Reviews (page 7 of 16)
As a teenager when Green Day became popular I dismissed them as too silly; I just didn't want to like a band name their albums Kerplunk and Dookie and had cartoon album sleeves. Jumping forward to 2004 and I enjoyed the singles off American Idiot, and the band having something serious to say, but my longstanding prejudice meant I still didn't listen to the album until now. Now I've got to confess - this is a great, and mature, album. It's varied in sound but consistent in themes, and I think the best compliment I can pay it is those stellar singles don't stand out that far from the album tracks - they're integrated really well. There's also a vibe running through the album that sounds like a coming together or marching that's really uplifting. I can only imagine the live shows on that tour really popped off.
AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH THIS IS MY ENTIRE TEENAGE THE FEELS I JUST CANT
от holiday мурашки каждый раз.. иногда жалею, что не погрузилась в творчество группы в подростковом возрасте. столько свободы, веселья, очень хорошо.
It’s American Idiot
особо нет претензий, но 5 очков не поставлю, извините любители панков.
This is an easy 5 for me: I love so many songs on this album. "Whatsername" isn't just my favourite Green Day song, but it's one of my favourite songs ever. And I never stopped listening to "Holiday" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams". From start to finish, this is a stellar album, and I think it's Green Day's best. I mean, how many albums inspired an entire Broadway musical? It's a masterpiece.
Solid emo-punk album, defined an era.
3+ Stars (9/15)
En af de albums man skal høre flere gange. Er ikke så meget til rock så det her var en god overraskelse. Den har mange sange som man kender i forvejen og det er der en god grund til fordi hold da op de er gode. Hvis man lytter udelukkende til musikken og ikke teksterne er det meget samme stil der bliver spillet hele vejen igennem. Kan dog ikke sige mere fordi jeg valgte at høre det her album ret sent men kommer uden tvivl tilbage til det for lige nu er jeg træt og går i seng. 7-8/10
Maybe it’s the childhood nostalgia setting in, but I’m not gonna lie, this is absolute fire. It holds up pretty well imo. If I could pick one album to define the (dubya) Bush era, this would be it. Pretty incredible album tbh.
Got to see them do this album and Dookie live in its entirely last year. Still a fantastic album and unfortunately the title track is super timely right now.
Never was Green day fan, nor could I label it punk music being a punk in the eighties. When they had their heyday with "Dookie" I could only smirk about it. But this album got me by surprise. Although I still would rather label it as poppy punk rock, rather than anything like punk, this is actually quite good. Of course I knew the songs "Boulevard of Broken dreams" and "Wake Me Up When September Ends" but never listened to this album as a whole. Never knew that it was written as a post punk rock opera neither, which made it an all the better listen. 4/5
It’s not for me and I also think it’s objectively bad.
Amazing, has great political and social commentary. An absolute amazing album and speaks to our times especially.
Definitely top notch album here. Besides from hits like “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” and “Wake me Up When September Ends”, songs such as “Give Me Novacaine” really make this album great.
Great album
I think my opinion on this one may have been spoiled ahead of time by the hype! Although this is a good, solid pop-punk record with its concept reliably contributing to its unity rather than getting in the way, I think the baggage of its mythic critical status is going make a lot of new listeners feel disappointed. For me, 'Wake Me Up When September Ends' will never lose its 2000s school-slow-dance shine, and 'Homecoming' is the big highlight of the album...an unpredictable mashup of the album's most exciting ideas.
it's american idiot. I gotta 5 star it
Excellent
What a great album! Top to bottom, just killer rock’n’roll.
I keep saying I don’t like punk, but Sleater-Kinney and this album are proving me wrong. This is at least a 3, but it’s better than that. The singer actually sings and sings well. Plus, they’re the hometown band, which gets them a boost. A 4.
banger after banger! i love going back to green day. 4.5
Very formally ambitious for a punk album and probably the best example of 2000s rock. Crazy amount of hits
Never been a huge fan of "newer" punk but this is pretty good and still somewhat timely
awesome
very iconic album, one of the most iconic from the 2000s. guaranteed you've heard at least half of these songs before
Much better than Dookie in my view, with several great hits and the rest is generally nice as well. 4.5 stars
Legendary
(89/100)
Power chord pop punk album that has some great energy that unfortunately feels very...in stasis. Like, it doesn't rise in energy, or give you a break, it's the same thing across the board, which is both a little tiring and a little boring. Sure, it has its slower parts (my god, jesus of suburbia and homecoming are ten minutes long and contain several songs within) but the [slavoj zizek voice] eneffable, indeshcribable sho-called quality of "energy" ish consistent and ineshcapable, like late-capitalishm and itsh internalizhed critiques. It definitely sounds like Green Day, but I have to say I don't love the turn from gen x wastrel to political demagogue simply because the lyrical content isn't really up to the task. It's aged well, but it was never very up to aging in the first place. It's kind of like a longer version of The Decline. So do I hate it? I dunno, I might? It's fine. Musically, it does what it says on the tin: catchy pop punk. Dookie was my first musical love and I was a bit too cool for this one when it came out, partly because I thought the political bent was kind of facile. Which I think I was right about, but probably for the wrong reasons. I have to give credit for attempting the rock opera, a format I struggle with, but I think it works here. Pretty cool to have work in a chiastic format, which always deserves some points, but still too clever by half. Ultimately, the whole thing feels a little superficial. Harsh 3.
What to say that hasn't been said? It's very good pop punk. I can't think of a better pop punk album actually. 4 stars.
bruh i know this
meh
What more to say about this; a pop punk concept album that was a hugely popular across my early teens. Trying to listen to it now; well - of course some parts feel a bit a hackneyed, or on the nose political commentary. But who can write satire that stands the test of time, and Jesus of Suburbia remains a wonderful slice of excitement. Gas stations, parking lots, and romance - it's got a real sense of place. Of course I still listened to it all, and enjoyed nearly all.
Solid, 3.5.
This album still bangs! I saw Green Day earlier this year, they played Dookie and American Idiot in full. Probably the greatest concert I’ve seen.
I underrated this album when it came out. A shift in what Green Day became, hated it as a teen, but it aged really well and is much better than I gave it credit for
First or second wave ska? Where’s Ghost Town?
-1 star for the musical
3.5 / 5.0 More bland than I remembered but it's fine background music and I appreciate any attempt at an album-length story. This album, along with the Blink-182 self-titled album and others, are those little looks at bands that are trying to do something more mature and developed than the simple pop songs they're known for. Not that it works out well all the time but it's better than making more of the same.
Dookie straddled the line between pop and punk pretty well, this one does not whatsoever. There's hardly any Punk element to it, you can't make a pop album and a rock opera and have it fall under Punk as well. I really didn't like this. The big hits are all fine but I've heard them a million times before without ever putting it on myself. The transitions between the songs are nice but the album tracks don't do it for me. Definetely deserves to be on the list, I just don't like it.
Third favorite green day album
Just awful. What a bunch of poseurs.
Cringe inducing in places but has a great sound
Good to see this on here. One of the last great protest albums, a rock opera and an array of tracks that stand on their own. don't need to listen to it but I will anyway.
Très bon album ! J'adore ce type de musique etc bref c'est très cool.
YEAH PUNK ROCK ✊️🙏🗣🗣🗣🗣💪💪💪🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟
C'était super je me suis régalé, un bon classique du punk rock qui a fait bouger des générations. Je me rappelle de mon adolescence mouvementée. J'étais un jeune rebelle en quête de sens, je ne pouvais pas me mettre d"accord avec mes parents et je ne trouvais pas les mots pour leur adresser un grand "fuck" ! Eh bien cet album m'a permis de mettre des mots sur ce que je voulais dire. Maintenant, j'ai 35 ans. Je ne suis évidemment plus le jeune antisociété que j'étais, du moins physiquement. Mais dans mon coeur, je garde cet anticonformisme, cette joie de vivre, ce cri de passion, et chaque jour je remercie Green Day de m'avoir permis de grandir.
So I guess 9/11 did happen. Linkin park gave me hope
Ok
Terrific.
This album is what got me to become a music person.
I love Green Day. If Green Day is classified as punk, then I guess there is some punk out there that I like. This album in particular has a special nostalgic place in my heart. I was in college, dating a guy going through a divorce, and hoping that he'd get want to get more serious beyond quoting lines from "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and "Braveheart" over martinis after our shifts ended at Trader Joe's.
Nostalgia
Gawd 4 years after my graduation. #old balls. Hahaha great band, great album. Awesome 90’s, 00’s band that had there own unique sound/style.
