Reviews (page 9 of 15)
I did not get into this album when it originally came out. I was past my love for Green Day that had bloomed in the 90's. I think it was because of the uninspired albums since Dookie. So I got into this album more towards 2010 and it's really a great one. You can tell there was a lot of thought and motivation put into these songs with more regard for song structure and breaking out of the Green Day framework they had made for themselves over the previous decade. It is interesting Green Day chose to put songs together (like Holiday and Boulevard of Broken Dreams) that would be considered individual singles. I think it's important to include this album on a listing of albums during the 2000's. Green Day hasn't hit these heights again, though I think they may have tried with the trilogy of albums they put out in the early 2010's.
This album is massively overrated, but it's still good.
Great classic!! Brings back memories!
Had Rock Opera, so why not a Punk Rock Opera. Simultaneously too short and yet some songs feel too long. 20 years later and I'm still surprised Green Day had this in them
Music is ok, but the lyrics really make this one
Had a ton of fun revisiting this. I never listened to a ton of Green Day but I always loved this album and I think most of it holds up pretty well. I bet they felt so clever making two songs actually one song
Dookie is better, but there are some bangers here for sure
Pure nostalgia
This album has it all great song writing great performance and straight in your face rock and roll. Green Day has kept punk alive and well.
Started off really strong, but then faded a bit.
This is the Green Day I like. I am curious as to why there were so many combined songs. A bit outdated- said the r-word. But i actually liked this a lot more than our first album.
Way more stadium rock than I remember, and a lot of the tracks work much better within the full context of the album.
Seems all of these guys' hits are in this album. Even the 9 minute songs slapped all the way through (didn't expect it). Second half had a couple mediocre songs which made this drag on a bit, if only it was a bit shorter. 4.5 rounded down cause of the length Stand-out: Holiday, Jesus of Suburbia
It wasn't a bad album. I'd even say it was a good album.
Some great tunes.
I’m not here
First half starts strong then peters out. Double tracks take interesting turns.
Good but not my style
Loved it as a kid but hasn't really aged well for me. I think a 7/10 is generous even if there are a couple of great tracks on here.
Big songs on this, some of Green Day's best on my opinion. The first 4 songs are bangers, with 'Boulevard' probably my favourite GD track. ' Are We the Waiting' is the sound of a band embracing their Stadium credentials and coming across life John Farnham bless them. Thank goodness for 'St Jimmy' to bring it back to some sense of normality. I could go on but the essence is that there are so many pace changes, from Punk to ballads going on and to punk purists, it's probably a step too far. Luckily I'm not one and can appreciate a band trying to add a bit of versatility to their sound. It works do a 4 star.
8/10 definitely not as annoying as I was expecting, actually pretty well written songs not really my genre, but I can still appreciate it
Very solid recording that stands up well over time
klasyka, zmora hipsterow i ludzi z czarnego kota, jest monotonnie ale przyjemnie
Favorite Track: Bouievard of broken dreams Other picks: Wake me up when september ends, american idiot
At first I was surprised to see this one. Now, I am good with it. Will be my highest rated album thus far because it definitely was a piece of my youth.
Simple Enjoyable
Very overplayed when it came out, but it's been long enough that I can enjoy it now. Some very good songs. Bit too much filler towards the end, but still good overall.
Better than I remember
Absolute staple of an album. I'd overlooked it.
this album is mega and i barely listen to green day wake me up when september ends will never not be a banger
It deserves a higher rating than my other 4s, but is also not Fleetwood Macs Rumours. This is a true 4, I'll be stricter with my ratings moving forward.
There is something that doesn't fully get me on the side of Green Day. I think it's the timing. I wasn't a greatest listener of rock in 2004. Nevertheless I recognize it's a important album in America.
very good later stage grunge punk.
I forgot how epic this album is. True rock opera.
American Idiot, the first album I immediately loved and then was taught to immediately hate. There’s no question that Green Day “sold out” and went completely mainstream. Delivered punk music to the masses while simultaneously ruining the genre. Punk didn’t plateau after this record, it pretty much died, became emo, pop, hardcore or indie. Blink-182 broke up and Green Day filed the void with this record. Despite all the bullshit about selling out, it’s hard to not see and understand the vision of this record. It’s kind of genius and really well executed. There hasn’t really been anything like this since or before. So avoiding pre-conceived notions about how I feel about this album personally and culturally, I think there are some really awesome songs. -American Idiot is such a rad way to start an album. -Jesus of Suburbia is brilliant. Full on punk rock opera. Maybe the sneaky best song on the record. -Holiday is so fun. Such a good anthem. -Boulevard of Broken Dreams is the most important song for 7th grade Blake. -Are We Waiting / St. Jimmy were always my favorite 2 though. I always felt like it was a perfect break mid-record before taking off with St. Jimmy. No idea what it’s about, but it makes you feel things. -Give Me Novocaine is maybe the most unique song on the record. It’s different but it’s a good pace change before She’s a Rebel, which rocks my socks off. -Wake Me Up When September Ends was a sad song that soon became a summer song, which I always thought was hilarious. Also everyone learned the intro of this song on acoustic guitars. The biggest knock on the record musically is that it’s a bit front loaded. The back half isn’t nearly as strong as the front half. Ultimately, this record is always going to be a stamp for a moment in time. Bush Administration / War in Iraq / the peak and crash of mainstream punk rock. And it deserves it. It was important when it came out and it still holds up.
It feels very Nostalgic when I hear Green Days. It is a classic Album. The music brings me back to the 2000s.
I wrote a whole thing out but forgot to save it. C'est la vie. Mostly good.
This isso insanelynostalgic for me like i am so fucking tapped into this. paolo and i used to bond over this album so much i love the vibes and i think that this is their best album by a long shot. I am going to revisit this again so soon
A couple of stand-out tracks, a lot of energy and pretty emblematic of the 00s soundscape
Very nice album from back in the day, but half of the songs sounds like it is from a American Pie movie. That is not a bad thing, but it throws you back to what all songs sounded back then. I was a fan of slightly more "classical" type of rock at the time, but you can't deny the number of hits in this album. Although American Idiot has the most listens, I like Boulevard of Broken Dreams more.
Fun, topical rock
I know my rating is mostly due to nostalgia. I own that. Because nowadays this type of artistic activism drives me nuts. It’s performative and makes it feel like you’re doing something when you’re actually doing nothing. But the songs slap and I enjoy listening to it. 4/5
One of the last great rock bands and this was one of their best.
A bit late but I listened to it. Took me back to being 13 and discovering rock music. Very good stuff
Pretty prettty pretty pretty good
3.7 - Couldn't help sing a long. Not listened to it in like 10 years but some song still bang.
This album inspired me to move to America and become an idiot. Thank you, Green Day.
