Review 1 of 21

Punkitized writes:

5of 5 Stars

Why, Why, Why, Why, WHY?! Did soooo many people criticize Warning? It makes me angry inside hearing comments such as "Who wants to listen to songs of faith, hope and social commentary from what used to be snot-core's biggest-selling band?". But these comments also made me laugh when Green Day's 'American Idiot' was released in late 2004. Probably not as CLASSIC as Dookie, but definitely a more grown up Green Day and with out a doubt a great comeback. Probably more
creative than previous releases. I love Green Day. Buy this album you wont regret it.

Jun 30, 2008 00:49:55

Review 2 of 21

tezkag72 writes:

4of 5 Stars

American Idiot. I did not think that Green Day could produce something like this. It is not bad, just very different from their usual speed-punk sound, save for a few tracks on the album.

The 21 songs on this album tell the story of Jimmy, the "Jesus of Suburbia". Frustrated with life in Jingletown where he resides at this point, he forms the "Lost and Found" with a group of followers who also tire of life in the likes of Jingletown. During this time, Jimmy discovers that Jesus is his alter-ego. This continues to create conflict.

He meets a woman who is known throughout the album as "Whatsername" and has the last song on the album dedicated to her. She soon outgrows Jimmy and leaves him. He is deeply saddened by this but tries to keep the Lost and Found going.

Jimmy realises that Jesus is controlling him and caused Whatsername to break up with him. As an act of revenge and frustration, he abandons Jesus as his alter-ego, essentially killing him. Although he wants to never return to Whatsername, the Lost and Found, Jesus, or Jingletown, he develops a sense of nostalgia for all of them.

This album is listenable all the way through, rare in an album from 2004 or later. Its one fault is that all the tracks maintain a steady degree of similarity. Nevertheless, many of them are memorable. My favorites are "Holiday", "Whatsername", and the two songs that pass 9 minutes "Jesus of Suburbia" and "Homecoming". (They are each made up of 5 small songs, not long enough to write individually about.)

I would consider this the second best Green Day album, after Dookie, the one that everyone seems to like so far.

Jun 4, 2008 19:57:46

Review 3 of 21

stairmaster0 writes:

5of 5 Stars

With a breath of inspiration Green Day musters up the creativity to write and record the monstrous album "American Idiot". Cleaner and more coherent than their previous work, though also slower and less 'punky', American Idiot packs a huge punch whether you simply listen to one track or the whole thing in one sitting.

American Idiot is a rock opera. While all of the aren't gapless, only a few being so, the underlying theme is. American Idiot tells the story of a boy initially called the 'Jesus of Suburbia'. JOS is fed up with American society and can't deal with the "American Idiot's", and so leaves on a journey to simply get away, though as it wraps up he ends up finding himself and a larger purpose in life. Albums like this don't come around often.

The CD kicks off with surprisingly one of the albums weaker tunes, American Idiot, which serves as a sort of intro for the Album. In my opinion it doesn't do much to connect with the main story, but simply presents an outline for how our Jesus of Suburbia feels and why he would want to leave his home, which is described in detail in the powerhouse and apply titled "Jesus of Suburbia".

Our protagonist enjoys his "Holiday", in the album's other stand out let down, but quickly realizes he's walking on the "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", a somber yet overplayed tune. The end of "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" really sparks the second half of the album for me, where we see an end to all of the singles, excluding "Wake Me Up When September Ends". "Are We The Waiting" is a slow transition into the second half of the album, describing the feelings of a broken Jesus of Suburbia and how he ends up turning into "St. Jimmy", which is described in the quick and crunchy song of the same name.

St. Jimmy, as he is now called, seems to get into drugs and some other shenanigans in our next track, "Give Me Novacaine", which may show that St. Jimmy might have fallen apart if it weren't for a certain Rebel rocked out about in the next track "She's a Rebel". These two tracks are places right in the thick of the album, and you feel right in the mix as they penetrate your ear canals.

"Extraordinary Girl" starts off with some weird tribal sounding drums and an oddly distant guitar sound, but quickly flows into the meat of the song. While She's a Rebel gave you the impression that the album was just getting started, "Extraordinary Girl" shows you that it may just as quickly be winding down with lyrics telling the listener that all is not well with St. Jimmy and this girl's relationship. "Letterbomb" seals the deal, where St. Jimmy apparently receives a letter from Whatsername explaining that she's leaving him. The song is the most raw and punky the album has to offer, besides maybe "Holiday", but does a good job of still sounding like the rest of the album, which is Epic, soothing, and somewhat beautiful.

