Green Day, prior to American Idiot, was never taken too seriously as songwriters and proficient lyricists.  They were the ones that made punk cross into the pop-genre.  And don’t give me that The Clash excuse, yeah they crossed over into the pop market a bit but they were never a pop version of punk.  Neither was Blondie or The Ramones.  Green Day paved the way for pop-punk sensations like Blink 182 and New Found Glory.  Someone actually told me recently that Green Day was punk for “kids who haven’t heard of The Descendants yet.”  With American Idiot, they set themselves in stone as the epitome and perfection of the pop-punk genre.  It was powerful, political, and comparable to what many consider as one of the greatest albums to come out of the 90′s: Dookie.

What came out this past Tuesday was their follow up to the 12 times platinum American Idiot.  Obviously, it is a hard album to follow, and though commercially the album has some potential hits, it will in no way be as much of a success.  However, it certainly isn’t from a lack of trying.  Much of this album is highly over-produced, much like Idiot, but on this it seems like they tried unnecessarily hard.  If you enjoyed American Idiot, then you’ll more than likely enjoy this as well.  The songwriting is similar, the songs are bigger, and the lyrics are still very dominantly anti-Bush.

Personally, I’m not a big fan of it.  If I was A&R I’d absolutely love it, but I’m not, so I don’t.  Green Day is certainly grown up, and though I respect them fully for evolving so well as artists (let’s not forget that this powerhouse group started as three kids having a slang term for a day where they do nothing but smoke pot), I just feel that the over-production and opus-like themes lessen their authenticity and take them further away from what punk is.  If you gave this album to anyone from CBGB’s in the 70′s, telling them “this is actually a form of punk in the future,” they would more than likely take their close-pins from their and continue to stab themselves in the trachea.

If you read other reviews like I do (nothing wrong and seeing what other people have to say to get a good perspective), then you’d read that many people think this has good throwbacks to the 70′s and early punk.  My reaction is this: “Where?”  The only old-school throwback on the album is done through effects on the intro track and the beginning of another.  In terms of song-writing, there is absolutely nothing resembling the 70′s or any other genre outside the late 90′s.  Goddamnit I hate Rolling Stone.

Here’s the breakdown for Breakdown: the guitars are simple, the songs are huge, the effort is tiring, and the single sucks.  ”Know Your Enemy” (the single in question) is an annoying three-chord repetition that makes you want to puncture your ear drums with a prison shank.  Ironically, if you read TDR a couple weeks ago, a track was leaked called “Hearts Collide” which we actually enjoyed, but sadly isn’t on the album at all.  There was also a song which was not seen on TDR called “Lights Out” which sounds straight from Dookie.  What happened to these tracks?

Aside from the non-existent b-sides “Hearts Collide” and “Lights Out,” the tracks actually on the album that you should pay attention to are “Before The Lobotomy” and “Horseshoes and Handgrenades.”   The Dune Review gives 21st Century Breakdown a 3 out of 5.

And you know what? FUCK IT.  We are going to give you both “Hearts Collide” and “Lights Out” cause we think those two songs alone are better than the entire album.  If you loved the old Green Day and not sure about the new stuff, don’t even bother with the new album.  Simply right-click the following links to “save as” and proceed to put these songs on repeat.  You’re welcome.

HEARTS COLLIDE
LIGHTS OUT