I mean I only liked boulevard of broken dreams, but it was okay all around
Almost every song is fun and catchy. The populist anti-Bush lyrics make me feel nostalgic about hanging with my pseudo-intellectual high school debate team friends.
Flashback to when this album came out: I had a calendar of stupid George W. Bush quotes, wore a thrifted child-size Max Headroom sweatshirt and checkered Vans, and had the lyrics to every Green Day song printed out and organized in a binder. Not nearly the shiniest jewel in Green Day’s crown, but have to give it a high score because of how pure my love is for this band and this album.
Better than I give it credit for.
Super cool rock opera album but not my favorite green day or my recommendation to those wanting to try them. Dookie all the way
Un álbum divertido de escuchar y con grandes temas.
Ja toch een 4 puur voor nostalgie. Vind ik het nog goede muziek? Nee
Im 14 and this is deep Wat een week qua albums wel Zelf nooit heel veel met Green Day gehad buiten hun hits om, natuurlijk wel een klassiek album
For what it is, it excels. However, that doesn't mean I'd re-listen to it again. The singles have been played into the ground and I'd rather listen to whatever new T. Swizzy drivel is playing 100 times than one of these songs once. Overall, it was a big risk that paid off big for the band. Good on them. Musically it's pretty simplistic like most punk, but it's refined and polished for mass consumption. I can see why this caught people's attention. It was fun and shiny and catchy when it came out. Looking back 20 years, I can't really stand to listen to it. Still deserves the rating in context. Standout Tracks: Jesus of Suburbia, Holiday / Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Wake Me Up when September Ends
American Idiot is without a doubt the last piece of substantially good music that Green Day ever made. I don’t think it’s really debatable. This record, and most of the albums that came before it, actually had something going for them. Green Day, at least music wise, is now a shadow of their former self. And this album sits in a really weird place. Because it has most of the same sound as other big records they made like Dookie. But it’s also trying to be this rock opera concept album thing. Even with the cover, where it’s labeled “Green Day Presents American Idiot” instead of just the band name and album title. It’s like a pop punk opera. But that concept part doesn’t come through as well as I think they wanted it to. Aside from the two songs that are over nine minutes long, which are probably the best thing this album has going for it, these feels mostly like just another Green Day album. But that isn’t a bad thing. I think this sound has definitely grown on me since I first heard Dookie. Because I found myself actually really enjoying this. Maybe not something I would go out of my way to put on, but if someone else was playing it, I wouldn’t be mad at all. This just feels like a better written album than Dookie. It’s paced better, and actually balances a unique variety of sounds. Plus they use build-up much better here. Everything leading into the explosive drop on the closing track makes that song hit super hard. This also has some of their biggest and best hit songs. From a performance standpoint, I think Tre Cool, who is often the best part of a Green Day song, is held back a little bit. His parts aren’t as wild as their previous albums. But overall this album shocked me. I never thought I would sit down with an album from this band and come out of it so pleasantly surprised. Rating: 8/10
Several bangers, overall not bad
I think "commercial" Green Day gets overlooked by the Green Day stans that have been into them since Dookie. I for one appreciate making punk ideas accessible to more people, and that's what American Idiot did. That's why anyone putting the whole album on for the first time knows half the songs already; it's probably the most accessible punk album of all time. 5/5 messaging, 3/5 musically, 4/5 overall.
Saw Green Day 3 times while they were supporting this album. Great shows. Good album. So good nothing they’ve done since has come close…or they just made enough $ from this and everything it spawned not to have to… they’re no Idiots.
Nothing deep, but I am a sucker for a fun pop-punk sound. Oh, and "Shoplifter" is a silly parody of a crime ballad.
Great album really enjoyed it
Maduran, siguen teniendo temas memorables y tienen más profundidad.
Hace mucho tiempo que no escuchaba Green Day. Me encanta, es muy buen rock, aunque hay algunas canciones flojas, en general me gusta.
I believe this was either the first or second CD I ever bought for myself (Stadium Arcadium by Red Hot Chili Peppers was the other). This came out when I was in middle school, and I enjoyed the music and the general anti-establishment vibes without really resonating with or understanding the political implications. A few years later, I kept an early music diary in high school and I re-listened to this album and wrote a fairly extensive entry. I think this was maybe the first time I really attempted to understand the plot of the punk-rock-opera and wrote it down as I understood it (I believe I was remarkably close, except I think Green Day intended only St. Jimmy to be a figment of Jesus of Suburbia’s psyche, whereas I thought Whatsername was as well). I think more so than albums like Tommy or The Wall (which may be technically better albums), I prefer this as a rock opera, because the story is not just more straightforward and easier to understand, but also a more encompassing and important story. But in 2008-09, I wasn’t exactly a politically savvy highschooler. I was fortunate enough that my family was relatively unscathed by the financial crisis, and I didn’t quite grasp how 9/11 and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan really affected me and my fellow citizens of the US and the world. Listening again nearly 20 years after release, I think I resonate with this album even more than I did as an angsty teenager. There’s a general sense of ennui present throughout the album that seems to put a finger on the pulse of the millennial generation. There’s a consensus that something and maybe everything is wrong, but no one’s able or willing to make things right. But ultimately despite how fucked up everything is, “There’s nothing wrong with me. This is how I’m supposed to be in a land of make-believe that don’t believe in me”.
Das beste Album von Green Day. Die Wichtigsten Hits und Begleiter im Studium. Am Ende gleich.
Excellent punk sensibilities with an ear for a melody - powerful combination, especially in the context of a strong set of songs. Good stuff.
Pop punk? IDK it rocks, it is topical and still relevant. 4*
Geendays "American Idiot" kennt irgendwie jeder. Ein moderner Klassiker.
Nostalgie maar wel goed
Loved this album as a teenager, still listen to a bunch of these songs now. Excited for a renewed album listen
There are easily 1,000 musical acts worth hearing before one dies. So I would prefer that this list stuck to one album per band. If there are two by Green Day, then there needs to be at least a dozen from Miles Davis, 7 from Frank Sinatra, 5 each from the Beatles, Zeppelin and the Stones. Pretty soon you run out of slots for great never-heard-of-em's like Teenage Fanclub, Slint, Love as Laughter, etc. That said, like Dookie, this album is an amazing collection of songs. I couldn't give them an honest listen when they were on top of the world. Listening back though, Holy Macaroni.
everytime i listen to green day i think of that phineas and ferb youtube animatic 4/5
OK you snooty bastards, it's "pop-punk", it was insanely popular, but that's for a reason. And sure, it's not "Dookie" either, but this was a definite return to form and absolutely "fit" the era. It's not big or clever, but it's a hella lotta fun.
Easily one of the most iconic punk albums ever released and for good reason. It's very good.
