Published on Nov 2, 2004
Let me be clear: the latest Green Day release,
American Idiot, has little to do with the previous releases
from this band. This time around, this band is a more sophisticated
trio, one that has worked, I mean
worked to create a CD that will stand the test of the time.
Fans and non-fans will appreciate the dedication of the band’s
craft. The intricate details that have been included here are
awe-inspiring. This is barely a punk CD — it transcends musical
genres and melts them together into a powerful experience.
Sure, it’s the same members (guitar/vocals by Billie Joe
Armstrong, bass/vocals by Mike Dirnt, and drums/vocals by Tre
Cool), the same type of punk rock that made “Basket Case” and
“Longview” radio smashes. And it even has a slower “ballad” that
will remind listeners of “Time of Your Life” — but this is a
smarter Green Day release. The songwriting is more precise, the
attitude a lot more refined, and the music is at a higher level of
sophistication.
To clear things up, it took many listens for me to understand
that this is a concept album in the sense that all of these songs
tell a story. That isn’t nearly as important to me as the quality
of the music. What stands out for me is the way the longer tracks
like “Jesus of Suburbia” and “Homecoming” have multiple styles
within the same song.
“Jesus of Surburbia” starts out as a straight-forward punk song
with an odd 1950s rock vibe. Then “City of the Damned” slips into a
riff that sounds like Motley Crue’s “On with the Show.” Lyrically,
Billie Joe Armstrong is smarter, introducing the next part of the
song with the lyrics “No one seems to care.” That sets up the
aggressive rocker “I Don’t Care,” my favorite part of this track.
With the distorted vocals and the simplistic guitar riff/drum beat,
this is the closest the band will come to its sound on previous
releases. Then “Dearly Beloved” begins with a different vibe.
Armstrong asks, “Am I retarded / or am I just overjoyed.” The drums
and bass lock in together. Then the vibe shifts again for the final
“act” of this track called “Tales of Another Broken Home.” At just
over 9 minutes, this is the band’s “Stairway to Heaven,” perhaps
the highlight of their career.
And that’s only track 2.
This is one of those CDs that will compel you to listen to it
again and again. The concept of the CD takes a while to understand
— it’s not as evident as on Queensryche’s
Operation: Mindcrime where you immediately know what’s going
on. That makes this concept CD a more intellectually stimulating
piece of work.
Without getting into the storyline, which I believe you will
have to interpret for yourself, there are tracks that stand out
from the whole. The haunting “Wake Me Up When September Ends” makes
me think of the horrific 9/11 tragedy with the lyrics “The innocent
can never last.” It fits into the storyline of the CD, but it’s not
about that event because Armstrong sings “Seven years has gone so
fast.” It doesn’t take a math whiz to figure out that it has not
been seven years since 2004. Personal interpretation makes this
song that much more powerful to me. The next track “Homecoming” is
another five-part track that is slightly longer than “Jesus of
Surburbia” and with just as many different feels.
The final track “Whatshername” begins as a low-key conclusion to
this CD before becoming a rocker. Armstrong is introspective when
he sings “I made a point to burn all of the photographs . . ./ . .
. I can remember the face but I can’t recall the name / Now I
wonder how whatshername has been . . . / . . .If my memory serves
me right / I’ll never turn back time.” The song serves as a
conclusion to the story being told throughout the CD with a
powerful conclusion.
American Idiot will be remembered as the Green Day’s finest
hour. It has power, intelligence, and charisma. There are riffs on
this CD that will haunt you at 3 AM because they are that damn
good. If you can chip away at the complex story line and come to a
deeper understanding, good for you. I found that the story became
secondary. I don’t know how they will pull off this material live,
whether they’ll perform the songs from start to finish like
Slayer’s “raining blood” concert tour or if they will pick and
choose what they think will translate into a great song in concert.
This is one of the finest releases in 2004.