Solid album. I ended up liking it more than I thought I would since Green Day hasn't really been my thing. Are We The Waiting/St. Jimmy were really good songs.
A early 2000's classic. Growing up this was a popular album for my age group. I knew many friends who owned it. Full of classics like American Idiot and Wake Me Up When September Ends. Green Day has some strong themes and it comes off well. I was a fan of the double tracks that blend into each other. Great album
Not a huge fan of this era green day. That being said I think Jesus of Suburbia is the best song they have ever recorded. A pop punk Bohemian Rhapsody. This is their so called "sell out" record, which marked a stark change in style from their previous work, from a more true punk style, to more pop punk and stadium rock esthetics. Overall it's listenable. But there's only one track I come back to revisit on this project, and honestly it can't carry the whole album.
This is like... One of the best Green Day albums there are. And I love every Green Day album. Everything thats been said has already been said and this is honestly one of the best punk albums of all time. It's one of those albums where if you need to show an alien what punk is, its this.
A great album with several hits to put it over the top
Great album all the way through
all time great
This album still holds up 21 years later man. It’s very nostalgic reminds me of swiping my sisters iPod when I was a kid and discovering music for the first time. Always good to listen to these records again and be transported back in time, that’s just the beauty of music.
As i remembered it. Quite good but got a bit samey
i hate this record. its basically reddit level propaganda. fuck these guys. 1 star and it would be lower
Easy 5*. Love green day, love this album. Back to back bangers.
YAY
I wish I could say some of the messages in this album werent relevant for today but unfortunately it is. It stings to listen to lyrics about America buying into fear when it only seems to have intensified over the last 20 years.
Pf, me ha gustado muchísimo y no me lo esperaba.
Duh
Decent album. I really like 2 songs on the album
Didn’t give this album enough credit originally. It’s actually great.
Meine Jugend
Green Day had passed me by until "American Idiot" was released, I was aware of them and of course "Dookie", but I hadn't really listened to them. It was my youngest song who wanted the album when we were out shopping shortly after its release. "Buy this Dad, you'll like it". I bought it and he was right! We followed that up by seeing them at Hammersmith Odeon on the UK tour - the main set was the whole album played in full. One of the best gigs I've seen. The album opens with the thunderous title track and that magnificent riff. Of course, the politics will alienate some, that can be seen in some of the reviews for this album on here, but this album is even more relevant now than it was then. I guess few were listening or taking heed. The rest of the album is equally magnificent. As an album, "American Idiot" was a statement, its vision huge, akin to a cinematic experience. A rock opera for the 21st century. The album blends political anthems with ballads. Every song serves a purpose. Five stars. It is a perfect album "Can I get another Amen (Amen)" Would I listen to this album again? - Yes, I should listen to it more often. Would I buy this album - I did. If there's a remaster, I might buy that. 1- "American Idiot" - (5/5) 2- "Jesus of Suburbia" - (5/5) I. "Jesus of Suburbia" II. "City of the Damned" III. "I Don't Care" IV. "Dearly Beloved" V. "Tales of Another Broken Home" 3- "Holiday"- (5/5) 4- "Boulevard of Broken Dreams"- (5/5) 5- "Are We the Waiting"- (5/5) 6- "St. Jimmy"- (5/5) 7- "Give Me Novacaine"- (5/5) 8- "She's a Rebel"- (5/5) 9- "Extraordinary Girl"- (5/5) 10- "Letterbomb"- (5/5) 11- "Wake Me Up When September Ends"- (5/5) 12- "Homecoming"- (5/5) I. "The Death of St. Jimmy" II. "East 12th St." III. "Nobody Likes You" IV. "Rock and Roll Girlfriend" V. "We're Coming Home Again" 13- "Whatsername" - (5/5) Total - 65 Average - 5.00 95/1001
God, I forgot how much I love this album. Not relevant to my review, but, a bit of nostalgia: I listened to this nearly every day in the summer of fourth (?) grade - CD player and corded headphones and everything, laid in bed in a cabin in Maine... what a time. Anyway, I love this album. Incredibly cohesive, perfect length of tracks without filler but also not too short. Nails the concept without being ham-fisted. Favorite: "Are We the Waiting," which was my favorite when I was young, too, and “Whatsername,” love the vocals and layering on that track (wish it was longer). I'd list my favorite tracks on this album but it's quite literally the majority of them, so instead I'll list my least favorite: "Letterbomb," "Extraordinary Girl," "She's a Rebel," "St. Jimmy," and "Jesus of Suburbia." I still like all of these songs, but the others are stronger in my opinion. God. I love this album!
This album sadly marks the death of Green Day for me. And I consider myself a pretty big fan of their 80's-90's stuff. I learned to play drums largely from playing along to Green Day records. Some people will say they sold out.. which I think is a bit harsh. Essentially it's just when they became popular in mainstream circles. It's sorta crazy that this was the first introduction many people had to a band that had been together for over 15 years at this point. When suburban moms start listening to your punk band, I think it's safe to drop the "punk" moniker. The songs on this album were radio-friendly enough that they became played to absolute death. The political theme of the album certainly is a reflection of the increased divisiveness of our society. Technically, the album is fine. But I've heard it enough times to last a lifetime.
Музыка: 8/10 Разнообразие: 5/10 Тематика и вайб: 8/10 Цепляемость (отдельные песни зашли): 6/10 Реиграбельность (можно ли рандомно врубить на фон): 7/10 Итог: 6.8
Green Day's work is so inconsistent that I sometimes get tricked into thinking that American Idiot isn't as good as I think it is. But then I listen to it and remember that it's fucking great. It's an all-timer for me. The context from which it came and the musical only add to the certain "je ne sais quoi" quality of this album. I will say, the back-to-back of Holiday and Boulevard of Broken Dreams had me a little bored. I always felt that's the weak spot. But it gets right back to business afterwards.
I never listened to this album in full before. I kind of liked it. It seems to move away from pop-punk toward something more straightforwardly rock and roll. And there's some very good songs on there.
A favorite of mine. Loved seeing the band do it live on their recent tour. Jesus of Suburbia is fantastic.
5/5 - I needed to hear this album because it is one of my favorite artifacts of the GWB administration. At the time, I had no idea I needed a rock opera from Green Day, but I did. I love this album front to back because it's simply a blast to listen to.
Didn't really think much of this. When described as a punk rock opera expected more.
Nth generation Integrity Punk meets Meat Loaf in a suburban mall about to shut down. This would make a great musical for people who like musicals, and it did! If I had an aggressively normcore teenager who suddenly glommed onto this, it would warm my heart.
Bursting with power chords, simmering with rage and filled with hooks, American Idiot is an impressive leap forward in ambition from a band that made its name from an album titled Dookie. I can easily hear how they turned this into a Broadway production. It’s a solid document of the political discontent of its era and a sobering reminder of what a shit show the first quarter of the 21st century has turned out to be.
Dookie is already on the list, so I don't see why we need that and this more mature/thematic album to get the gist. That said, Blvd of broken dreams has a great hook.
Green day makes really catchy "punk" music that at first you like, then think maybe you really shouldn't like it as it's so mainstream, but then deep down you know you will always turn up one of their songs while in the car and sing along.
I missed that one because I was too cool and too punk to listen to "sellout" green day..... this thing could have been written yesterday from a topical standpoint. That in and if itself is depressing, but things have devolved so far its making me nostalgic for the Bush era. ..God help us
Well ... Okay 5/5 , don't even need to re-listen because I just listened to it in full on our way to Illinois this past weekend lmao
2.5
Good.
Standout Songs: American Idiot Jesus of Suburbia Holiday / Boulevard of Broken Dreams Give Me Novocaine / She’s a Rebel Wake Me up When September Ends Homecoming When you think of 2000s punk rock, this is usually the album that comes to mind. And for good reason. I absolutely adore this album, so good from start to finish. Upbeat and fun, groovy guitar, and incredible drumming. Damn near perfect to me.
050925 21:41 4
Never been a Green Day fan. Would have been nicer to start with Dookie but I'll try my best to appreciate this despite it being the most mainstream punk ever got. This sounds so much like Now That's Punk for Kidz. "Holiday" is a minor banger as is the chorus to "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" though I'm afraid that's all this album (band?) has to offer me. Turns out "Holiday" is Billie* Joe's attempt at Bob Dylan. I am the man I am today because I never had a pop-punk phase outside of being tickled by the Blink 182 music videos on VH1 and MTV. *Of course it's Billie and not Billy, that wouldn't be very punk now would it?
