21st Century Breakdown

Although there has been something of a hiatus (5 years or so) from Green Day since their classic album - American Idiot - was released, they have clearly not been simply sitting on their laurels. Coming back with this second 'great American rock opera' was perhaps a gamble - would it provide enough to distinguish itself from American Idiot? The answer for me, was a resounding yes.The tone of the two albums is subtly different - American Idiot a rage against the system ('American Idiot), and 21st Century Breakdown, more of a lament for what might have been, and a faint hope for the future ('21st Century Breakdown' - Both the title tracks of their respective albums). I personally think that you can see from the songs (especially the music videos for American Idiot) the influence of the Iraq war on American culture, and how the change from bogged down insurgency to 'surge' has been reflected in the national mood - represented in very broad brushstrokes by these two albums.The 'rock opera' format, to my mind, makes perfect sense for a band like Green Day - they are not Coldplay or U2, they have something to actually say, which they usually do through Billie Joe's inspired writing. Their music can feel very grand - more than enough to pull off a venture like this, where they present an album as a complete piece. I personally feel - although I am too young to remember the hey day of concept albums and the vinyl wonder years - that this is what the music album should really be about - a story, a concept, a work of art - not a collection of pop singles and filler. Although you can't blame Green Day for having a couple of 'single-esque' tracks ('21 guns'...) on there (the record company wants sales and airplay after all...), we can perhaps wonder if a band as famous and successful as they are can't avoid it, then what hope is there for everyone else?

For me this is the album that has moved Billie Joe to William Joseph musically and the good news for me he appears to have grown up at the same speed as me, although I am not into wearing eye-liner.The album is what an old vinyl LP was, - a journey, a well crafted musical journey through the story that BJA is telling (about a guy called Christian I think) - and telling it well. At times there are few hooks in there that seem to suggest somebody has been listening to The Waterboys along the way, and then that old punk twang gets thrown in so as not to let you drift away for too long.For me the stand out song is "Before the Lobotomy"; a carefully crafted intro, - a lovely hook "I was only dreaming etc" a bit of good old Green Day wham bham, a hint on a Irish jig and then bag into that hook, - superb! Next best is East Jesus Nowhere but I am sure you will find your own favorite.To me this is better than American Idiot (which was not half bad), - and does what Dookie did all those years ago; makes me smile and I want to play the songs over again, the extra bonus this time around is that my 10 year old son also really likes this. Thanks guys your best album so far.

Brilliant, yet another masterpiece from Billie Joe and the boys. Buy it, listen to it, then listen some more.It's not often you hear such a diverse and interesting range of musical and vocal styles on the one album, and they have done this to perfection. I bow down to "the three wise men" from California, who have indeed done the impossible, and outdone American Idiot, and themselves.There's not a single track that you could call bad or even mediocre, but highlights are Last of The American Girls/Peacemaker/Static Age/21 Guns/Viva La Gloria!? (both tracks)/Before The Lobotomy/American Eulogy/See The Light.

As a big Green day for many a year, I have watched the band grow and indeed develop both their music and maturity within their music. From the early punk days where music was heavy, thrashing and down right great, the music slowly changed, with many saying Warning being the turning point. Since then we have seen the album American Idiot and today 21st Century Breakdown.Firstly, is this like American Idiot...answer yes, but there are changes. The emphasis from the early days has shifted from the music to the lyrics itself. From listening to this album you can tell BJ Armstrong has spent many hours at these lyrics and it does show. Deep meaningful lyrics are played in more meaningful music, with bursts of the old Green Day still there.So what is the album itself like? The overall impression I had before this album, is how does it take 5 years to write an album, but from listening to this it is very clear. The lyrics are carefully chosen and the music has been layered perfectly on top, with some good old Green Day passion and bursts from the past. Other people have mentioned the drumming from Tre and I do totally agree that more emphasis has been placed on the drums in this album than previous albums.So why not the five stars? Don't get me wrong this is a fantastic album, but I feel the album does lack proper ballads. The songs are great but the chords of American Idiot, Jesus of Suburbia and Boulevard of Broken Dreams have been lost in some aspects of the album, leading to calmer songs with bursts of chords that we all know and love from GD.This as many other people have already said, is a hard album to review, as I do now class Green Day as a Rock Band and not a Punk Group, but the maturity that the music has developed and materalised over the 5 years is amazing. I don't feel however this will be their last album, but I wouldn't be surprised if we only saw one or two at the most more from them.This is a fantastic album, no mistakes about it, the lyrics are what make this album, with the heavy guitar and drumming in places which will keep the older Green Day fans happy.A brilliant album from a World Class Band!

I missed this CD so much, I had to buy it again. I saw Billie Joe, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool at Lollapalooza in Grant Park, Chicago, and they played East Jesus Nowhere for me! Thank you! This rock opera beats American Idiot, hands down. Green Day rocks! As long as you use fire to burn that green, because you can’t get electricity without fire first. Don’t let the light go out. Yahweh awesome!

Como olvidar esos tiempos cuando estaba con mis converse y esa onda "emo". Las mejores canciones son "21 GUNS" y "KNOW YOUR ENEMY".

Sin problemas de envio todo perfecto 👌

Un concept-album divenuto un capolavoro del punk moderno, qui i Green day abbandonano quasi del tutto la loro vena punk, avvicinandosi al pop-rock di genere. Vincitore di diversi premi, è diventato uno dei mie album preferiti di sempre. Sicuramente nella top 3 degli album della band.

Great value