Surprised how much I liked this one
Surprisingly good when listened to straight
Certainly a classic of the pop-punk golden age and Green Day's most ambitious and accomplished album. Definitely gets preachy from time to time but the music consistently delivers. Cements Billie Joe's legacy as a great songwriter. 4.5 stars
Banger of an album. I completely forgot about Jesus of Suburbia somehow, and that it's 9 mins long.
Kinda slaps ngl
pretty vibey & important message... i think? 4/5
puf, muy largo ... pero bueno, le daré un 4.
Great album, however every duel song on the album was one of my least favorites first with a banger follow up.
Objectively not the greatest album, but nostalgia
Great album! Yeah!
4 songs added american idiot Jesus of suburbia are we the waiting give me novacaine 8.8
I listened to this album a ton when it came out. I liked a handful of songs and others grew on me with repeated listens. Having listened to it for the first time in at least 15 years, I’m back to my original feelings toward it. Largely the radio singles and a couple other tunes are really solid songs. The rest is just way too broadway feeling for me. Considering that’s exactly what they did with this, it seems mission accomplished from their perspective. This was the first time I’ve heard the bonus tracks on the deluxe version. None stood out and they don’t immediately seem to fit the somewhat cohesive story of the original album.
Surprised to find a Green Day album on here, but Green Day was the mindless background music to like 30% of my youth so it was nice.
Nostalgia plays a factor but I’ve listened to a few of these songs quite a bit. Overall a decent album, though I was anti-“Green Day” when this album came out as I was hyper focused on prog metal at the time. Vocals are a bit much for me but pretty catchy overall.
4/5 So many hit songs. Great album!!
Straight alternative punk rock.
4.3
Enjoyed it more than I expected. More range - different sounds throughout the different songs - than I thought there’d be. Very fun in an early 2000s punky way. Rock opera?!
I wouldn't consider it punk. More so pop rock with a few punk elements. Good listen tho.
A great punk concept album, that even has a lot of songs that stand on their own.
epic dude. didn't know this was a concept album
good album but not the best imo
Haven’t heard in long time. Still enjoy
An ambitious effort for a punk band
I guess that this album is significant for all of the war that was in the decade of 00's in the US. It has really cool songs, I loved every single transition on it, just perfect! I really have to say that all the emo themed songs of the 00's is really cool for me.
Loved this album when it came out, can't be bothered to listen to it again because I had the cd in my car for so long. Deffo a 4 for me when it came out so i am going to put that
One of the few bands who hit the jackpot twice ten years apart. It's kinda tame for punk music from that era, but it probably wouldn't be as successful if it wasn't. Ironic how this record has a couple of those songs with lots of different sections like the 70s prog rock that the OG punks rebelled against. Favorite song: American Idiot.
Omdat ik toch warme gevoelens koester voor de emo en poppunk-bands uit mijn tienerjaren ga ik hier toch even de loftrompet steken voor Green Day. Het is makkelijk te vergeten hoe belangrijk American Idiot was voor deze bands (denk aan Simple Plan, All American Rejects, Good Charlotte, Sum41) in de zo ongemakkelijke 'jaren nul'. Dus oh wat een nostalgie! Het eerste deel van het album is om van te smullen. American Idiot is als klassieker niet kapot is te krijgen en Boulevard of Broken Dreams een uniek stukje rock-opera. Het album zakt daarna wat in en bereikt niet meer het niveau van de eerste vier nummers, maar dat mag de pret niet drukken. Green Day krijgt 4 nostalgische sterren! Highlights Holiday American Idiot Wake Me Up When September Ends
Listened to this while playing Agricola solo. I lost. I have to say, I was genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this album! There were so many familiar songs. I found myself thinking "I can kinda see why they adapted this into a musical." Definitely not a fan of the genre...but this made building a farm in post-black death Europe much more kickass.
Some classic songs in here, added a few to library. Would put this as a low 4.
How have I never actually listened to this?
I intended to come in here and hate on this record hard. From my recollection, this 'pretty boy "punk" band' sucked... oh, so I'm supposed to express myself more... expressively? Alright. They somehow hitched onto an image that they were rude and brash and gave very few fucks, in true punk fashion. At the time, sitting on my porch directing wayward miscreants to get off of my lawn, I ascertained they were not punk. Rather they were snotty entitled show-offs whose singer seemed to have a perpetual stuffy nose. When this record was released I thought it was cheeky, annoying, and well I actually never listened to it, except for how I could not escape hearing the whole record continuously over the radio on PA systems in unavoidable commercial facilities, like restaurant bathrooms. Imagine how perplexed I was listening to this record all the way through now, feeling ... wait while I try to look up this phenomenon in the DSM-5... Joy?... also, exclaiming "WTF, what the fuck man@?!" as each life affirming banger rolls into the next. This illustrates a personal paradox of mine. Things in the past that I hated, later I evolve to love out of nostalgia and the fact that the world gets mercilessly shittier over time. American Idiot seemed bratty and shallow then, complaining so hard about W and sold-out corporate media. The way things have exponentially entshittified, the world depicted in this record seems like Utopia, and the musical style is impeccable - compared to mumbly-auto-tune-trap. This will be the new cassette tape I play on my boom box on my porch.
my fav greenday album
Classic anti-establishment political album.
Green Day was really in their stride when this album came out. Solid line-up of songs
American idiot is an amazing album. With triumphant guitar riffs, wild drums, and great vocals from the main singer, this album is all around great. Every song feels like liberation, like teenagers fighting back against the system.
Dookie was a foundational album in my musical experience, so I've always had a soft spot for Green Day. The highs of American Idiot are very high, but with some stretched out tracks and lyrics that sort of hammer a single note a bit too often it doesn't quite hit perfection for me. I might be odd for like Warning a whole lot and Dookie above American Idiot as well. Their new album Saviors is also very good, which pushes American Idiot to 4th on my list. Highlight Tracks - American Idiot, Holiday, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Extraordinary Girl, Wake Me up When September Ends 4.5/5 rounds down to a 4.
Enjoyed it
I meeeeean. Shit's iconic. Not a huge fan of multiple songs per track, even if the transitions are good. 5/5 songs 4/5 album layout
Lots of great songs. Holiday is an all-time running playlist favorite. Apparently they wrote it as a punk opera and it was staged as a musical. I want to listen again with the lyrics so I can follow the story.
Extremely solid album -- just a lot of rage expressed in those weird post-9/11 years. I obviously knew the singles, but hadn't listened to it straight through. I really like the combination of "Holiday" and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." If I could go 4.5 stars, I would.
Pure power pop. First half is a 5. Second half is a 3. Overall 4 star album. Don’t call it punk
I love this album. So many great tracks! So much nostalgia. One I'll keep coming back to over and over again, and there aren't many of those.
100% GEDE. 8/10
This album came out when I was 12-13 and I was the perfect candidate for its sound and message. It’s had a lasting impact on me. It may not be perfect, but is always a fun and enjoyable listen and still sounds fresh 20 years after its release. Catchy songs, punk energy, expanded creativity and musical range, and an underbaked but relatable concept makes it strong and still relevant.