All of this makes St. Jimmy just want to die, so he tells everyone to "Wake Me Up When September Ends", and goes into seclusion. He sulks about, drenched in his pain, in this power ballad which you may forget holds it's place after "Letterbomb" and before the twelfth track if you don't pay attention. The track, however, is somewhat nostalgic and peaceful, almost making you want to recap on the songs that played prior and get a bit excited for the last two.

Just as promised, "Homecoming" is the next track, which is an almost ten minute epic that is more or less the musical climax of the album. While some think of this track to be sloppy, i think it just takes a couple of listens to truly appreciate. The final refrain of "Home, We're coming home again" is truly moving.

The album winds down and finishes with a band on the track "Whatsername", an ode to lost love and forgotten times. This album wouldn't be the same without "Whatsername", and with it's final notes you can finally come to appreciate the beauty that is "American Idiot".

May 26, 2008 22:29:26

Review 4 of 21

LPfanatic writes:

Not Rated

my favourite green day album!!! all the tracks just knock ur socks off! its enthralling to listen to i love the story line!!! i can relate to a lot of songs on this album!! its one of my top albums except that i dont really know albums as a whole for other artists. but anyway the critics for rolling stone suck. they criticize frickin everything. why dont they try and do something like that and actually make it sound half as amazing as this!! and green day shouldnt be compared to other bands. each band is so different no matter how alike they sound. theres more to music than the sound. not only green day! any band! and basically, people in this world have this bad habit of criticizing everything that is worth criticizing but it doesnt occur to them the amount of hard work that goes in to these stuff! anyway, green day is my second favourite band! make more music please!!

Apr 25, 2008 10:43:56

Review 5 of 21

harrypluto writes:

5of 5 Stars

I think that the review that Rolling Stone gave this album is despicable, the reviewer obviously does not like Green Day and pretty much said so. He even compared them to Good Charlotte, unforgivable.

That being said, I think this is a great album, one of my personal favorites. One thing I do not like, people saying that they are old school Green Day fans and saying that they think this is their worst album. Anyone can see that this is their best album, far surpassing Dookie.

Every song is enjoyable and they have also shown that they have moved on from their earlier sounds. American Idiot is a great starter to the album, showing that this album will be different. Jesus of Suburbia is a truly inspired song and an example of great song writing. All the songs are great but When September Ends is a truly fantastic song that everyone can like. Whatsername is probably the best closer anyone can think of for this album, it says, although everything seemed important at the time, what is it worth now? I didn't get the girl and I can't even remember her name. Making us think, what we do now, will it make a difference? Green Day wants us to make a difference, one that will stick with us forever.

Apr 20, 2008 18:31:54

Review 6 of 21

catholicautodafe writes:

3of 5 Stars

Let's face it. It is no hard task writing a bunch of post punk angst against a President that will go down historically as one of the worst of all time. Not to knock Green Day. Several bands these days find it fashionable to write anti-this or anti-that songs; I just find it a bit late... if not irresponsible of Green Day... to do this so late in their career. If you choose to write songs about smoking pot and jerking off, fine. Do that. That is your niche, and you're good at making us laugh and remind us that we all do stupid shit. This is not to say that American Idiot is not commendable, only one problem remains. Their (former) Lookout! Records co-parts Operation Ivy made political statements and a rebellious attitude so much more appealing than Green Day ever could.

Apr 8, 2008 03:36:28

Review 7 of 21

xxjustmusicoxx writes:

5of 5 Stars

Green Day gives us yet another great album, that I feel will be remember for years to come. I think that American Idiot gave something for teenagers to listen to and kind of understand what was going on in a time of war and pop culture by telling the story of Jesus of Suburbia. I think this also inspired kids to look deeper into music of that genre. Green Day has always gave teenagers a leeway into puck rock music. What also is great about this album is that we still have that signature attitude that Green Day puts out that we know and love.

Dec 27, 2007 17:35:22

Review 8 of 21

Mati writes:

4of 5 Stars

Green Day creates one of the best and greatest albums of 2000's.They may have the "attitude" of punk still, but definitively cross over the genre with maturity, arriving to a near classical opera rock concept and sound -with much more elaborated arrangements like strings and brasses- but always keeping the strong and loud performance and attitude of the band.All this environment helps the band to develop more the melodic chorus they always had in all the previous records.A big achievement for Green Day and one of the albums that pushes us to still believe there can be epic records released today that will be remembered for years to come.

Oct 18, 2007 05:50:10