21st Century Breakdown

21st Century Breakdown actually suggests a breakdown to me. The writing seems to be 'better', but at the cost of losing the entire identity of the band. This album barely whispers punk, but screams politics. It was a massive mountain to climb after how good American idiot was but i'm so disappointed. Billie joe's voice is so nice for the slow songs but they make up most of the album and Mike and Tre are almost stood around twiddling their thumbs. Sure the rock kicks in half way through each song but most of the tracks are exactly the same. 'Know your enemy' is good and the most upbeat and '21 guns' has the potential to be an anthem, but they don't make up for the rest of the samey album. The songs individually are good and new fans will probably enjoy a song now and again but for older fans it's just not the Green Day we know and love. I don't know if they've gotten old and given up writing about awkward adolescence, drug imposed adventures or the irony of life but good music without… more »

21st Century Breakdown actually suggests a breakdown to me. The writing seems to be 'better', but at the cost of losing the entire identity of the band. This album barely whispers punk, but screams politics. It was a massive mountain to climb after how good American idiot was but i'm so disappointed. Billie joe's voice is so nice for the slow songs but they make up most of the album and Mike and Tre are almost stood around twiddling their thumbs. Sure the rock kicks in half way through each song but most of the tracks are exactly the same. 'Know your enemy' is good and the most upbeat and '21 guns' has the potential to be an anthem, but they don't make up for the rest of the samey album. The songs individually are good and new fans will probably enjoy a song now and again but for older fans it's just not the Green Day we know and love. I don't know if they've gotten old and given up writing about awkward adolescence, drug imposed adventures or the irony of life but good music without innuendo's and tongue in cheek remarks is just anarchy without the rebellious fun. All i can say is better luck next time.

There has been a lot of hype around this release and lots of opinions. I don't like the story telling side of Green Day, I couldn't really care less about the characters or acts which had me worried about this album. Especially as American Idiot was a good but over rated album. I have been listening to this online for a couple of weeks and thought it was brilliant, as a result I pre-ordered the album and it is so much better with a decent sound quality.

It starts off with 21st Century Breakdown which had me slightly worried. It begins with a really catchy chorus and just generally decent song, but then it cuts into almost completely different songs towards the end in a Jesus of Suburbia/Homecoming style which was a bit annoying. Nevertheless this is a decent start, I was just worried they'd continue in this fashion. 7.5/10
Know Your Enemy - Didn't particularly like it when it came out, it did grown on me but I still think its poor by Green Day standards. 7/10
!Viva La… more »

There has been a lot of hype around this release and lots of opinions. I don't like the story telling side of Green Day, I couldn't really care less about the characters or acts which had me worried about this album. Especially as American Idiot was a good but over rated album. I have been listening to this online for a couple of weeks and thought it was brilliant, as a result I pre-ordered the album and it is so much better with a decent sound quality.

It starts off with 21st Century Breakdown which had me slightly worried. It begins with a really catchy chorus and just generally decent song, but then it cuts into almost completely different songs towards the end in a Jesus of Suburbia/Homecoming style which was a bit annoying. Nevertheless this is a decent start, I was just worried they'd continue in this fashion. 7.5/10
Know Your Enemy - Didn't particularly like it when it came out, it did grown on me but I still think its poor by Green Day standards. 7/10
!Viva La Gloria! - This changed my mood. Soft emotional song with strings and piano's, moving into a bit of typical Green Day emotion with the drums being destroyed (in a good way) and BJ almost shouting. 10/10
Before The Lobotomy - This follows on from Viva with a soft start. Similar song with different lyrics and worse second half of the song. 9/10
Christians Inferno - From what I've read, this is a very popular song. That surprises me, sounds like it should have been on The Network album. 7/10.
Last Night On Earth - When people complain of Green Day selling out, I'm sure this is what they mean. Sounds like a John Lennon type song, which I personally like. 8/10
East Jesus Nowhere - Fast paced, reminded me of some sort of Hitchin' A Ride/American Idiot mix, that defiantly worked! 10/10
Peacemaker - I read somewhere this sounds like a sped up version of Misery, it does. 9/10
Last Of The American Girls - I didn't originally like this song, but it's grown on me a lot. Doesn't sound like a new style Green Day song though, it's too happy and upbeat than we've seen from them for a while. 9/10
Murder City - This song reminds me of the old Green Day, as in Kerplunk or 1039! Great Song! 10/10
?Viva La Gloria? (Little Girl) - Another song that has grown on me. Feels like a Nimrod song. 8/10
Restless Heart Syndrome - This reminds me of Oasis, bit depressing/dreamy, but I guess if you're in a bad mood this is your song. 8/10
Horseshoes & Handgrenades - This is a song that gets you angry and wanting to smash things around. 9/10
Static Age - Bit of a letdown after the songs that have gone before it on the album. Very similar to Church on Sunday, so I suppose your views on whether that's a good song will help. 7/10
21 Guns - A lot of hype around this, next single? 10/10
American Eulogy - Divided up like Jesus of Suburbia and Homecoming and should have stayed on American Idiot. Not up to the high standards of this album.7/10
See The Light - Nice song to end on. Similar to other songs on the album as in it has the slow start and builds into a chant like chorus. 8/10
Overall, 9/10!