Are we the waiting Holiday St. Jimmy Letterbomb Really enjoy it. Maybe I'm basic.
Pretty much every song on this was squeezed dry on every radio station. I got tired of hearing them. If you listen to this with fresh ears, it might be their most accessible album. There is an irony in these successful musicians commentary on this capitalist hell while reaping all that they see as terrible in the world. What we end up with is something that is actually pretty pulpy. It is sold as a concept album but there isn't much indicating that other than the title track.
This is pretty good!
Clearly I’m here for Green Day
puf, muy largo ... pero bueno, le daré un 4.
super album, nostalgija udara, ali nije 5/5 jer osim ove 3 glavne pjesme nijedna mi nije nesto wow
Ne bi nikad rekla da je album star 20 godina. Sićan se s mtva. Dobar zvuk!
nostalgijaaa, neke su mi prebrutalne, a neke malo manje
Great
Classic !
classic green day 4/5
way better than i thought it was going to be!! i obviously recognized some of the big ones from this album but never sat down and listened to Green Day. definitely pleasantly surprised - junk enough pop in their grunge to be listenable
I had never listened to this album all the way through, although I was familiar with the hits. I really enjoyed this so much. I always thought of them as the kind of noisy punk that I wasn't so into, although I liked some songs and their message. What I didn't expect were the tracks that were 2 songs in one, and the ones that had so much going musically. Much more complex than their genre would suggest. Billy Jo Armstrong is a great singer and the band is tight.
The first four tracks here are all stone-cold classics, and hold up fantastically to this day. The rest of the tracklist seems a little filler-like in comparison, but it's all still very good.
great record. Many great songs and an pretty unskippable album. I woulve liked it when some of these double songs would be seperated. especially holiday / blvd of broken dreams. As a whole a top tier project. strong 4.5 i would like to give it a 5 but for that i would need to do the longevity test. but def a great fking record!
4 because this is a classic nostalgia album obvi
Like most pop punk, it used to seem more deep but still amazing
Love that upbeat, alternative/punk sound! A fun outing with a few familiar songs. High on the replayability scale. Solid 4
Buenos recuerdos
very Solid album
I liked it. 8/10
Ett bra rockalbum. Gillar trummorna.
High School First band I was in made me learn the whole thing on guitar. Not a bad album. I prefer their earlier releases, but this is really good.
So nostalgic for me. Not the best or my fav Green Day album but I was something I loved in high school and enjoyed revisiting.
Even better now that its pissing so many people off. Seriously, have some people never heard of punk?
7/10 grew up with it
far more melodic than I thought going into it. I've never listened to this one all the way through before.
How timely lol. I know all the songs on this album because of the musical, which is atrocious story-wise, but a fun concert. It's banger after banger. 4.4.
It was hard to separate out this album from how most of its songs are very overplayed nowadays. The songs are very strong in songwriting ability and I remember and can see why the album was as big as it was. The album does seem to drag a little at the end.
I usually don't like punk rock, but I genuinely am a slut for a concept album, so I guess this is the exception. I think the only thing about this album I don't like is the song length (not the songs with a "/," but Jesus of Suburbia and Homecoming); they both could've been cut down to five minutes and have been better songs in my opinion.
Enjoyed it more now than I used to. Has their best songs on here.
Classic punk rock
Fun
classic
Good punk rock
Oh man, this really takes me back. I remember early mornings before the sun rose, hopping in my friend Kyle’s car and heading to band practice. Since he drove, he chose the tunes, and this was something he played often. Man… just a different time. The older I’ve gotten the more I appreciate this album and it’s impact on my early challenges to what I was taught. The music has a good beat and there is more than one ear worm. Plus I love any type of story being told across an album. There is a reason this became a musical on broadway.
- Well, I already knew that partially - Interessante Combination of two songs with each other with an overall length of approx. 9 Minutes, but also single Songs combined from many parts (e.g. Jesus of Suburbia) - Songs refencing each other - Overall: 4/5
Good record, some skip tracks
This album came out when I was in high school so it has an extra star for nostalgia reasons. As much as we're all tired of the radio hits on this, and I would rather go back to sleep as soon as Wake Me Up When September Ends starts, the deep cuts on this album still kick, like Give Me Novacaine, Letterbomb and Whatsername. The two 10 minute long tracks are fun as well.
I grew up thinking Dookie was amazing and not really liking much else by Green Day. To me they were like poser punk, and I always thought, "why would I listen to pop punk ever? It's like punk energy and riffs and vocals but without the infamous punk attitude?" But that's changed as I've gotten older. I have come to embrace Green Day and how simply put they are an amazing band that makes good music. I also got to see them a year or two ago at "Sea Hear Now" festival and they were amazing. Even headlining a huge show where they were like hundreds and hundreds of feet away from me, they somehow made the show energetic and intimate and straight up killer. This album I think maybe pushed the band to the next level. "Nimrod" to me was only an alright album, despite having "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" on it, it didn't do much for me otherwise. This came out and I feel like everyone and their moms were like "hell yea fuck George W Bush I love this shit". I think this is a good 4. It's not quite Dookie, and Dookie is a 5, but relation aside, it's a strong album with a few select really great standout hits.
What a gem of an album...loved it...
Great album. Love Green Day. May have been a little long. But some really good songs.
Album 3/1001: early 2000s classic. Many many songs illicit some nostalgia or callback to a time where I didn’t have to pay utitliy bills. 9/10
The culmination of "old Green Day" (sneering punks with a bone to pick) as well as the starting point for "new Green Day" (arena rockers who want to say big things). Great record that suffered a bit from overexposure but still holds up.
good late period album from them. Probably last "essential record" they ever did.
I didn't know this album as well as Dookie. After giving it a couple of listens, it's starting to grow on me, but still not as good as the former.
Very nostalgic. Was fun to go back to this again. Boulevard of Broken Dreams is the standout for me
Such vibes, some misses later on in the album and the songs start to blend together a bit, but at least it’s a nice style I used to play Holiday every day of last day of school, better times 3/4****
Easily the most enjoyable punk band - you get what you expect but it's also what you want.