If you were a suburban Midwestern American teenager in 2004 who thought wearing a studded belt and eyeliner was rad, this album probably means a lot to you. But in 2025 it's just a rather long and mostly uninteresting album which although undoubtedly ambitious, now just seems overwrought and not that imaginative. You've heard almost every single bar of it somewhere before. The production is particularly horrible - over-compressed, flat and monotonous (unbelievably, the producer won a Grammy for it). It starts as it means to go on, and after ten minutes I was longing for it to end. The singles are the best bits, especially 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams'. It's not that the material is bad exacly, it's just not very original and is presented so one-dimensionally that it loses all potency. Would not listen again, 3/5
A classic and impactful album for me - so good
Ikkje så glad i Green Day, men anerkjenne at detta albumet produserte ein del hits
They've matured a bit but still have an edge.
Upon re listening, this is in fact a great album. At the time I was sick of all the radio play, but I live Green Day, they’re just doing their thing here.
8.5/10
9/10
Goat
Absolute classic, Holiday is the banger for me. Not the biggest Green Day fan but this album is iconic
4.5 She's a rebel
A protest album for the Millennial generation.
Without irony I salute how Green Day took on daunting times. 9/11, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, neoconservatism and the sunset of Europe’s idealisation of North America, how to meet the zeitgeist? “Nah-nah-NAH-nah-nahnah-nah-nahNAH!” More than one attempt to remake “Tommy” follows, but thank god they surpass the original.
Sounding like the Broadway musical it eventually became, for me this is the real Bat Out Of Hell II; perhaps even better. The music may be cribbed from The Ramones and Bryan Adams (appropriately enough) and the dynamics from The Who, but the overall effect is punchy and catchy as hell. Playing on every pop radio station 24/7 with the band screaming "Fuck George Bush" at the same time; say what you like about "punk" but I don't recall "White Riot" achieving this kind of exposure (not that either amounted to very much, but Green Day definitely knew the game). Lots of fun, shameless 5.
Honestly probably not even Green Day’s best album, and Green Day has a pretty hard ceiling in terms of rating
So wildly overrated at one point that I think it's now somewhat underrated.
I'm not going to listen to this. I'm aware of Green Day. Three stars?
i liked it, but as always with green day it felt a little monotonous for my taste
Ok
No.
Pretty mid, Jesus of Suburbia drags down the entire listening experience
Based on their many hits, never loved Green Day: it bugged me that they got called punk when they were at best in a kiddie pool in an overgrown backyard in the okay part of town down the street from a place where one might glimpse punk. I gave this a go, and still don't really like Green Day. A vaguely political pop-punk opera--I mean, who'd have thought?--so of course it feels belaboured, overlong, and excessive. That "September Ends" song reminds me of that "Time of Your Life" song which indirectly arrives at some solid nostalgia (not mine, theirs).
Really strong throughout. It was kind of a comeback album, right? But it may be their best. They mastered that place where punk and pop meet.
Super Album , love it
It has some good hooks, but it's a product of it's time. Like protest albums from the late 60s, it has an element that feels dated. Some applaud political statements. But overt sentiments anchor the songs in a in an era most don't even think of anymore.
I can't stand this album. 1 Star. I used to love Green Day back when they released Dookie. But I feel like this band has continued to disappoint me with the direction they've taken their sound ever since.
Album starts off so hot with a ton of classics that honestly, still describe todays time. It does fall hard and fast though as plenty of later songs in the album simply do not sound good anymore.
Uma bela ópera prima!
Aldri vært noen stor fan av denne. Blir for mye øs pøs.
Ass
Well, this is a hard one to rate without any bias - because (like many others here, I suspect), this album has a special place in my heart. When I first listened to it at 16 I thought that this must be the best music ever! Well, relistening to it I can say: it might not be the best music ever, but it's still really good. Every track is a banger in its own right, and I love how it really is a conceptual album telling a story, the individual tracks coming together to form a greater whole. As a German I obviously can't fully relate to the experience of growing up in the American suburbs under the Bush administration, but I think I understand enough. The politics of Green Day might be "undercomplex" or "facile", even but seriously, who cares. This isn't supposed to be a doctoral dissertation about American foreign policy in the early 21st century, but a young person's outcry against the violence and injustice inherent in the world in general and the Bush administration and the Iraq War in particular. As such, it is still current in a way, since the legacy of those days continues to haunt the world over two decades later. And even beyond that, it's still damn good music that makes me feel like I'm 16 again. 5/5
First time listening to this album start to finish, and I was surprised at how strong it is. Over half the songs are hugely popular hits, and those that aren't complement the big ones entirely. Not a skip on the whole album.
Brings back memories, 4/5
80/100. Some of these tracks were on the radio 24/7 when I was younger. To be honest, I think nostalgia is giving this record a higher rating than I’d normally give it. Standouts are "Holiday," "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," and "Wake Me Up When September Ends." A good 2000s rock record.
Politically-charged, melancholic, defiant. Some absolute classic tracks on here.
Legendary.
Solid record. Some great songwriting, fun green day pop punk feel and even some innovative new sounds as they branch into more different types of stadium rock. I admire some of the ambition of this record. I have reservations though. I'm not crazy about the progy concept album rhapsody style pieces. I like the ambition but they don't quite land for me and I want green day to be pure green day. The production is also slightly difficult. Guitars and drums sound really great if comically over compressed. Bass gets a bit lost (which is a huge loss to green day!) The vocals are most challenging though. Heavy heavy effects (maybe a bit of autotune?) just take me out of that punky space I want to be in
Some surprisingly good melodic parts brought down by the horribly annoying singles.
Surprised!
Rely good
It's not bad. I am not a huge fan of his voice, but the balls it took to be the public image against Iraq war post 9/11. I remember the music video for Wake Me Up... and it was all imagery about the war and the young Americans paying the price for it. Good for Green Day to have made this happen, and to have a deeper substance than most of the music out at this time.
An iconic album, with some of the classic Green Day bangers. I do think the “two songs on one track” tends to make the replay-ability a little frustrating. I’m not always in the mood for Holiday, but can get down to Boulevard of Broken Dreams - and I hate having to skip halfway through the song to listen to the one I wanted. 3.8/5
peak
Love it
AN ALL TIME CLASSIC
Incredible and historic record, it gained a new following and gained massive popularity when it came out. Songs are all great and by how those are, no one really minds the length of a few of then, like Jesus Of Suburbia, that became iconic from the band. Transitions between songs made it a sense of fullness and became great songs on their own merit. Always recommended and listenable any time of the year.
> The Beatles
classic album, i knew some song that are obviously really famous.
I'm in awe. For some reason, I had never heard any track from this album — I only knew “Wake Me Up When September Ends.” (In my defense: I got married in 2004, and my wife and I didn’t listen to the radio or follow new releases.) Tears are rushing to my eyes. This is the kind of album discovery I was hoping for from this list.
Topical
I've heard a lifetime of Green Day, and 100% of it was forced upon me.
Far too much of this Is ruined, I can't listen. And Dookie better.
Don’t like green day
Classic
Some day maybe this won't seem quite so politically relevant. Today's not that day, though. 5 stars.
Really like it
Generational
feels relevant to the times more than ever
Ich würde gerne eine Nachricht an mein jüngeres Ich senden "Nein, dein Geschmack ist nicht falsch... Nein, du musst nicht das mögen was deine Gleichaltrigen cool finden.....Ja, ich finde auch das diese Musik das übliche "Fuck the system"-Punk Geschreie ist und man nur edgy sein möchte" Wie damals und auch heute..... nicht meine Musik
Fantastisches Album mit tollen Songs. Hat die Zeit damals geprägt und war sowohl in der Szene als auch Mainstream beliebt. Auch heute noch ein gutes Album was man sich anhören kann. Ich fühl trotzdem nicht 5 Sterne zu geben.
Filled with many of the songs they are most known for. Definitely Green Day grows up and plants their flag in the sand.
Is it the best pop album? No. Is it the best punk album? No. Is it the best political album? No. Is it the best rock opera? No. Is it the best pop punk political rock opera? Yes.
Buena energía, un sonido distintivo. No es mi estilo. Me aburre un poco.
