No other album this year got more listens (according to last.fm, I listened to this album over 300 times) or was more important to me than Green Day's new opus. For some reason, I just keep coming back to this record, even when I've listened to it non-stop. At first, while I did like it, I didn't think it was a great as I hoped. But after multiple listens (and unlike what happened with Muse's "The Resistance") I really started to get what the album was about, and I started to realize what an accomplishment Green Day had made.
I actually reviewed this album when it first came out, but never posted it, so I suppose now is the best time to finally reveal my review of Green Day's "21st Century Breakdown" and explain why it's Number 1 on my list.
I waited over five years for this, but Green Day has finally put out their highly anticipated new album. But how good is it? Well, I wouldn't say that it is Green Day's best album (to me that will always be Dookie) nor is it their most important (that would be American Idiot). But regardless of this, 21st Century Breakdown does one very important thing: it cements Green Day as one of the best and most important bands in punk-rock history.
21st Century Breakdown is nearly 70 minutes long but it never outstays its welcome. Each song is worthy of a listen and never once have I skipped over a song when listening to the album (much like I did when "American Idiot" first came out). And much like "American Idiot", "21st Century Breakdown" is a rock opera, following two characters called Christian and Gloria who fall in love and try to make it though the mess and promise of 21st century America. The album is split up into 3 acts, "Heroes and Cons", "Charlatans and Saints", and "Horseshoes and Handgrenades". I wouldn't say this record is as openly political as "American Idiot" is, but there are hints of political messages in some of Billie Joe Armstrong's lyrics, particularly in "Know Your Enemy". Both of the characters have polar-opposite attitudes: Gloria is more open-minded and political while Christian is more rebellious and ready to destroy anything in his path. To me both of these character's mindsets represent the polarized feelings of America right now; some want to think forward and carefully take new steps in changing America for the better, while others are angry with the way things have gone these past 5 years (as they should be) that they want to burn everything down and start again.
At its core, 21st Century Breakdown is a story of two people who are struggling to live in the current America. Musically and lyrically this is Green Day at their best. It has touches of past Green Day sounds, giving the record a feeling of nostalgia. While some songs sound like they could fit on Nimrod or Warning, this is not Green Day reverting back to their old ways. And while that may still anger some of the older fans (and oddly, some new ones too, but more on that later) for me, it's logical. I can't expect Green Day to recreate "Dookie" every time they make a new album, and neither should anyone else. Nobody in the music business is doing what Green Day is. Green Day is at the top of their game here and it looks like they won't slow down any time soon.
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So yeah, this might have gone on way too long, but I think you get the idea. This is a great album. It might not be Green Day's best, but it is amazing. And these songs sound even better live than they do on CD (trust me, I know).
If you still haven't bought this album, DO IT NOW.
That concludes my Top Five Albums of 2009 countdown. Hoped you enjoyed it, and stay tuned for a follow-up post regarding some honorable mentions!
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