1. "American Idiot" - 9,0 2. "Jesus of Suburbia" - 7,5 3. "Holiday" - 8,5 4. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" - 10,0 5. "Are We the Waiting" - 9,0 6. "St. Jimmy" - 7,0 7. "Give Me Novacaine" - 7,5 8. "She's a Rebel" - 7,5 9. "Extraordinary Girl" - 7,0 10. "Letterbomb" - 7,0 11. "Wake Me Up When September Ends" - 10,0 12. "Homecoming" - 7,0 13. "Whatsername" - 8,5 TOTAL: 8,16 (82/100)
An absolute classic, iconic early 2000s rock opera. Easily listenable from start to finish
Tristan Pollock all the way from Banff joined my morning commute when I listen to the Green Day album
Green day rockt
Classic Green Day, I first heard this album in 6th grade and was blown away that he said the word "mindfuck" and was one of the first songs with swearwords that I'd sing lmao. Love the guitar crunchiness on some of the songs and this album holds a lot of nostalgia value for me
Beter dan verwacht. Was nooit zo'n fan van Green Day, maar juist de niet bekendere nummers eigenlijk wel goed
Klinkt allemaal best fijn zou t alleen minder snel aanzetten
Echt een goed album gewoon. Heel de dag lekker rock en punk geluisterd daardoor. Goed nostalgisch voor mij ook
Banger record
I found myself enjoying this much more than I expected. The instruments sound really good tonally and the performance is tight. Single tracks contain multiple tunes which is interesting. Well done Green Day.
Excellent!
Great to go back and revisit, lots I didn't remember about it. Solid song writing and instrumentation. I had forgotten it was a concept album?! It's not really my taste these days but it really holds up, a classic for a reason. Billy Joe's voice is actually really great.
Felt like I was on Holiday listening to this album. You definitely wouldn’t be an American Idiot if you gave this a listen…or would you?
Love this album. One of my favorite bands. Strangely, I've never listened to the album all the way through. Not as many bangers as I thought it would have. More ballads than I associate Green Day with.
Not the biggest punk rock guy, but this is a pretty good album. My biggest complaint is how it can sound repetitive after a while, given its hour long length.
You know what you’re getting with Green Day. If you like it you like it. The fact that every time I tried to listen to this album I got waylaid or called away and I still kept coming back is testament to their skills. I was happy to be drawn back and most songs are solid. I lost interest in a couple of them, but my interest was always revived by the next one. Consistently good.
I've never paid a ton of attention to this band, but I've always thought they were pretty good. Maybe a little on-the-nose for my taste and the punk ethos/sound was never one I gravitated to, but Green Day pumps out clever, catchy, pop-punk songs better than just about anyone, certainly at their peak in the 90s-00s. I had always known this was something of a statement album, their "most important" work, but this was my first time listening. First impression — damn, dude's got a big drum sound. The bass drum leaps out of the speaker, and the toms aren't far behind. So, score a point for the drummer. And I suppose this will take multiple listens and me poring over the lyrics to get the story and put the thread of the narrative together, but my takeaway: these guys write good tunes. They just start sounding the same to me after about six tracks and my interest flags. But it's solid, Billie Joe Armstrong has a knack for a melody and knows how to cut the fat and deliver the goods without a whole lot of fucking around.
Big change from the opening track 'American Idiot' to 'Holiday / Boulevard of Broken Dreams'. The more I listened, the more I enjoyed it and the more I got out of it. I'm feeling generous. A 4.
So many bangers on this album, but still a bit too much that is middling. If it was trimmed down a bit it would be 5 stars.
A lot better than I remembered! No idea there were so many hits on this thing.
so much childhood angst favorites: holiday
Heard of green day before but never really listened to them before but it was actually really fun. Slightly weak end though
This is Green Day’s best album. Even though it came out in 2004, it still works in today’s world.
I have this one. I always really liked the hits. I think it's overall quite solid. I'm just not really a fan of the "Nobody likes you" part that comes up a few times. They have a good sound.
Lowkey forgot how much of a "singles band" Green Day are, but it's American Idiot. An album that was a key part of the childhood for pretty much anyone born in the 90s for a reason.
Ridiculously good album. Contains several bangers, anti-war messaging, and an awesome punk/pop/alt rock sound. It’s no wonder why this album is so loved.
Nice to listen all the way through, also liked reading how the album came together!
A real nostalgia trip as this was the first album i ever bought and listened to fully when i was about 10/11. Most of the album was still super familiar to me even though I very rarely give it a full spin nowadays. The quality drops a little towards the end, Homecoming being as long as it is doesn't keep my attention the same way all 9 minutes of Jesus Of Suburbia does at the start of the album, and Whatshername is a pretty forgettable closer. When it's on point though, it's a super fun listen, and pretty diverse for a band that was just a fun pop-punk band until then.
I wish I could give this one 4.5 stars because I feel like it’s a standout compared to some of the others we’ve heard recently; however, I’m holding my 5’s for albums that I connect with a bit more. Overall, American Idiot is solid. I love that it’s a concept album, but I never really followed the through line until I saw the theatrical production performed. Even then, the plot is… quite loose. Still, the music is great, including standouts like “Holiday” and “Wake Me Up When September Ends.”
Not a huge Green Day fan but this is a solid album their second best behind Dookie in my opinion.
This was a good album from my high school days was not as much of a fan back then but it has grown on me over the years.
I liked Green Day back in the day, but never checked this album out beyond a few of the hits. I enjoyed this and listened to it several times. 4.5/5
A trip down memory lane! Not the best album-- or band-- but this record sure does unleashes the inner teen in me.
New to me, and quite good
Les chansons que je connaissais sont toujours aussi bien (Holiday, Boulevard of broken dreams, wake me up when september ends) et j'en ai découvert quelques nouvelles qui sont aussi bien ! Ce sont des chansons que j'écoute de temps en temps car elles m'ont beaucoup plu adolescente et certaines donnent de l'énergie ! J'aime bien le mix de moments plus énergiques avec d'autres plus mélodiques, comme si on volait en serpentant dans une vallée xD
Super good! I can’t believe how much has changed and how much has stayed the same since this album came out. Their commentary on war, imperialism, indoctrination still rings true today!!! Especially given the current iteration of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Also, I now hear so much more of the Beatles influence that I definitely didn’t catch before. I’m sad that I didn’t listen to this album as a tween/teen because it would’ve been right up my alley then, if nothing else because of the sound.
I did not expect to give this four stars, but it won me over.
Very nice album, a classic, has sometimes a rock and roll vibe, many iconic songs
Best geinige dwarse punkrock of hoe dit ook maar heet. Cees-muziek zullen we maar zeggen. Met de nodige terechte kritiek aan het toenmalige Amerika, vraag is of het allemaal veel beter is geworden.
Ik kende Green Day uit de jaren '90. Eentonige meuk. Dus hier had ik eigenlijk helemaal geen zin in. Maar ik word verrast. Het is een heel volwassen en gebalanceerd album met volwaardige nummers. Ik had het wellicht kunnen weten met een hit als Wake Me Up When September Ends. 3,5 ster.
I liked Extraordinary girl, boulevard of broken dreams, wake me up when September ends. Another good album! Sound like something that would play at the old welly lol 27/10/2023
Starts pretty good, I get bored of it by the end though. Will I listen to again: 60%
saw it live
Nostalgia bait. Good album, bunch of great songs on here. Don't like the storytelling approach bundling 2 songs together and some of the worse songs also seem to be the longest. Still really like a bunch of tracks though so easy 4 stars.
very happy this came up, although I forgot it had two 9-minute songs and a bunch of others are combined into a single track - still fun!