Green Day's peak - love his voice, the angsty emo-y energy and the anger and vindication behind it. Great album
## In-Depth Review: Green Day's *American Idiot* - A Punk Rock Opera for the Ages **American Idiot** (2004), Green Day's seventh studio album, is a landmark punk rock opera that revitalized the band's career and became a generational anthem. This review dissects its lyrics, music, production, themes, and legacy, alongside its strengths and weaknesses. --- ### **Lyrics: Rebellion, Narrative, and Social Critique** **Concept & Storyline:** The album follows "Jesus of Suburbia," a disillusioned adolescent anti-hero navigating post-9/11 America. His journey—escaping suburbia, encountering alter-ego St. Jimmy, and grappling with addiction and war—frames a coming-of-age story amid societal collapse . The narrative is fragmented but emotionally resonant, using archetypes over linear plot. **Key Lyrical Themes:** - **Media Manipulation:** Tracks like "American Idiot" attack "subliminal mind-fuck America," condemning cable news for stoking post-9/11 hysteria and war propaganda . - **Political Disillusionment:** "Holiday" sarcastically lambastes the Iraq War ("Zieg Heil to the president gasman"), while "Wake Me Up When September Ends" processes grief (inspired by Billie Joe Armstrong's father's death) . - **Alienation:** "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" epitomizes isolation ("My shadow's the only one that walks beside me") . - **Identity & Sexuality:** The line "Maybe I’m the faggot America" challenges conservative norms, reflecting Armstrong’s bisexuality . **Weaknesses:** Lyrics prioritize raw emotion over poetic subtlety. Armstrong’s delivery is visceral but occasionally simplistic ("Nobody likes you, everyone left you" in "Letterbomb") . --- ### **Music: Ambition Meets Punk Energy** **Sound Evolution:** Green Day fused their punk roots with rock opera grandeur. Key musical elements include: - **Punk Revival:** The title track (186 BPM) features blistering power chords, thunderous bass (Mike Dirnt), and frenetic drums (Tré Cool) . - **Genre Fusion:** "Jesus of Suburbia" (9:08) shifts through five movements—glam rock, balladry, reggae, and hardcore—channeling The Who and Queen . - **Melodic Hooks:** "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" blends U2-esque melancholy with an anthemic chorus, while "Wake Me Up..." uses acoustic tenderness . **Standout Tracks:** | **Track** | **Highlights** | |-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | **American Idiot** | Breakneck punk, politically charged chorus. | | **Jesus of Suburbia** | Epic suite; transitions from rage ("City of the Damned") to hope ("Dearly Beloved"). | | **Holiday** | Satirical riff-rock with a chant-along bridge. | | **Letterbomb** | Punk urgency, climactic scream: "Nobody likes you!" | **Weaknesses:** Pacing lags in "Extraordinary Girl," and "Are We the Waiting" feels repetitive . --- ### **Production: Grit and Grandeur** **Process:** Produced by Rob Cavallo and Green Day, the album was recorded at Studio 880 (Oakland) and Ocean Way/Capitol Studios (L.A.). Key innovations: - **Hybrid Workflow:** Drums recorded analog to tape, then transferred to Pro Tools; guitars/bass tracked digitally. Final mix to analog tape created a raw yet polished sound . - **Sonic Experimentation:** Tré Cool used 75+ snares; reversed guitar/bass tracking order (à la The Beatles) . - **Compression Controversy:** The loud, compressed master (common for mid-2000s rock) sacrifices dynamic range for radio-ready impact . **2024 Vinyl Reissue:** A "One-Step" remaster (Levi Seitz) improved transparency and dynamics over the 2006 Stan Ricker cut . --- ### **Themes: Timeless Rage Against the Machine** - **Post-9/11 Anxiety:** Critiques the "age of paranoia," war-mongering, and the Patriot Act . - **Suburban Disillusionment:** "Jesus of Suburbia" exposes the "land of make believe" crushing youth dreams . - **Identity Crisis:** Characters embody rebellion (St. Jimmy), apathy (Will), and lost innocence (Tunny) . **Legacy Relevance:** Lines like "Don’t wanna be an American idiot" were repurposed against Trump (2016–2024: "MAGA agenda" lyric change) . --- ### **Influence: Reshaping Punk and Culture** - **Commercial Impact:** Sold 23M+ copies; #1 in 18 countries; 6x Platinum (US). Revived Green Day’s career post-*Warning* flop . - **Genre Legacy:** Pioneered punk's mainstream acceptance, inspiring artists like Fall Out Boy and Olivia Rodrigo. - **Broadway & Beyond:** The 2009 musical won Tony Awards; 2024 Deaf West revival highlighted ongoing relevance . - **Protest Anthem:** Re-entered UK charts during Trump’s 2018 visit; used in voter registration campaigns . --- ### **Pros and Cons Summary** **Pros:** - **Ambitious Scope:** Punk opera structure with multi-movement suites . - **Cohesive Fury:** Unifies political rage, personal angst, and melody . - **Timelessness:** Themes of media manipulation and alienation remain potent . - **Cultural Impact:** Defined 2000s rock and inspired cross-media adaptations . **Cons:** - **Lyrical Simplicity:** Some lines lack nuance ("I’m not a part of a redneck agenda") . - **Compressed Production:** Sacrifices dynamics for loudness . - **Narrative Ambiguity:** Story coherence occasionally falters . --- ### **Verdict** *American Idiot* is a triumph of ambition over convention. Despite minor flaws in narrative clarity and production, its fusion of punk energy, rock opera grandeur, and searing social critique cement it as a defining album of the 21st century. As a mirror to "confused times" (Armstrong) , its warning against complacency—"Don’t wanna be an American idiot"—remains terrifyingly relevant. **Rating: 9/10**.
Staying true to their style, American Idiot is a mature Green Day with a well-conceived album for the time.
Eu tinha um certo preconceito com esse álbum. Ouvindo agora ele todo e em um fone de qualidade, tenho que admitir que é um bom disco com algumas faixas muito boas. CVJ Neko.
American Idiot is an absolute slam dunk of an album. It not only reflects the post-9/11 climate of the 2000s—with its overtones of war, political frustration, and cultural ignorance—but it also captures the restless, disillusioned spirit of a generation coming of age in that era. Green Day distilled the mood of the time into something raw, loud, and unshakably relevant. Listening to it now feels the way I imagine people in the ’60s must have felt hearing Bob Dylan for the first time: the sound of rebellion, of anger, of truth put to music. That energy is established right from the opening track “American Idiot”, setting the tone for everything that follows. The second song, “Jesus of Suburbia” (really a collection of 5 songs for those that read the lyrics book) pushes even deeper. It’s more than just teenage angst; it’s a portrait of growing up in a fractured home, of self-medicating through addiction, and of searching for belonging in the margins of society. If your own parents don’t care about you, it’s hard to care about life—and that’s exactly the kind of despair the narrator wrestles with. In that emptiness, he seeks out the underbelly of society, finding community among misfits and rejecting the rules he was never given a reason to follow. In the process, he begins to question not only society and its structures, but everything around him—even his own reality. A truly heartbreaking song. Whether the children are here at home or in the Middle East, the message is the same: no one seems to care. That apathy, both personal and political, runs like a vein through the album—fueling its anger, its cynicism, and its desperate need to scream for connection. The next track, “Holiday”, is an unmistakable critique of the Bush administration and the political climate of the 2000s. But beyond its immediate references, the song wrestles with the broader, age-old reality of war—how it has shaped and scarred civilizations for centuries. Where history often defaults to conflict, Green Day is crying out for something different. Beneath the sneer and fury of their pop-punk sound lies a simple truth: this is a band that longs for peace. Spotify has “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” combined with “Holiday” but the album wasn’t like that and these were separate songs. The distinction is important. To me, “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” echoes the experience of being a child of divorce. That kind of fracture disillusions you early, forcing you to see the world as a rough, unkind place. The narrator walks alone, carrying that emptiness, embodying the old saying: “you’re born alone and you die alone.” “Are We the Waiting” marks the beginning of the healing process. After leaving behind his broken home and walking the lonely path of the boulevard of broken dreams, the narrator arrives in the city—a place he once resented. But here, among the misfits and outsiders of society’s underbelly, he starts to carve out a new sense of belonging, a fragile hope that maybe life can be rebuilt. The narrator then encounters “St. Jimmy” (these are also separate songs on the original album!), a character who can be interpreted as an extension—or perhaps the evolution—of the Jesus of Suburbia. St. Jimmy is the ringleader of the outcasts: brash, volatile, and unapologetically loud. He embodies the reckless energy of a kid shaped by anger and abandonment, lashing out at the world with sarcasm and chaos. It’s left deliberately ambiguous whether St. Jimmy is a separate figure altogether or whether the narrator himself transforms into St. Jimmy after succumbing to drugs and self-destruction. “Give Me Novocaine” reveals that even as the narrator seeks healing, they turn to drugs as a way to numb the pain—a desperate, misguided attempt to quiet the disillusionment of life. “She’s a Rebel” introduces Whatsername, the enigmatic love interest of the album. She embodies rebellion, freedom, and defiance—qualities that both captivate and challenge the narrator. I’ve also always imagined that the song is referencing the Statue of Liberty, a