With the release of “Dookie” in 1994, there wasn’t a high school hallway around that wasn’t dotted with Green Day T-shirts. Although the band got some previous notice, its next effort propelled it into the kind of rare iconic stardom that some bands can only dream of. While many teens were still entrenched in the music of bands such as Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, Green Day brought a new brand of relatively mindless pop-punk that teens could just listen to without ever really having to become invested in what was being said. For many young teens, Green Day most likely provided their first true taste of punk rock. Although much lighter than its predecessors, the band provided just the right dose of punk for that particular time.
Now as those very same teens rapidly near the age of 30, many of their favorites from their former years have long since broken up. However, Green Day still remains, and just like the fans, the band has grown.
Following 2004’s mega-successful “American Idiot,” Green Day has returns with its eighth album, “21st Century Breakdown.” “American Idiot” was deemed a rock opera, and the same can be said about “21st Century Breakdown.” This time, Green Day chronicles the relationship of the young and impetuous Christian and Gloria. Green Day has broken this narrative into three acts: “Heroes and Cons,” “Charlatans and Saints” and “Horseshoes and Handgrenades.” In this tale, it is Christian and Gloria against the world. The young couple is innocent in the beginning, but through a series of tumultuous lessons, the two end their story together in mass hysteria. Green Day incorporates a much older rock-influenced sound than on previous releases but still maintains its trademarked alternative punk sound throughout much of the album. “21 Guns” is very reminiscent of the Beatles and is quite possibly one of the most moving Green Day songs ever. The Spanish-influenced “Viva La Gloria [Little Girl]” depicts Gloria at her lowest with no place to go. The CD’s title track describes the worthlessness of an entire generation that was born of deceit and has no hope for the future.
Rating: W W W 1/2
