In the world where Green Day is known as a sold out Punk rock band, which lacks of talent because of all kinds of wannabe Punkers/emo people listen to it. It is not the truth.
I agree that many Punk Rock bands have a lack of talent or that they sold out well Green Day isn't one of them with this album and the albums before that, only American Idiot is a sell out, but even that album has it's moments. But eheir greatest moments are before, here is the compilation of their greatest work, only lacking some Kerplunk and 1,039 smoothed out slappy hours.
Green Day is:
Billie Joe Armstrong, one of the original founders, a guitarplayer known for his catchy riffs, he isn't a big solo-er or has the most technichal stuff, but his style really fits in well to Green Day.
Mike Dirnt, the other original founder, a very skilled and underrated bassplayer, his riffs in Longview and Stuart And The Ave are really good, bad thing he had a problem somewhere in his arm since not to long.
Tre' Cool, the replacement of John Kiffmeyer, he is a solid drummer, with also fun drum lines like in Longview and Are We The Waiting.
This album also has 1 new songs, Poprocks And Coke to promote their new album, Maria however already was on the single Waiting.
1. Maria
This is a policical song, something that a band like Green Day should not make, Green Day should make fun songs with not much meaning to it, however it's still a good song to listen to.
2. Poprocks and Coke
A quiet song, kind of a love song, about a stalker who will follow a girl everywhere, but it has a catchy side and is good to listen to
I give these 2 songs that start of the album a 3/5, bacause there are way better song that could open an album and much more songs that are much better, then these 2 that aren't on the album.
With a fanbase made with Kerplunk and 1,039 Smoothed out/Slappy hours, no one would have expect that they would turn into one of the greatest, most important and most welknown Punk Rock Albums, of all the time.
In 1994 they made their succesfull album
Dookie with their best songs. When this album was selling fast then Interscope Records could make albums, they went to Reprise records. This album has sold more then 10 millions copy's being one of the most sold Punk Rock albums.
3. Longview
This is a song that starts of with a solid drumbeat from Tre' Cool, folled by one of the most catchiest basslines in music history from Mike Dirnt. Then Billie Joe Armstrong starts singing about how bored he is, and in the chorus the guitar kicks in and he starts singing about masturbation, which he says very subtile this is a very good song and with that one of the best songs on this album
4,5/5
4. Welcome To Paradise
This song is about moving, Billie Joe Armstrong sings about talking to his mother that he is gone and he has a fear, after that he starts singing about how bad it is where he is, but eventually turns to be his home.
The music is very solid, the guitar isn't much special like always, the bass and drums are very solid, and about 1:55 there is a very catchy bassline.
3,5/5
5. Basket Case
This is known as the best song from Green Day by many fans, and even some rockers like it.
It starts with singing and a catchy guitar riff then followed by a great fill of tre's cool and a nice bassline, very overplayed in the world, but that has a very good reason, it's a very good song in general, it is about someone who is insane and he is searching for help.
6. When I Come Around
I think one of the easyest songs to learn on any instrument, it's just repeating the same thing on and on. But very catchy has solid lyrics, it's about a fight and the singer is right and the girl is wrong and whining and tells Billie he is a loser etc etc.
Even though it's very repeating it's a good listen I'd give it a
4,5/5
7. She
A quiet intro, with drums and bass, Billie is singing about a girl screaming and wating, thent he chorus kicks in together with some guitar and Billie Joe talks about she's looked up in the world, not much special about it
3/5
8. J.A.R.
Another song that isn't ony albums, written by Dirnt who is less talented then Billie Joe, but it is still catchy but not much specials, not much to say about it, it's about living your live a message anyone should listen to
2,5/5
After the massive succes of Dookie they needed a follow up to still have the same status, allthough it isn't as good as Dookie it is still a very good album, released a year after Dookie was made
9. Geek Stink Breath[/b[
This song isn't much special Billie Joe sing a bit quiet, the chorus isn't as catchy as we are used from Green Day, and the guitar shouldn't be distorted and the hihat not open, cause it just doesn't match the singing
2/5
10. Brain Stew
11. Jaded
I Will revieuw these 2 guitar 'cause you just need to listen these to after each other, Brain Stew begins with a very simple but nice guitar intro, with some nice singing, a simple bassline and a solid but simple beat, the song is about being tired and not getting any sleep even though you try, afterwards comes Jaded, a fast beat song, it's abouut falling of trying to get forward, very nice together.