Classic punk rock album 👍 Was my shit when I was 14 but not something I would go for now. An album choqued full of nostalgia for me, relistening to it I know exactly where I was when I first listened to these songs. Listening to it now, I think up until track 5 the album is pretty solid then it kind of falls off. Faves: Give Me Novocaine, Jesus of Suburbia, American Idiot
one star is just for jesus of suburbia. kind of the jesus of suburbia of our generation
I’m sorry for being a sucker for edgy concept albums
one of my favourite albums, and something that defined my early years of getting into music.
fun, punchy, love how clear the theatrical style and structure is even on first listen. from a purely sonic perspective it's a no-skip album; i do understand the critiques that say as far as protest music goes it's a bit limited in scope and in some songs the anger can seem directionless.
Great: Holiday, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Give Me Novacaine Very Good: American Idiot, St. Jimmy, She's a Rebel, Wake Me Up When September Ends (borderline good/fine) Fine: Jesus of Suburbia, Extraordinary Girl, Letterbomb, Whatsername Bad: Are We the Waiting (bad in a way that genuinely pisses me off), Homecoming (not great in a way that brings the rest of the album down) Overall: I've already heard many times and I didn't change my mind on any tracks really. Just a very front-stacked album that gets noticeably less good as you hit the second half.
What McDonalds did to the hamburger, Green Day did to punk rock. I mean this in a good way! Some of my earliest memories are watching the music videos for some of these tracks on MTV with my older brother and sister (particularly Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Holiday, American Idiot, and Wake Me Up When September Ends). Now I work on music videos for a living - reengaging with this every few years helps me measure how much my understanding of the medium has grown. It feels really cool to be able to grow up and appreciate this in the cultural context of post-9/11 Bush-era America. It's perversely stuck in its time, and I can't help but love it for that.
Few classic songs on there but whole thing sounded similar too each other to really enjoy them separately. Few songs in there that are definitely worth a re listen
I liked Green Day a lot as a young teenager, but when this came out I had moved on to \"cooler\" stuff... so even though I recognized it was pretty good, I never really listened to it. Very well recorded, and super catchy! American Idiot was a huge hit... Jesus of Suburbia also really great song! Also Holiday... And Boulevard of Broken Dreams... this song was huge too. Ok this one is really hit after hit. Very ambitious album! Are We the Waiting sounds like a U2 song... a little much. St. Jimmy brings things back to more classic Green Day! A bit of a dip... Extraordinary Girl sounds like a Beatles song. Interesting. Letterbomb is just a catchy pop punk song, could be on Dookie. Wake Me Up When September Ends is a classic Ballad. Homecoming is not great... it's trying to be a counterpart to Jesus of Suburbia but is kind of cheesy and lame. Should have ended it with September. This is at least a 4... it's a super solid, well written, catchy, well produced album. Dookie is more of a personal favorite, but this one is right up there. I feel like it could really have been trimmed down. There are some weird inconsistencies and run-ons as the album goes on. It's ambitious, but gets a little full of itself.
So, for some reason this one brings me back to 04 and my political history. I was born in 82 so turned 18 in time to vote in the now infamous 2000 election of Bush vs Gore. As a young person growing up with liberal damn near hippie like ideals (in Illinois) I voted for the Green Party candidate Nader justifying my protest vote of sorts as not really mattering as Gore would easily carry IL. So Bush "wins" the 2000 election, I'm bummed but not too worried as what could really go wrong and surely there won't be any giant crisis to be dealt with. 9/11/01 I'm a college freshman and suddenly it matters allot. As a 19 year old I was pretty sure I'd be drafted into the military for the upcoming World War III, luckily that didn't happen. So the chance to use the Goodwill and cooperation of the entire world is quickly squandered as Bush and Co decide that oil and revenge for Daddy is the plan. The misguided and terrible Iraq war is not happening and some "punk rockers" from California decide to write a concept album about it or something. That's American Idiot which I haven't listened to all the way through since that tumultuous era of 2003-2006.
The soundtrack to me starting high school, picking up a guitar and a skateboard. A diverse album full of catchy tracks which you can't help but sing along with. I still love the angsty teenage tale of Johnny/Jesus of Suburbia. However the 'political commentary' is a bit corny and paper thin. Biased bonus points for being a hugely nostalgic album for me.
I remeber buying this album in middle school. Almost 20 years later and it has stood the test of time. An older green day managed to capture teenage angst without sounding preachy or overly angsty themselves. Personal favorites include "Jesus of suburbia", "extraordinary girl", "st. Jimmy", "whatshername"
Man, remember when this album came out and everyone thought George W. Bush was the worst president in history? How naive we all were. Very high nostalgia points for this album, it was a frequent repeat on my iPod mini back in grade 10 and it still holds up decently well. 3rd best Green Day album and a solid 4.4 rounded down
3.8 lots of radio hits on the album. Not my favorite Green day album but for many it is.
A classic and the songs I hadn't heard, live up to the mega hits
A punk-rock concept album. Why? Why not?
Green Day consegue manter o vigor punk e adicionar outras camadas sonoras.
first listen i had no idea this was a pop punk rock opera and it's great
3.5
Not their best but it's a good album.
it's been a while since i listened to this album and it's a classic for a good reason
HELL YEAH MORE MY STYLE, i like that green day sound!
Good, fun punkish rock.
SYNOPSIS: Very good album, one of my all-time favorites. Listened to it a lot when I was younger so it is rather nostalgic. TOP TRACKS: 1. Holiday 2. Wake Me Up When September Ends 3. Boulevard of Broken Dreams FINAL RATING: 8.5/10
First album (1/1001) Best song: she’s a rebel
Better album than I expected, though I honestly can’t listen to American Idiot without wanting to sing the Weird Al parody lyrics.
3.5 stars. Solid rock album, but more mainstream/poppy than the more punk earlier version of Green Day. More made for radio than I'd prefer, but still a decent listen. Production/mixing isn't my favorite, sounds like Billy Joe Armstrong is really trying to sing over the guitars. Hard to detangle my nostalgic memories of "Holiday", "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", and "Wake Me Up When September Ends" as they were inescapable during middle school years.