symbol of independence and hope and chaos. In this sense, Whatsername is more than a romantic figure; she represents the possibility of liberation, the spark that awakens the narrator to a life beyond the constraints and disappointments of his past. “Extraordinary Girl” delves deeper into Whatsername’s character, revealing the roots of her pain and struggles. It’s intentionally ambiguous whether she is trying to escape a toxic, abusive relationship or attempting to heal from it alongside the narrator. This uncertainty adds depth to her character, highlighting the complexity of love, trauma, and the search for connection amid chaos. “Letterbomb” (ANOTHER SEPARATE SONG, IDK WHY THEY KEEP COMBINING ALL THESE SONGS ON SPOTIFY) is next. Narratively, this is the breaking point of the rock opera. Whatsername delivers a blistering farewell to the narrator (St. Jimmy/Jesus of Suburbia). Up until this point, he’s been posturing as a rebel, chasing chaos, drugs, and anti-establishment anger — but Letterbomb calls him out. The song is Whatsername’s voice, filled with rage, disappointment, and urgency. She essentially tells him: you’re wasting your life, stuck in self-destruction and false rebellion. The iconic line “It’s not over ’til you’re underground” is a brutal reminder that his current path only leads to death or nothingness. Musically, it’s fast, sharp, and biting — like a slap in the face. The lyrics dismantle the narrator’s self-image, exposing the emptiness of his rebellion and the hollowness of his escape. In short: “Letterbomb” is the moment of reckoning. It’s Whatsername shattering the fantasy, forcing the narrator to confront that his rebellion isn’t freedom — it’s just another cage. “Wake Me Up When September Ends” aka absolute most depressing song on the album that I do frequently skip if I can lol. The music video is also devastating. It tells the story of a soldier who dies while deployed, leaving his girlfriend to cope with the devastating aftermath (it features Rachel Evan Wood, real ones know!). Within the album, though, it’s less clear who—if anyone—has actually died. More than a literal loss, the song feels like a meditation on the passage of time, grief, and the way pain lingers long after the moment has passed. Stripped of the album’s chaos, it stands out as one of Green Day’s most powerful pop-punk ballads—aching, anthemic, and deeply melancholic. The song “Homecoming” reveals a turning point for the narrator. It mentions St. Jimmy “committing suicide,” which I used to take literally as if he had actually died. Now, I see it differently: this is the narrator metaphorically “killing” St. Jimmy—shedding the reckless, self-destructive persona and returning to some semblance of normalcy. He quits drugs, leaves behind crime and the underbelly of society, and starts afresh. He gets a job and builds a life with structure, purpose, and responsibility. It’s a symbolic death and rebirth, closing the chapter on chaos and reclaiming his identity. This song is also a collection of 5 different songs (I guess I should say verses?). “Whatsername” carries a haunting, late-night quality—like the quiet hours when you’re alone with your thoughts, hyper-aware of your own mortality yet strangely unafraid. It feels both nostalgic and unsettling, a final echo of everything the narrator has lost and everything he’s come to accept.
Finally, I've got a great album. The title song remains as relevant today as it was 20 years ago. I just love "Boulevard of Broken Dreams". A few album tracks could have done better, though. This album is Green Day's best. 4 stars for "American Idiot".
This is like you asked Green Day to do Green Day but do it epic. There’s a lot to it, but it’s still a bunch of punks at heart.
Stupid
Mid not my vibe
Pop punk shit
3.85/5 Couple of fantastic tunes but not the easiest to sit through and listen to in its entirety just on my preference but can easily see why people hold it high up.
very happy that I got this. not my favorite GD album but definitely their best
I had forgotten what fun Green Day are to listen to. This album is longer than I expected from them, they are the master of brief punk songs that don't overstay their welcome, but I guess this album reveals a maturing of their style and I welcome that! Lots of hits to be enjoyed and the rest of the tracks work too.
i was fucking with the latter half a lot and completely lost interest at the last song. like in a boner killer way. surprised i connected with green day though, used to be my least favorite band growing up.
I've known about this record for a long time and only just have now listened to it through. I feel like I would have gotten into it more if I had a better ear for lyrics rather than just the music. But honestly, I'm impressed with the amount of arrangement and progressions that went into this - I hadn't expected nearly as much with their pop punk reputation.
To me, this just sounds like My Chemical Romance or other similar pop-punk-alternative from the 2000's. There is definitely a lot of polish and slick hooks, but it doesn't feel as raw as I'd want or as exploratory in the music. I'd give it a 3.5, but I really struggle to give it a 4. Maybe it would grow on me, but at this point, I just feel like it speaks to people that it really only feels like an elevated piece of work to people that really like pop-punk and the 2000's (not really) "emo" music.
Amazing concept punk rock opera album. Love it
I don't even need to listen to this masterpiece, it's already on vinyl in the collection. Peak
The best album of Green Day, and I like the group very much, so I can't be objective even a bit regarding them :)
Coole Komposition, man merkt, dass das Album als gesamtstück aufgefasst wird, in welchem flüssige Übergange wie bei Holiday und Boulevard of Broken Dreams entstehen, sodass der Hörfluss nicht einmal gestört wird und man teils das völlige Zeitgefühl verliert. Definitiv mit weiteren "Hymnen" wie "Wake me up, when September ends" und natürlch "American Idiot" ein Album von Greenday mit mehreren ihrer größten, in meinen Augen auch besten Songs. All in all ein sehr sehr geiles Album.
All time time to 5 album
It was fine
I listened to GD religiously from 1999 to 2003 but stopped after nimrod and warning which were pretty shite. This on the other hand is fucking epic. Obviously I'd listened to the big hits but the rest of the album is sublime. Especially the 9.4 minute true certified banger, homecoming. GREEN DAY - YOU ROCK!
This is one of the greatest albums ever, for me. I Love the double storylines in the album. The clasic coming-of-age story and the society criticism. Could really connect to it as a youngling: crying along to Boulevard of Broken Dreams and feeling the devastasing loss of young love in Whatsername.
I like the sentiment, it's not my vibe.
Unfortunate for this to come just a few days after maybe the smartest, most interesting political punk record ever released in Gang of Four's Entertainment. Just highlights how tame and basic this all is. Take me back to Dookie.
A total landmark album for my teenage years, who i was at the time and who i am now.
it was kinda ass despite it being a popular album
Really solid first album pick. Lots of songs I know, not sure why I dont own it. 9/10
This album is a little bit overrated but it's fun
I never really liked Green Day back around the time of this album or before that, but on this listen I really enjoyed it for some reason. Maybe I just heard it enough back then that it's pulling in some nostalgia I didn't even know was there. Whatever the reason, I dug it this time.
The safest version possible of The Misfits. Same sense of melody mixed with loud rock band but it much more orchestrated and produced. Great drum performances but the overall mix pulls back at points - see Novacaine. Overall a very fun, melodic concept record that is an overall package and not just a bunch of songs.
I hadn’t seriously listened to Green Day since the distant days of "Dookie". Although I'm not against skate-punk and pop-punk on paper, GD have always been a bit too much on the pop side even for me, so they’re clearly not my favorite in this subgenre (I’d rather listen Offspring or Bad Religion any day of the week) . I still enjoyed this album though ; it's more mature than their early works, without losing too much of their former energy. Some good songs, some less interesting stuff... A weird mix of 2-minutes and 9-minutes tracks... Nothing groundbreaking, but all in all a nice feel-good album to work by on a sunny afternoon. 6/10
Fun, entertaining, and sounds great
Iconic and timely. Kind of simple musically but relatable
Wow, stunning in every respect from start to finish. Why did no one tell me?
Blueprint album. Pop-punk would never be the same.
A masterclass in punk that is not only listenable but absolutely barnstorming. A Difficult Seventh Album that defied a waning rock scene to define a genre. A lyrically delicious singalong for all times. A cultural touchstone for a generation of rock, emo and pop punk kids. A raucous political bang on the head for the Bush/Blair kids that still slaps today. A Night at the Opera for millenials. .... In case it was not obvious, I was a child in 2004. My dad would not let me put Boulevard of Broken dreams on my mix tape because it has a swear in. (sorry dad I've heard it now). Safe to say I wasn't as culturally aware as I am now. But I'd be willing to bet Billie Joe should have known better to use so many homophobic slurs. That dates it and it's a shame. Sidebar: Other than that unfortunate aspect, 2004 was the greatest year in pop culture of all time. Mean Girls! Shrek 2! Napoleon Dynamite! MySpace! Motorola Razrs! Mr Brightside! Friends finale! LOST! Usher! Three Cheers For Sweet Revenge! This album!!!! Eat up Tina you fat lard. This album rules. 🤘
oh wow, i don't think i've ever listened to more than a couple of Green Day's songs. this should be good. familiar with a couple of the songs on this album. edit: liked it! some of the songs were nostalgic, especially the more known ones.
