Review Summary: Despite the fears of a let down, "Revolution Radio" delivers an impactful statement about the state of violence in our world and does so in a musically meaning way.
Having been a Green Day fan all my life I’ll be the first to admit I was afraid of “Revolution Radio,” the band’s twelfth studio album. Fear didn’t stop me from giving it a listen however, and what I found was so much more than what I expected.
After “American Idiot” was released in 2004 Green Day were on a high and nothing seemed to stand in their way other than their own potential. The band couldn’t keep up with the demand for politically charged music; especially when there wasn’t too much to be politically charged about. In an effort to keep up, Green Day released the trilogy series, “Uno,” “Dos” and “Tre,” which only deflated fans more. Having waited four long years, “Revolution Radio” was much anticipated and fans expected more than ever before with some of us cringing in fear.
I listened critically and intently as I waited for the notes to hit my ears and resonate inside of me and what did resonate was something worth sharing. The music seemed to have a purpose again, unlike the previous releases in 2012 and that, above all else, made me smile.
“Revolution Radio” offers musical talent as well as a reflection of just how messed up our world can be as Green Day venture back to making bold statements with their sound. Musically, the album offers up twists, turns and surprises around nearly every track.
The album opens with “Somewhere Now” which is somewhat of a rollercoaster in itself. Beginning with a soft, acoustic melody the song soon bursts into something much louder offering two very differing dynamics. “Somewhere Now” and “Forever Now” operate as a sort of call and response with one beginning the album and the other nearly ending it. This creates a cyclical message while rounding off the album at the perfect time.
*On the lighter side there are tracks such as “Bouncing Off the Wall” and “Youngblood” which appeal more to the pop part of pop-punk. While not necessarily my favorite tracks, they do serve a purpose and offer a more lighthearted tone. Aside from that, these pop-anthems don’t do much more than get caught in your head and make you want to dance a little.
Also to note is the more personal direction Billie Joe takes with the lyrics of this album on songs like “Ordinary World” and “Still Breathing.” While his lyrics are almost always significant, Billie Joe tends to stray away from those deep moments that cut him up inside, but that isn’t the case here.“ Still Breathing” allows an insight into Billie Joe’s emotions after rehab and is one of his only comments about the situation to date.
A mix between “Dookie” and “21st Century Breakdown,” “Revolution Radio” really does deliver the sound fans have been waiting for and does so while remaining relevant. Tracks like “Say Goodbye” and “Troubled Times” seem to be a direct message about the state of violence in our world as Green Day continue to push at this message and remain influential.
I’m not saying the album is perfect, but it is important. It’s important for the era of violence and disregard that we find ourselves in and not many musicians today are confident enough to have such strong views that they speak out about. Even if you aren’t a fan of Green Day, I hope you find it in you to give this album a listen because both musically and socially, it matters. **