Great album So many amazing songs on here that aren't even American idiot that make this an iconic album Fav song: Jesus of suburbia 8/10
Nice album
I am not a big fan of punk rock but Green Day are the exception + boulevard of broken dreams is so iconic that I feel like everyone knows it (for good reason)
When Green Day decided to “reinvent” themselves and came out with all this black and red branding/dress, high school me was like - fuckin posers. I hated on this album, I won’t lie. I was short sighted. This album is awesome. Although I’d say their second best, it is still a latter day punk classic, and one of the best of the 00s. The punk rock suites they created on a number of tracks are some of the best explorations of the genre and proved that punk was not one dimensional. I get chills every time I hear the “hurricane of fucking lies” line in Jesus of Suburbia, it’s a powerful build-up. For a west coast band it also has a very east coast feel, with a number of songs written or conceived during Armstrong’s time spent in the East Village. It trails off a little on the back end, but it’s probably one of the most enjoyable front to back punk records ever. I’m torn between a 4 and 5 here.
post punk pop. very dynamic
Structurally brilliant. Songs flow in and out of each other, production is incredible. Politically still relevant, and seemingly will be for the foreseeable future.
Pretty good tbf
When this came out I worked with a guy who was a massive Green Day fan and he loved this album (he generally had very bad taste). We had some similarity in the music we liked, so he used to try and convince me that this was a good album. In the end I agreed to listen to it twice, end to end, uninterrupted and not while I was working. He was sure I would change my mind; I didn't, it was bubble gum pop/punk of the worst kind. My purist mind just couldn't see anything redeemable here. Stupid American 30-somethings pretending to be angry and sounding like Avril Lavigne. Well almost 20 years later and I figured I would have the exact same opinion, but I actually enjoyed this, once I got over the annoying first track, which still grates. It's not really that the music is improved, but I think I must have mellowed a bit. Also, I now understand that this isn't an affront to rock/ punk, it's just soft-rock/ pop that's been mislabelled. Treating it as music with no particular genre, it's actually pretty tight and melodic. So I'm giving it 4 stars.
Not sure how to rate this really, when I was a teenager I would have given it an easy 5, but I've mellowed on Green Day a lot since then, and I find a lot of these songs fairly cringe inducing now. Some of the deeper cuts (Give Me Novacaine, Extraordinary Girl, Letterbomb) though still hold up, maybe because they weren't played to death! A 3 seems appropriate,but maybe I'll round it up to 4 for the sake of nostalgia and cultural pact (which can't really be denied).
Nostalgia <3
I've heard quite a few of the songs in this album already but still enjoyed it. Some good bangers in here!
This was THE album of my teenage years. Still a hit today and almost time to wake up when September ends
Great comeback album, hangs together well and all the tracks are good
Track ratings: 1. American Idiot - [8/10] 2. Jesus of Suburbia - [9/10] 3. Holiday - [8/10] 4. Boulevard of Broken Dreams - [7/10] 5. Are We the Waiting - [7/10] 6. St. Jimmy - [6/10] 7. Give Me Novacaine - [7/10] 8. She's a Rebel - [7/10] 9. Extraordinary Girl - [6/10] 10. Letterbomb - [7/10] 11. Wake Me Up When September Ends - [6/10] 12. Homecoming - [7/10] 13. Whatsername - [7/10] I haven't listened to this album front to back in years. Very strong first half, but I kind of lose interest as the album progresses. There isn't any song I actively dislike, but Wake Me Up... just annoys me at this point due to the years of hearing it ambiently so much. 4/5
strong ablum
Great start
This one has a lot more nostalgia than Dookie for me. I do think it is the better album, too. Love how the songs leak into one another. It’s got a little bit of rock opera going on. Much more varied in sound, even if some of the ballads are a little cheesy
Good stuff
I love this album so my review is going to be a teeeeeensy bit biased. I hope teenagers for generations will continue to find this one because it captures so many feelings I had at that age so perfectly - informed but powerless, surrounded but lonely, angry at nothing and longing for something better. Its play/singability lend it well to passionate and sloppy jam sessions. I think I'd enjoy it but wouldn't connect with it nearly as deeply if it came out now. 4/5 stars.
A rock opera chock full of classic punk rock tunes and worthy of a place on the list, will come back again for some nostalgia.
incredibly nostalgic simplistic pop punk. the sound of my childhood playing Tony Hawk games on the DS, except I was too young to truly notice all the punk themes. 3.75/5
I think the hit rate on this is pretty damn good. It's fairly consistent across the board too. Really upbeat, nice catchy songs. I always thought of Green Day as super quick, pop-punky songs, but there's plenty of longer ones on here too that still work well.
Oh man, I remember really liking this album as a kid. My sister had the CD in a little blue case, and we listened to it all the time. Most of the songs on this album are bops too. What is strange is that this version of the album has some tracks merged together into one ex: Holiday/Boulevard of Broken Dreams. This is a solid 4/5 I just have too much nostalgia for the album. I'm glad this still holds up for the most part aside from their use of the f slur in one track
THE VIDEO CLIPS AREN'T BAD FOR THE THEME THE ALBUM TELLS, BUT I ISN'T SOMETHING THAT YOU LOOK AND "WOW HOW COOL" NOOOO otherwise, the songs are good, actually. Some of them have cool transitions like "Holiday" with Boulevard one. There are also the counterparts wich show how the songs can get different with a simple change, like "Give me Novacaine" with "She's a Rebel". EXTRAORDINARY GIRL BEST SONG
This album was such a good one to look back on, so good
4.25
Sjov historie at følge med i under hele albummet Skal høres flere gange
I can see why they made this into a Broadway show
Don't even need to listen to know where I rate this - a solid 4.5 - just due to the 100 times I listened to this as a teenager. But I'm re-listening just to see if anything strikes me this time around... Still really enjoy this album but some of the croon-ey, mopey, singing parts just rub me the wrong way to this day. Thus the .5 point docking for me.
I'm not a pop punk devotee but this album stands out.
AJ: some tracks are excellent. Couple snoozers. Cool piece of punk rock art overall. Appreciate what they were doing. Stayed fast for the most part, with much more to say. America. Idiots. Idiots as far as you can see. Jesus of Suburbia clocking in at 9+ minutes… not exactly Dookie. Quite a ride. Holiday is such a great song.
Pretty much a modern classic. 4/5 Singles: ------------------------------------------------------- "American Idiot" (US ALT #1, UK #3) "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (#5 UK, #1 US ALT, #1 US Pop 100) "Holiday" (#11 UK, #1 US ALT and Mainstream Rock) "Wake Me Up When September Ends" (#8 UK, #2 US ALT) "Jesus of Suburbia" (#17 UK, #27 US ALT)
Still great
4.4 13 year old me would be proud that I still remember all the lyrics to every damn song. This entire album is one of the best (if not the best) pop punk albums, every song fits with the entire theme but also stands up on its own. Fave songs: Jesus of suburbia, Homecoming, Are we the waiting, St. Jimmy
For my generation it’s kind of classic
Super strong album.