This was a 2.5 album but it's better than Bonnie Prince Billy and I really like "Wake Me Up Before September Ends." Now that this album is 21 years old and not overplayed on the radio, I can appreciate it a bit more--"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" was played ad nauseam. This is simple Green Day: the songs are all mostly very easy and repetitive. Top Tracks: "Wake Me Up Before September Ends," "Holiday" (omitting the Boulevard part)
Here for this. I loved Dookie, but I think this might be a better album, at least from a conceptual standpoint. Love the ABSOLUTE CINEMA of this thing. Just hits you in the face with a whole concept and goes for an hour of really big and boisterous highs, and depressing lows. It's a whole thing.
--American Idiot...giving "I just got to college and realized society has problems" energy --Jesus of Suburbia...did Mike Dirnt get a hand injury after Dookie? His bass parts have been seriously lacking since then (edit: I've been told he still does cool stuff on Insomniac). This track rocks a little. Don't know why it's 9 minutes long. --Holiday...guh it's fine, I guess --Boulevard of Broken Dreams...not about this at all. I just don't buy it, the emotions don't ring true --Are We the Waiting...no --St. Jimmy...here's the Green Day I know and liked --Give Me Novacaine...straightforward power pop. it's good --She's a Rebel...forgettable --Extraordinary Girl...(see above) --Letterbomb...more decent power pop --Wake Me Up When September Ends...wake me when this song ends, amirite? --Homecoming...I'm exhausted. The middle 3 minutes are kind of fun --Whatsername...sure
Nada que decir, la mayoría son temazos y estoy redescubriéndolos a través de las letras y la mirada de adulto. Nota: 4.0
Rv/g
I hadn’t listened to American Idiot in nearly two decades, and I’d honestly forgotten just how good it is. Coming back to it now, what really stands out is how bold and theatrical it feels—less like a typical punk album and more like a punk rock opera with flashes of prog rock ambition. Tracks like “Jesus of Suburbia” and “Homecoming” are sprawling, multi-part epics that wouldn’t feel out of place on a classic prog record. There’s a clear narrative arc, recurring motifs, and a sense of conceptual unity that elevates it beyond Green Day’s earlier work. It’s not prog in the traditional sense—there are no odd time signatures or extended instrumental solos—but it’s definitely progressive in spirit. Politically charged, emotionally raw, and musically adventurous, American Idiot still hits hard and feels surprisingly timeless.
Highlight Song/s: American Idiot, Jesus of Suburbia, Holiday, Boulevard of Broken Dreams and Are We the Waiting I am not a big Green Day fan, I like some songs here and there, but not all of them. I listened to 'Dookie' and wasn't a fan. I've been planning to listen to 'American Idiot' for a while and then I just FORGOT about it for some reason; but by the grace of god, 1001 reminded me that it existed. And it wasn't half bad. The song that shines the most is 'Jesus of Suburbia.' Literally perfect, 9 minute, 5 part song and which has a very progressive feel to it; not a second is wasted with this one. The only part that is just a smidge bad is his incorrect use of the phrase 'I could care less' (in Part II), where he uses it the same way you would use 'I couldn't care less.' Though I just dismiss it as an Americanism, so it fits with the rest of the album. Another song/s that stand out to me is 'Holiday' and 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' which are often paired together. I especially like the digital version where both of them are combined into one song. My favourite parts of each song is: "The Senator has the floor" and the guitar solo part (with the other instruments, as well) from Boulevard.
Meh
Fantastic album with so many great songs x
1. idiot - 2.5 2. zuburbia - 1.5 3. holiday - 3 4. uuaiting - 2.5 5. novacaine - 2 6. girl - 1.5 7. uuake - 0 8. homecoming - 1 9. name - 1.5
Great album nice and nostalgic
Its a classibmc imo
Fantastic!
Didn't know their songs are sooooooo long. 3.5 3 - for how I liked it, 0.5 - for my bias, cause the band is famous
2.8* Radio friendly Bad Religion.
Lyder som introen til en nickelodeon serie
Release the files, fatass
it was corny but fun, the singer has a great voice
rocksito de mi epoca, no es mi favorito
I like Green Day, everything they put out in the 90's is quintessential for that era. From all accounts they are the realest dudes. On the same day I did this review I saw an old video of Billie Joe Armstrong in 1997 jump kicking someone that was bullying people at a concert and that is awesome. I personally just don't love or enjoy rock operas or concept albums. I lived through the era being described in American Idiot and I think if we weren't living in an even dumber era I could almost look back and think "phew yeah I remember those days". It applies just as much today but it doesn't make me want to bop along to a rock opera concept.
flatout 2 ahh music
This was a lot better than I expected, I didn’t think I’d enjoy this album but I actual did
ich kannte erstaunlich viele lieder, dafür dass ich die band nur vom namen kenne. am liebsten mochte ich holiday und wake me up when september ends. nicht unbedingt etwas was ich jetzt hören würde, aber ich war auch nicht abgeneigt.
It has a few nice songs! Gives me MCR vibes. Some of the songs are quite aptly hyped.
Nico punk awesome
found it odd that a lot of the songs were 2 tracks smashed together, didn't think that concept worked overall, otherwise was alright, not their best, wouldn't bother going back for another listen
Oh man… I remember my dad taking me to target one night with the sole task of picking up this Other than sum 41 all killer no filler… This album is THE ALBUM that even got me into listening through albums. So many great memories from sitting in my room and following the lyrics to this album with the booklet in the album to going to their concert with my best friend this album is engraved in my head and no level of alcohol or aging will remove this…
Fantastic album. Was my first concert and I will always love the memory and the album.
Easy 5 for me. I’ve been into Green Day since they released Dookie. I love almost every thing they’ve put out with the exception of a couple albums. American Idiot is definitely them at top of their game. Rob Cavello who had been the Green Day’s “George Martin” for most of their catalog recorded and produced the hell out of this one. Stellar performances from the band and some their best songwriting.
Well, the title track has rang true every day since they wrote it. I kind of feel that the title is redundant. I like the double songs. This is a pleasant, well produced album. I'm still a bigger fan of their first few albums, but this one is solid. Some catchy tunes on here. 4
I'm going to take a guess and say that this is probably Green Day's most commercially successful album. I never got too much into Green Day. They always seemed to have a bit of an obnoxiousness to them. Kudos to them on this one though. Lots of range in the song writing and Billy Joe has some pretty catchy melodies. It sounds pretty slick and marketable. I imagine this one definitely got some mortgages paid.
One gets the appeal – fresh and clean-sounding punk [or punky power pop], mall-friendly, and equally tuneful and bouncy – without much digging. Certainly, one sees how suburban adolescents might've embraced this as their summer soundtrack and how it might sound good years later, but one wasn't such an adolescent and thought, when this lot came long, that they were overrated and that fans claiming them as some great rock and roll or punk rensacence (or whatever) were badly misguided. One prefers the slower/sweeter tunes (“Novocaine,” “When September Ends”) but maybe only because one's a tame and quiet-minded oldster. Each generation gets the Ramones it deserves, though GD seems to have been more comfortable with large-scale commercial success posing as anti-commercial statements.