3,5/5
12. Walking Contradiction
A very catchy song with good guitar, bass and drums, still not the most technichal stuff, but it works really well, this song is about not caring to anything, and leaving everything as it is. A very nice catchy song.
3,5/5
13. Stuck With Me
Starts of with a fast pased beat distorted guitar and some nice bass, it's about someone who is just being throwed around, but that'S normal to him, even though he wants to feel alright. The songwriting in this song is good, and the song is catchy.
3/5
After 2 years Green day comes with a follow up album, called Nimrod. Musicly the band has improved very much, also with the songwriting, it really show that Green Day are good musicans and have good sognwriting abilities, the potential is very notable but not always used
14. Hitchin' A Ride
Starting with a violin, the beat kicks in with a nice drumbeat and some nice bass, it's a solid intro, it's about Hitchin' A Ride, 'cause he needs to get somehwere, then the chorus comes which has some distorted guitar, around 1:47 Billie Joe unleashed a short but good scream, and after that the song gets some backing vocals and it becomes more harder, a very good song.
4,5/5
15. Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)
To not sound like a fanboy is hard on this song for me, this is my favourite song ever, and that being said of someone who doesn't listen to much Punk Rock but preferes bands like Pink Floyd/The Who/U2/Van Halen and other classic rock bands means something. The music of this song is a very nice guitar, and some nice violin around the chorus.
Billie Joe sings with much feeling here, it's about live, being sad, somethign unpredicted that happen most likely to be dumped and you hope that the other person would have a good time in her life. And about making the best of your life, not to worry so much,that everything can happen even though you don't expect it and that you learn from that. This song almost was left out for being to girlish. Allthough overplayed many times I would give it a
5/5
16. Redundant
This song has some very nice bass in the intro and some nice guitar, the song is about a relation that's boring, and not getting enough and wanting more, and repeating the same problems over and over. Musicly and lyricly very good.
4/5
17. Nice Guys Finish Last
One of their faster song From Dookie, this again is a catchy song like the Insomniac songs, it's about the nice guys who always finish last and not always getting what you want, not so specials a
3,5/5
After showing much signs of potential they made Warning, a weak album with some strong songs, the stronger songs are on this one, but more you don't need from that album.
18. Minority
This has a very catchy guitar intro, also a harmonica is in this song, it's abvout being the minority and being different not much special from the lyrics, but musicly I like this song very much for it's catchyness
4/5
19. Warning
This has a catchy intro, the song is about living without a warning with much safety, and musiacly it isn't much special
2,5/5
20. Waiting
Nice intro with some nice singing, it's about waiting a long time for a moment and that moment it about to happend so close he could taste it, some nice lyrics. And this song is mucacly much better then Warning, a very solid and good song, even has a little solo in it.
4/5
21. Macy's Day Parade
The other Green Day ballad, I don't liked this one as much as the other one, musicly it's easy, but it fits the song, it's about not having what you want, none of your dreams coming true and getting a new hope, the only thing you need. It's a nice little ballad not much special
[/b]4/5[/b]
Overall this is a very good album, one you should give to someone who hates rock and pop, for many people including me this was the first step into Rock, and that's a thing good about Green Day, it is a step into a world of music because it's catchy, and from that point you will listne to more Punk and more Rock and broadening music taste.And this is the Green Day album you need to listen first, even if you hate American Idiot you can like this.
I give this album a 4/5
PS.
This is my first review be gentle