Day 96 A heart-shaped grenade bleeding in a hand? The poetry of that cover art should be enough to bring a tear in your eye. Or maybe not, but it is for me. I was aware of Green Day (but then again, who wasn't?) but didn't listen to American Idiot when it came out. But I have a very precise memory of that moment in time: Green Day came to Montreal and played a show in a huge open air venue; it was summer and I was broke, I didn't go to see the show, but I remember seeing the kids around the city on public transportation heading to the venue; there were thousands, millions of them and It was a beautiful spectacle to see: suddenly the city was filled with punk kids in their black clothes, each with their own version of a punk haircut, hair dyed in different colours, wearing their face piercings and make up; tattoos weren't that common yet so there weren't many of those, thank you. This is exactly the image I view whenever I listen to Green Day. This, and Billy Joe Armstrong. I love that chap, I think he's awesome cuz he looks exactly like one of those kids even if he's decades older than them. Whenever I see a picture or video with Billy Joe on it I just wish I could give him a warm hug, he really looks like this fragile, shy and sensitive teenager who gets pissed off about the injustices in the world and speaks out without becoming a pedantic asshole; the kind of teenager who asks questions and doesn't assume they have all the answers; the kind of teenager-adult who looks sort of innocent but takes no bullshit and believes in integrity. Are you reading this, Bono? With American Idiot, Green Day took pop punk to a whole new level and gave it the substance it was lacking; many of the songs have a Phil Spector feel, or sort of. Some have written that American Idiot was Green Day's attempt at being The Who and recording Tommy; although I can see where they are coming from, they clearly need to listen closer. Rating: all the bombs pumping blood through my heart.
When this album came out, I listened and to it a bunch and I am a fan of Green Day. I think they are used ironically, but the f bombs are still shocking to hear. If I could give this half stars, I’d give it a 4.5/5 or a 9/10. So many hit songs on here and the ones in between are pretty good too.
One of the biggest albums I can remember as a school kid. Seemed to hit the mainstream proper big time. As a result I really can’t stand American Idiot (song) but there’s a few belters in there. Even songs I’ve heard so many times. I like all the songs but stars are getting dropped for the title song and ‘Extraordinary Girl’
3.5
Very different than Dookie, and not as good personally, but still a great album with some nice hits. Holiday going into Boulevard of Broken Dreams is a great transisition. Something about Green Day just gets me going. Billie Joe is an awesome frontman
Highs are super high on this one but it still ain’t no Dookie. Still an enjoyable listen I just think some songs could be halved. Soundtrack to middle school
"American Idiot" is the seventh studio album by American rock band Green Day. After the master tapes of their upcoming album "Cigarettes and Valentins" got stolen, the band decided to start over and rewrite another album since they weren't really impressed with the result of the finished album. They landed on a concept album of sorts, a "punk-rock opera." The main character Jesus of Suburbia is the lower-middle class anti-hero from suburbia who decides to escape to the city. The song themes tend to go into the dissolution and dissent of a generation that came of age with 9/11 and the Iraq War. It also takes aim at giant corporations and George W. Bush. The album was a big success reaching #1 in the US and UK and winning the 2005 Grammy for Best Rock Album. The guitar right into their punk-pop rhythm opens "American Idiot." It's melodic. Great drumming by Tré Cool. Leader singer Billie Joe Armstrong going after the mass media (cable news) and their orchestrated paranoia and idiocy among the public. "Jesus of Suburbia" starts the story of our anti-hero. It's broken into five parts, each with a different melody. There's a ballad in there, a bass-heavy song and ends with the most rockin' song. Maybe, my favorite Green Day song and one that typically is at the end of their shows. Along with "American Idiot," "Holiday" is the most political of the songs on the album. The guitar chorus with the band kicking in. Armstrong with his most aggressive vocals taking aim at American conservatism and Bush and their alienation of a group of people. The guitar reverb and a slower pace highlight their US chart topper "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." Armstrong wrote this while taking a break in Manhattan and it's about feeling alone in a city. Nice vocals and lyrics. Their rock-pop anthem. "Wake Me Up When September Ends" was written in the aftermath of 9/11 and is based on Armstrong's Dad dying from cancer. More acoustic guitar but goes electric. Drums added. A guitar bridge. Somebody always still mentions to wake Billie Joe up on October 1. Bille Joe begins the closer "Whatsername" in a more deadpan voice. Catchy melody and chorus. The soft-loud-soft-loud dynamic. Melodies abound in this album. The band is tight and the music sounds great and rocks at times. Anthem after anthem. Green Day's best album in my opinion.
A pop/punk/rock band makes a concept album and it doesn't suck? I didn't see that coming.
Much better than I remember. Could this be punk rock at its peak?
I’m all for the idea of a “punk rock opera” and while it has the risk of coming across as gimmicky, they were really able to pull it off. This album started off really strong but wasn’t able to maintain that in the second half. Still a great listen. 4.5 stars
This brings me back. American Idiot, Boulevard of Broken Dreams and Wake Me up When September Ends were on constant repeat. Going back and listening to this album I would say it still holds up and is a great album but my taste has changed and this wouldn't be my first choice to play. Who knows, maybe in a few years I'll go back and listen to Green Day more.
The 2000s were kind of a wasteland for american art. Compared to previous generations, music wasnt the great communicator and rallying of a generation that it had been. This was one of the like 20 albums of the decade that was something that everyone had heard and tended towards liking it. 4/5
I still enjoy this album, although not to quite the same extent as when it first came out.
I was in middle school when this album came out and a bunch of people were going nuts over it. It's marginally better than fine.
Nastalgic
Some parts were better than I remembered, others feel a bit tacked on. Still, this is a foundational memory album for my musical history. I’ve probably listened to this album 100 times. 3.5/5
An good album for sure. Wouldn't listen outside of the singles but I did enjoy it.
Well well well, it's been a long time since I've listened to this! I remember enjoying it when it first came out, until radio got a hold of it!
Today’s album will be very easy to review! Not only because of my familiarity with it, but also because I reviewed it on my YouTube only a couple of months ago. I don’t want to be someone who spans their own stuff, so just let me know if you want a link to that. Songs I already knew: all of them Favourites: Give Me Novocaine, St Jimmy I remember the first time I heard American Idiot. My parents had a PC under the stairs and I watched the music video on YouTube. I was hooked from the beginning. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to this album but it’s definitely a lot. It has some angstiness, but is still melodic and poppy enough to stick in your head. I wouldn’t say it’s perfect (I never really liked Holiday, and I don’t really see the point of Are We The Waiting) but it’s still a very good album overall.
Good about 4 stars
Pakko olla hyvä levy kun on niin paljon hyviä kappaleita. Mahdollisesti kuitenkin se Green Dayn paras levy
Ik mag het eigenlijk niet zo hoog raten maar ik vind dit gewoon een top album. Green Day op hun best, en voor mij mega nostalgisch. Uit de tijd dat ik thuis kwam na de basisschool en ‘green day rsmv’ op YouTube intypte (ik was 10)
Excellent!