone tell me what it is. Is driving me fucking nuts. Best song is The Static Age. By far and a long way. What the fuck happened to my ability to write a proper sentance? Is weird. With every album they've put out since Kerplunck, they did something different, while this is just a rather uninventive synthesis of Warning, AI, and Money Money 2020. I can't be bother to check, but I suspect there ain't a song that couldn't pass as a long lost component of JoS, Homecoming, or whatever. So yeah, it all sounds too unnervingly familiar to make for a good listening, even if the tunes aren't half bad and B.J.'s voice is as good as it probably ever has been . . . having that, though, the band's guitar and bass have been emaciated something horrible . . . Best song on here is American Eulogy, especially when Mike sings Crackpot, you are a crackpot. They didn't rip off Sixten, they credit him in the booklet... The album is pretty fucking good, although i can't say it's without flaws. A few songs took quite a while to grow on me, and and it still feels a bit too long, but there really isn't a song that i actively dislike on the album. I think the tracklisting was quite well done, not a top heavy album at all, since some of the best stuff isn't found until near the end. Overall the album sounds like the bastard child of Warning and American Idiot. This is way punker than your precious Rudiments or Choking Victim. They're bringing it down - FROM THE INSIDE! i knew this would be a disapointment the moment i set my eyes upon the crudley plagiarized Sixten cover art. I can't get over the sad irony that a gated community dwelling, multi-millionaire rock star is singing about social disintegration. Not to mention the 'revolutionary' imagery in the lyrics to "Know Your Enemy" - the pure commodification of dissent. Isn't capitalism wonderful? We know who our enemy is... and we embrace her, lovingly, in a twisted death dance off the edge of a cliff. i don't think this band will ever make a bad record. i also don't think they'll ever make a better record than insomniac. I think static age sounds like the chorus to Church On Sunday. I also think that the last part of Jesus Of Suburbia(the lead guitar on the instrumental) sounds like Social Distortion's version of Ring Of Fire. Does anyone else think The Static Age sounds like a sped up version of Macy's Day Parade? When they're not making pretentious wannabe 'epic' songs aping people like Queen with piano and 'crooning vocals' and all that bullshit, the album is actually pretty good. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen until 8 songs in. There are some fine songs towards the end like "Last of the American Girls", "Murder City", "Peacemaker", "Horseshoes and Handgrenades", and "The Static Age", and most of those are good because they don't stray too far from Green Day's signature sound. Everything they do that's 'new', however, sounds like them trying to be something they're not, which comes across forced and lame. If the whole album had been like the songs where they're just sticking to their own unique style (like their old albums were) instead of mimicking someone else's, it wouldn't be such a drag. This album is more in the direction of actual song writing compared to American Idiot, so kudos to that. But a very mediocre album indeed Cos, Rob Cavallo didn't produce "Warning". Green Day did it themselves. Forgot it was an out of 10 rating. Meant to give 4 out of 5. 8 out of 10. Another long time Green Day fan. Pretty much agree with your review to a T. I was wondering why the melody from "21 Guns" sounded familiar, and you nailed it! It's better than the P.O.D. ripoff on "Are We the Waiting" from American Idiot, at least. really weak cd, they seem to have lost what made them Green Day in favor of ??? growth? being the biggest band in the world??..not sure and after hearing this, dont care. I will continue to reach for Insomniac, Kerplunk, Nimrod and remember Y I used to love these guys, bratty, snotty punk rock, not elevator punk-oldpunker- This is 'beginners' punk, the sort of stuff that gets 11 year olds into something that isn't off the disney channel but then allows them to dig deeper and discover better stuff. Nothing wrong with that I suppose. I'd rather 11 year olds listening to this than High School Musical or something. This album is horseshit. Not only is it utterly dull and uninspired, but Green Day also seem to have reached a point where they can't write original music any more. Not only are they ripping other bands off liberally, they're doing the same to their own back catalogue. It was bad enough when they half-inched the riff for American Idiot from Dillinger Four. To re-use that same riff again on this album, albeit slowed down, is unforgiveable, as is the complete lack of presence Mike has on it. Oh wow, he gets lead vocals on a song. Too bad it's at the expense of his bass, it seems. What happened to the guy who played Longview? J.A.R.? Panic Song? Where did he go? Who is this new Mike, and why does he suck so hard at bass? mark morrison is from my home town and always used to drive past the local venue in his limo with blacked out windows. a true legend. especially with that 'get a look-a-like to do your community service' idea. special. i listened to the first 2 songs and then went back to listening to the audio book of world war z. maybe i'll make it back to this eventually, make that trip to the store to buy it on my way to work worth wihile. maybe not though, what i listened to reminded me too much of the snoozefest that was american idiot. Score is for inevitable dissapointment. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this the first Green Day album since "Kerplunk" that isn't produced by Rob Cavallo? Never heard of the album "Minority" but if you mean "Warning:", then you're way wrong. Easily their most tasteful genre experimenting and much more modest than this or AI. It's got to be their best or up there with Dookie. the artwork reminds me of my chemical romance's three cheers for sweet revenge and considering they're on the same label too .. And no, I don't know my enemy. Now shut up. I like this album a lot. However the artwork is totally the Insubordination Fest 2007 art: Nobody stone me for saying this but I enjoy their Dylan cover. I hate rating albums low when it's obvious the amount of time and care they put into it... sadly, this just doesn't completely do it for me. good review, very nice comparisons..they're dead on. good album as well. Why cant i give this a rating goddam new punknews This album is really fucking good. I would much rather listen to anything by Liz Phair than anything Green Day has put out since Insomniac I lestened to theree sings on their stream and thet kind sucked. I aint giving these douche nozels my money. I'm gonna steall it inline! Don't care if it isn't "punk." They're my favorite band. Lame. Just "American Idiot" without balls. Can't listen to this. Probably never will. I don't have a good reason really. All I know is that J.A.R, Welcome to Paradise, and the entire album of Insomniac will always be close to my heart. This stuff isn't the Green Day I give a shit about. Good for them and all, but....no. After listening to this entire album (both live and studio versions), I think it's the most unambitious, and generic album Green Day could have ever written. It pretty much sounds like what they tried to write before American Idiot and had put it on the back burner for later. Sounds way too much like American Idiot, except almost none of the songs stand out this time. Love it. A perfect mix of the bombast of idiot and the genre expanding warning. score is for wanting to watch juno sounds like green day to me It's great. this is pretty awful. i have not heard this record and therefore will not comment on its aural contents. Having said that, the cover makes me want to stab my own eyes out with ice picks WTF!!!... This is a new Hannah Montana or a Milli Vanilli record??? hated this when i first heard it, but i dunno, i'm warming up to it a bit. when you get past the cheesy slow piano intros, there are some good songs here. streamed it twice and was overall pretty bored. still got goosebumps once or twice that only your (former) favorite band can induce, though. meh. its about what i expected. and that doesnt mean its good. I just don't understand that if this band is gonna steal melodies and entire concepts from other bands, why are they so lazy about it? At least rip off some shit that most people haven't heard. Getting in before 45,000 comments... score is for mark morrison's "return of the mack" not being available in original form on youtube, nor available as a ringtone anywhere in the united states. score is for mark morrison's "return of the mack" This record is way, way too long and so far, only a few songs really stand out as winners. I'll give it a few more listens, but overall I'd say I'm bummed about it. Score is for Pinhead Gunpowder static age = church on sunday. P.S. this is going to be better than Rancid's new album I'll allow it! horseshoes and handgrenades = the hives. I more or less agree with the review. 1/4 missteps, 1/2 par with the rest of their releases, 1/4 some of the best songs they've ever made. Waaaahhh The Chariot's new record > Green Day's dOeZ it Rawk agaINZT bUsh? Wow, the dude below my last post posted his while I was writing mine and we used a lot of the same words. That's CRAZY! I'm Brian Fellow! The Simpsons arcade game was sooooo rad. So was Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I spent my last token on that once at the mall when I was 5 or 6, and I had to pee so fucking bad, but I wasn't gonna stop playing. My mom got pissed when she had to drag me away and clean me up. The cover art is disgustingly horrible. The simpsons arcade at chuck-e-cheese was so amazing. I got to the very last part of the game and my mom drug me out of the their kicking and screaming because she wouldn't let me finish it. I'm still pissed. I still love Chuck E. Cheese. Score is for playing The Simpsons arcade as a kid at Chuck E Cheese. Remember how good Chuck E. Cheese was as a kid? Then in college you and your friend thought it'd be rad to go again and you found the pizza was cardboard and the ball pit was filled with germs and children's feces? |