i dont like it but they arent bad
Not the best album but an enjoyable listen
Ah, American Idiot. When this came out, I was staunchly politically conservative, so I had very mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, I loved hearing songs like “Basket Case” and “Brain Stew” and about a dozen other Green Day songs on the radio (my parents would have never let me buy one of their CD’s), but this album definitely felt like a gut punch. “How could anyone be against the war on terror and the Iraq war? We’re protecting our country! And we’re liberating oppressed people!” Really, “Holiday” was the only single that gave my conservative brain the ick. I certainly didn’t think the title track applied to me, a learned young man who listened to Michael Save and read books by Bill “fuck it, we’ll do it live” O’Reilly. Even though I slowly abandoned my conservative ideals from 2004 until about 2016, when the MAGA movement gave them the final death blow, I still never listened to all of this album. I think Dookie is absolutely fantastic, so I have high hopes for American Idiot. I expected this album to be great (a 3.76 average as of July 2025 is pretty insane), but my expectations were surpassed. American Idiot is fantastic in every way possible. The narrative/rock opera is great (I don’t think I fully digested everything, as I was only able to listen to it once), the music is fantastic, and in my opinion, it managed to hit every emotion that it was going for. The overall narrative of Jesus of Suburbia, and his journey away from his hometown is great. I thought the additional characters served a great purpose, allowing Jesus to explore ‘rage versus love’ as he searches for how to deal with his disillusionment. The title track does such a great job of establishing the mood of this album right from the start. Not every track on this album is an all-out punk rock jam, but Green Day mixes up their sound and moods on this album with incredible expertise. I’ve always thought that Green Day were good musicians, both as instrumentalists, and in their ability to create and layer sounds, but American Idiot showcases their abilities in ways that had never really demonstrated. For an album that relies heavily guitars and drums, there’s so much diversity in the sound on this album. Back to the title track though, I love how there are glimpses of that main guitar melody sprinkled throughout the album. You never fully hear it again, but it’s familiar enough that you know what’s going on. I also loved how these songs were paired together and segued into one another. As a band who traditionally wrote songs in a typical verse-chorus-verse structure, Green Day was able to shed that, and really lean into some song structures that weren’t typical of their music. As for my favorite songs on this album, man, it’s tough to choose. “Jesus of Suburbia” was incredible. I loved the storytelling, and it was really engaging for such a behemoth of a song. The guitar playing was great (I especially loved the main melody), the drumming was tight, and the piano interspersed throughout the song was fantastic. The closing section was probably my favorite part. “Holiday” is a banger, just like the title track. Musically, it just gets me amped up, and I love that there was no sugar-coating of the anger in the lyrics. “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” is great too. It’s not what I typically gravitate towards from Green Day, but the emotional pull works incredibly well. The same thing goes for “Wake Me Up When September Ends.” I love how the song builds to its crescendo. The multitrack vocals on “Homecoming” were outstanding. It really reminded me of the Beach Boys in how the sounds were layered. The “Rock and Roll Girlfriend” section was really outstanding, even though it was so short. The military-esque drumroll was particularly awesome, and I loved the guitar and saxophone together. But I think my favorite song was “Are We the Waiting.” I loved the slow, booming drums, the melodic guitar, and the vocals were the best on the album. I loved how the line “are we, we are” kept repeating. There was an echo effect on that vocal that I loved so much. The multitrack vocals towards the end were fantastic as well. Just a beautiful song. I didn’t intend to write a dissertation on this album, but I was really blown away by how awesome this was. I really need to get a copy for my home, because this warrants repeat listens.
I dislike Greenday.
On tuttujakin biisejä. Tykkään laulajan ulosannista ja bändin soitosta. Oikein hyvä levy
It’s an ok album - all songs are listenable, but just ok - nothing standout throughout
Shopping mall punk. Billy Joe has a knack for melody, but it is still a sacrilege.
Pretty flawed but very formative
I really had very low expectations going in to this one, I am familiar with a few of their songs from radio and thought they were tolerable but not really a fan. I thought this was pretty decent though if not terrible memorable. I didn't really catch the story behind the concept but following along with lyrics probably would help. His voice is unique and I thought I would tire of it by the end but it was ok - musically it's pretty straight forward rock but there are some more interesting bits mixed in. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it. It might get played again if the mood strikes. Not sure what mood that would be but unlike a lot of stuff on this list, it goes into a maybe category and I didn't completely rule it out.
deffinitely a classic at this point, with 2 or 3 bangers. Not as good as dookie though
Amazing album. One of the best of all time. Relistening quality is great. I don't know how many times I've listened to it and it never gets boring. Truly iconic.
4.5 i mean, there's a reason this is considered an iconic, ground-breaking album.
not bad
Prior to today, I’d never listened to American Idiot the entire way through. I know more than a few of the songs of course, but taken as a whole it’s an astounding piece of work.
Kerplunk is a good Green Day album. This is not Kerplunk.
all time great
A rousing if not very exceptional alt rock album. I did enjoy it...
Very well produced album and highly political considering where the USA was at that time, an album more known for the hits I do go back to it every now again but Jesus of suburbia I need to be in a mood to listen through all of it and the album feels a bit long
No bad track. No track that get me hooked
I like their hits but they tend to sound like their songs go on too long even when the song is normal length. Don't really care for Billy's voice overall.
One review took the opportunity to highlight NOFXs The Decline, and that was actually awesome. Green Day on the other hand is the same poser shit it was when I was young. But catchy.
Basically the same song 10 or 11 times. Wake me up when September ends is very good and american idiot is passable. There is a lot of dreck to wade through. Rock and roll for the fast food generation
Foundational, I remember watching the videos on MTV as a kid. This album is legendary
💥
I already liked the hit tracks from this album, and now I know that I like it in its entirety. Thank you, project.
Dare I say this is the greatest Punk Rock album of all time. This album is more relevant in the United States Of America than it was when it was released(Green Day was always left-wing MAGA, get over it). As the USA proves that the movie "Idiocracy" was a documentary, this album still kicks ass two decades later. Favorite Track: "American Idiot".
I don't want to sound like an American Idiot here, because I understand that this album IS a rock opera, but it definitely sounds like "Broadway-Style" pop-punk.
Amazing album, so many memories. 4.5/5
A 3.5 star album for me but nostalgia made me bump it up. Captures the era very well.
It’s ok. I think if it wasn’t Green Day, and it wasn’t “supposed” to be punk, I might like it more. It’s just so out of character for them. It’s not bad, it’s just not what I’m looking for in a punk record. Give me dookie anyday.
It’s well made and the production is top notch. That being said, it’s an ambitious album with the whole rock opera take. I just like my punk not pop punk, and not so polished and perfect.
Oh boy. Excited to listen to this in this critical way. Before listening i feel similarly as linkin park, is this not just a 5 on cultural impact alone? Even the musical is pretty good. But we’ll see, they have become significantly cringier since my dad bought this album when I was like 7. I think it holds. The last five tracks drag for me now (sans September ends), but it’s a really solid album and if I listened to it like 5 times those last tracks would be just as crucial as the 20 hits on here. Tre cool is so underrated man he really is holding this shit down. Unbelievably simple and fun songwriting with lyrics that don’t hit quite as hard as they used to (the takes are a little stale today) but the message and feeling are still there and I’m sure a little controversial at the time. For having 42 hits that are all good, influencing like 800 bands that I love, and somehow making a palatable musical out of this thing it gets a 5 even though it maybe deserves a 4. Also so sad that they can make this and dookie and also the worst album you’ve ever heard. Also also it’s so funny listening to this and pointing at all the sum 41 songs that rip off this album (they’re still good!).
Yeah this album rules. Even though it's easy to dump on Green Day now, this album was monstrous for the scene. Album consisted of mostly hit singles with the rest still being great songs. I can't believe this album came out 21 years ago. Nothing bad about this album. Only great things. Easy 5
21 year old Green Day record does not sound like a winning formula…. But it is! Holds up and everything except watername(?) is great. That last song is really bad and sounds like one headlight in the worst way. Still going 5/5 for great pop-punk and lyrics that are as good a Mr Armstrong could ever do. Soft 5/5
Super fun record. When American Idiot came out, I remember being not too fussed about Green Day. Dookie was a classic, and I loved Nimrod, but Insomniac was largely terrible and they hadn’t really impressed me with Warning or Shenanigans. At that point, I’d figured their best years were long behind them. And when this record was released, they had become MTV darlings (which has never been an indicator of quality for me), and besides that, I never get too jazzed about overtly political commentary from entertainers whose opinion on political and world issues doesn’t need to concern me; for instance, just because Taylor Swift can write a record that sells a billion copies does not mean that she’s qualified to weigh in on things of social or political importance, or that anyone should take her opinions seriously, even when they’re said from a stage or put to music. Of course it’s her prerogative to wax intelligent about things outside of her area of expertise—or in this case, Green Day’s—but I don’t need to support that artist by buying the record or paying any attention. So American Idiot, released sometime around the Bush election, seemed like it was going to lean in that direction, which I find obnoxious. Im glad I circled back to American Idiot a few years later, because this record turned out to be fucking awesome. From a pop punk perspective, it’s pretty much a landmark achievement to write a punkrock “opera” concept record that works on a storytelling perspective and remains listenable…and really, not just listenable, but super enjoyable. I don’t even care much about their “message” here, and I’m not even super sure there are more than a couple songs that are overtly political. American Idiot bleeds feelings of disenfranchisement and cynicism and confusion, but it doesn’t seem like it harps on one particular political pet peeve, thankfully. More importantly, the songwriting is a big step forward for the band; the arrangements are interesting and the songs all flow together, but they’ve obviously borrowed some conventions from showtunes as well, which really work. It feels like everyone in the band was likely stretched here, but they still sound like Green Day. As a whole, this record is a front-to-back, no-skips record. 5/5 It’s funny, this is not my favorite Green Day record, but probably the one I’d rate the highest. I didn’t actually intend to give this one a 5-star rating when it got assigned. I loved it years ago, but thought of it as a 4-star, or even a 4.5-star listen at a push. But, after this listen, I do think it’s their best work, even if I would still probably revisit Dookie and Nimrod first. This record is a damn treasure, and probably their best effort front-to-back.
