Friday, October 01, 2004
GREEN DAY "AMERICAN IDIOT"
Here's the first album review at Rambling On Music.
It's Green Day's "American Idiot". Released last Tuesday (Sept. 21), "American Idiot" is Green Day's first studio album since 2000's "Warning".
The word on "American Idiot" was that it is a "rock opera", similar to The Who's "Tommy". Well, "Tommy" is on another level. But as far as this era goes, "American Idiot" is this generation's "Tommy".
The album is based on a character called "Jesus of Suburbia". There's many references to the J.O.S. throughout the album. The second track of "American Idiot" is called "Jesus of Suburbia", which clocks in at 9:08. Who knew that Green Day would ever do a song that is over 9 minutes?
"American Idiot" can also be considered a political album, if you want to go that route. If you're paying attention, it's a given that the title track and first single "American Idiot" is about George W. Bush. However, I won't get into any political issues here, simply because I prefer not to talk politics.
I've listened to "American Idiot" too many times to count over the past week and a half. Quite simply, it's the best album that has been released so far in 2004. It's a very creative album, something you don't see these days in the music industry.
Highlights of "American Idiot":
"Holiday" --- The first thought i had when I first heard "Holiday"? This is going to be a huge single. It just has the makings of a huge single. Expect "Holiday" to hit radio stations, MTV, and Fuse in the coming weeks.
"Are We The Waiting"/"St. Jimmy" --- I combined these two songs for a reason. "Brain Stew" and "Jaded" were back-to-back on 1995's "Insomniac" and were released as a single. "Are We The Waiting" is brilliant on many levels. It's a perfect buildup for the very fast "St. Jimmy". I refuse to play one song without the other. It's "Are We The Waiting" then "St. Jimmy". I will not debate this.
(Unrelated yet related note...Other great buildup songs? Van Halen's "1984" which leads into "Jump". Queen's "We Will Rock You", then "We Are The Champions".)
"Give Me Novacaine" --- I was expecting Billy Joe to just blurt out "...in the howling wind, comes a stinging rain!" in the beginning. The intro reminds me of U2's "Bullet The Blue Sky". SKY!!! WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO! BULLET THE BLUE SKYYYYYY!!!
"Extraordinary Girl" --- I love the guitar work on this track, just love it.
"Wake Me Up When September Ends" --- This has "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)" potential. It's almost a shame that they couldn't have released this as a single right now. After all, September is now over.
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
"American Idiot" is Green Day's best album since "Dookie". That's saying a lot, considering how good their post-"Dookie" efforts are. This band has grown up big time in the past 10 years. The maturity with Green Day started with 1997's "Nimrod". It certainly hasn't stopped.
There have been a few good rock albums that have been released in 2004. But "American Idiot" is the best album I've heard so far this year. From start to finish, it's a winner. I'll definitely play the hell out of it for the coming weeks and months.
Welcome back, Green Day. Although they never really left us.
It's Green Day's "American Idiot". Released last Tuesday (Sept. 21), "American Idiot" is Green Day's first studio album since 2000's "Warning".
The word on "American Idiot" was that it is a "rock opera", similar to The Who's "Tommy". Well, "Tommy" is on another level. But as far as this era goes, "American Idiot" is this generation's "Tommy".
The album is based on a character called "Jesus of Suburbia". There's many references to the J.O.S. throughout the album. The second track of "American Idiot" is called "Jesus of Suburbia", which clocks in at 9:08. Who knew that Green Day would ever do a song that is over 9 minutes?
"American Idiot" can also be considered a political album, if you want to go that route. If you're paying attention, it's a given that the title track and first single "American Idiot" is about George W. Bush. However, I won't get into any political issues here, simply because I prefer not to talk politics.
I've listened to "American Idiot" too many times to count over the past week and a half. Quite simply, it's the best album that has been released so far in 2004. It's a very creative album, something you don't see these days in the music industry.
Highlights of "American Idiot":
"Holiday" --- The first thought i had when I first heard "Holiday"? This is going to be a huge single. It just has the makings of a huge single. Expect "Holiday" to hit radio stations, MTV, and Fuse in the coming weeks.
"Are We The Waiting"/"St. Jimmy" --- I combined these two songs for a reason. "Brain Stew" and "Jaded" were back-to-back on 1995's "Insomniac" and were released as a single. "Are We The Waiting" is brilliant on many levels. It's a perfect buildup for the very fast "St. Jimmy". I refuse to play one song without the other. It's "Are We The Waiting" then "St. Jimmy". I will not debate this.
(Unrelated yet related note...Other great buildup songs? Van Halen's "1984" which leads into "Jump". Queen's "We Will Rock You", then "We Are The Champions".)
"Give Me Novacaine" --- I was expecting Billy Joe to just blurt out "...in the howling wind, comes a stinging rain!" in the beginning. The intro reminds me of U2's "Bullet The Blue Sky". SKY!!! WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOO! BULLET THE BLUE SKYYYYYY!!!
"Extraordinary Girl" --- I love the guitar work on this track, just love it.
"Wake Me Up When September Ends" --- This has "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)" potential. It's almost a shame that they couldn't have released this as a single right now. After all, September is now over.
--- --- --- --- --- --- ---
"American Idiot" is Green Day's best album since "Dookie". That's saying a lot, considering how good their post-"Dookie" efforts are. This band has grown up big time in the past 10 years. The maturity with Green Day started with 1997's "Nimrod". It certainly hasn't stopped.
There have been a few good rock albums that have been released in 2004. But "American Idiot" is the best album I've heard so far this year. From start to finish, it's a winner. I'll definitely play the hell out of it for the coming weeks and months.
Welcome back, Green Day. Although they never really left us.
