I was shocked and amazed the other day. I was in utter
disbelief. I discovered this month it has been ten years since arguably the
most successful punk rock albums ever was released. The album I am talking
about is of course American Idiot by the mighty Green Day.
Released on the 20th of September 2004 American
Idiot is the San Francisco based bands seventh studio album. It received a huge
amount of praise from music critics and fans all over the world. American Idiot
that took Green Day from being the biggest punk band on the planet to one of
the biggest bands on the planet. Now ten years later I am going to review
American Idiot.
The album kicks off with one of the most recognisable guitar
riffs ever before blasting into the lead single with the same name as the album
American Idiot. This anti-George Bush anthem is everything you would expect
from a Green Day song. Music played at a break neck speed accompanied by Billie
Joe Armstrong’s poppy snarl as he belts out some smart lyrics.
Track two is where the album get’s interesting. American
Idiot is Green Day’s attempt at a rock opera. It tells the story of Jimmy’s
life from birth to death. The song Jesus Of Suburbia is the first of two nine
minute long songs on American Idiot. A song comprised of five different parts
(Jesus Of Suburbia, City Of The Damned,
I Don’t Care, Dearly Beloved, Tales Of Another Broken Home), it tells a
tale of Jimmy becoming frustrated with life and running away. For a punk band
to write a song this long is almost unheard of but Green Day make it work to
fantastic effect.
Up next is Holiday. Opening up with another very
recognisable guitar riff this song is the most political on American Idiot.
Billie Joe sings with a sneer reminiscent of a man intent on changing the
world.
Holiday is followed up by Boulevard Of Broken Dreams. This
song tells of how Jimmy has grown disenchanted with life and how he feels alone.
He then begins to question his existence in the following song Are We The
Waiting. Both of these songs see the band slow things down a notch. Are We The
Waiting is a brilliantly atmospheric song and Billie Joe’s vocal delivery is
perfect.
Track number six on the album is my personal favourite, St.
Jimmy. This fast paced punk rock assault is about St. Jimmy beginning to stand
up and fight against the establishment he is so angry at. Armstrong is at his
snarling best on this electrifying song. Drummer Tré Cool adds some excellent
drum rolls towards the end of the song.
The next two songs Give Me Novacaine and She’s A Rebel could
easily be one song. They continue Jimmy’s story as he delves into drugs and
meet’s a girl who he feels is dangerous. Give Me Novacaine is a slow tempo
number that slowly builds before going into the punchier She’s A Rebel. These
songs are followed up by Extraordinary Girl, continuing the talk of women.
Jimmy has found himself in a relationship with an amazing woman but finds
himself bringing her down.
The tenth song is named Letterbomb and goes back to Green
Day’s classic Dookie sound. Billie Joe’s vocal performance is again superb on
this song. This is followed by the ballad Wake Me Up When September Ends. Here
Billie Joe pulls on your heartstrings as he sings about dealing with the loss
of a loved one. This is where Green Day pull out an arena sized anthem from
their box of tricks. The song itself is a brilliantly written piece of music
but for me it slows the pacing of the album right down and makes it begin to
drag.
Wake Me Up When September Ends is followed by the second of
two nine minute long songs, Homecoming. Homecoming deals with the death of
Jimmy. Split into five parts (Homecoming, East 12th St, Nobody Likes
You, Rock and Girlfriend and We’re Coming Home Again) it serves as a eulogy for
Jimmy’s life.
American Idiot finishes with Whatsername. This song about
trying to find a loved one feels kind of out of place on the album. It’s
another great song but with the story telling aspect of American Idiot you
would think it would finish with Homecoming. The placing of this song is one of
very few blemishes on this album.
Whether you love or hate American Idiot you cannot deny that
this is an amazing accomplishment from Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Tré
Cool and producer Rob Cavallo.
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