No nie da się oszukać gimnazjalnej nostalgii - uwielbiam tę płytę. Nawet jeśli te dwadzieścia lat temu nią gardziłam. Nawet jeśli byłam ponad to - i tak znam praktycznie każdy utwór. I jestem już na tyle “duża” aby się do tego przed sobą przyznać. Dodatkowo plus za bycie sobą i mówienie o trudnych tematach. 8.5/10 naciągane w górę.
https://clickhole.com/enough-time-has-passed-to-reveal-george-w-bush-was-the-1825124201/
#108 - total classic but not 100% my vibe
Green Day look like a nice bunch of lads. Music is fun, well played. I don't ever feel like putting it on, but I'm not going to get upset if I hear it.
It’s hard to believe that the same group that exploded onto the scene with Dookie made this wonderfully complex and musical album. From start to finish American Idiot paints a picture, both with music and lyrics, that is so crisp and clear, that it makes you reassess the actual world that you’re living in.
I forgot what an interesting album this was. A punk rock, opera, in the midst of one of what was believed the worst presidents of our time.
Solid album. Not something I'd listen to on my playlist per say.
Green Day is great. But not that great. Nothing bad to say but not good enough.
Don't want to be a MAGA idiot.
Love Green Day! But I think their last best great album was nimrod. Warning was good and this just is the same. American Idiot single hits as does a few others but honestly it's kind of a boring album to me. 3 stars maybe be too much but I will always have a special place in my heart for this band for the early days
Really fun. A lot of duds for me but fun ride through iPod memory lane
All of the songs blended together for me. Not a big fan of Green Day to begin with. I was bored listening to this. If there was a story, I completely missed it.
This came out of nowhere in the early 2000s and became one of my favorite albums ever. I wasn't a big Green Day fan. I'd never even owned one of their albums. I just knew them from videos on MTV. But this one spoke to me. It felt like it actually had something to say. In the following 20 years I haven't gotten tired of it.
Thought I had outgrown Green Day but American Idiot is their ‘masterpiece’ (if you can say that about a pop-punk band). Are some of the lyrics on the nose? Yes. Are some of the riffs samey? Yes. Should there be even more kickass Travis Barker drumming? Of course!! But man this album still slaps. I woulda run this album into the ground if it came out after Dookie. Instead a decade passed between this and Dookie and I became a corporate sellout. The band would be so disappointed 😆
Åttondelarnas mästare. Chugga chugga. Några helt fantastiska låtar - Boulevard of broken dreams. Fyra plus
Loved a lot of these songs when they first came out and they all still have so much truth to them. One of the great albums of the period.
♫ Listening to "Holiday" by Green Day (American Idiot, 2004) ♫
I think it’s pretty good, though a bit long. I think I liked the first half of the album better than the second half, I feel like the second half just sounded a bit repetitive and it was harder for me to follow the storyline. Solid album, though, probably approaching 3.5.
Ugh probably my least favorite post-grunge band.
The Who and Ramones must've been proud to listen to this album. Its Green Day as a musical/concept album in the vein of Tommy with aggressive muscular punk-inspired rock and roll. This is all killer no filler with lyrics that are still a propos for today's political, environmental and economic climate. Personally, "Jesus of Suburbia" and "Homecoming" tell an entire story within them and could work as standalone pieces. But instead, they're paired with the opener and closer that help sandwich the amazing tuneful and forceful lyrics of Billie Joe Armstrong. This album is a Green Day high that they're still trying to fully capture again.
One of my favorite albums from my youth. Still holds up and is sadly more relevant now than ever, 21 years later
Some absolutely undeniable songwriting but I’m not in love with every track here. Dookie is my favorite Green Day album and I hope it’s included on this list as well but I get why this has the status that it does. Boulevard, Holiday, Jesus of Suburbia, and Wake Me Up are all phenomenal and the concept is pulled off pretty well. I just wish the album had a stronger middle section as that’s where I feel it falls off some.
classic. not particularly my taste but such a solid album
American Idiot is a very enjoyable album. I figured that i would really enjoy it since i do love me some punk music but this one definitely took it up to a whole new level. Songs like the title track, Boulevard of Broken Dreams and Wake Me up When September Ends are all great tracks but that is to be expected when they are the most popular songs of this album but the other songs are no slouches either. The punk sound throughout the album always sounded great but i always liked the emo influences too in songs like Wake Me up When September ends. I don't think i can find a lot of things to dislike about this album so it gets full marks from me. Best Song: Boulevard of Broken Dreams Worst Song: Are We the Waiting
I haven't listened to this for probably 20 years and I don't know why, because it's absolutely epic. Perhaps my love for this album got obfuscated over the years by the singles being overplayed to death. Anyway. I don't know whether to laugh or cry that this is still so relevant and timely. Forgot how much I love Give Me Novocaine/She's a Rebel and Whatsername. 4.5 stars; can't quite justify the 5 given I forgot about this one for so many years.
Ich weiß nicht. Hat sich mir an manchen Stellen schon etwas gezogen, wurde auch mit der Thematik irgendwie nicht ganz warm. Trotzdem, die vier Songs, die ich schon kannte, sind Banger. Was soll man machen? 3 1/2, ich habe aber schon Alben mit weniger sehr sehr sehr guten Songs vier Sterne gegeben, also runde ich auf.
Would not buy
One of the best Rock albums
I was already a Green Day fan, prior to American Idiot's release, but this was my first *new* Green Day album. As such, I ate it up and listened to it religiously. Two decades later, this album isn't as powerful. It marks a turn for Green Day's career toward more pop and arena focused tunes that alienated a lot of their older fanbase. Likewise, the success of this album caused a lot fatigue toward songs like "Holiday" "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", and "Wake Me Up When September Ends" that all received egregious airplay. As a concept album, it's a little clumsy and pretentious, which makes re-listens difficult. Tracks like "St. Jimmy", "Homecoming" and "Jesus of Suburbia" come off as a bit cheesy and are difficult to listen to. However, American Idiot isn't without some charm. The title track ("American Idiot") is still fun, even if it's a little misguided in its message. "Are We The Waitiing" proved Green Day could write a power ballad, but a consistent problem is that everything on this record sounds bigger, even when it's not necessary. A perfectly fine record. There's a pretty decent case to be made about it be essential (it probably is), but it's an album I could take or leave.
Some old jams and some new surprises. Never gave the album a full listen but pleasantly surprised by the breadth of styles on one album
A classic. Not my intro to rock but maybe an elective class during my sophomore years. Didn't listen in full this time around though. 6.5/10, would probably have rated it higher 10 years ago.
what else to say? It's excellent.
Nicht das beste green day album, aber schon aus reiner Nostalgie ein banger. Ist halt 1h 2000er PopPunk. Meistens gute Texte und gute Performance. Musikalisch wahrscheinlich eher eine 3 aber für mein 12 jähriges ich eine 4/5
Yeah. Just like Funeral, I have also heard this a million times and I still think it’s great. I still owned the edited version of the CD because at the time of my peak Green Day obsession, I was 12. I should get an explicit copy now. In terms of its place in today’s society, it makes a lot more sense now. You thought Bush was bad? Oh boy. Anyways, if you hate this record: I think you’re forcing it. It’s great. (9/10, 5/5 on this scale)
It is the definitive album of the entire ‘emo’ subculture. And probably the best album that can be considered ‘emo’. A bit too ‘emo’ for my tastes (compared to Dookie, for example), but I rate them higher than blink 182, and a lot of other rubbish American teen punk.
track 2 being 9+ minutes is a greater crime than any carried out by the bush administration tbh
É um álbum com um conceito legal, mas infelizmente é performado pelo Green Day. Risos a parte, só consegui gostar dos já famosos singles. Posso também apontar que o começo de Jesus of Suburbia é bom, e She's a Rebel também.
This album forever reminds me of my older brother.
Such a cool album. Bonus points for nostalgia factor