I dont like writing big long things like this, since I know theyre a bore to read and take a lot of time anyway. But I need speak freely about this album, and I dont care how many of you have reservations about how political, successful or angsty post-Dookie Green Day is. The purpose of punk isnt to upset authority or make a statement by being rebellious. Punk is about taking rock and roll and stripping it down to its simplest, most brutally honest form, so that anyone in the world can connect with it, regardless of musical knowledge or ability. And if you look at American Idiot in that sense alone, its absolutely incredible. Ignore the Broadway musical, ignore 21st Century Breakdown, and ignore how many times youve heard the songs on the radio. The power in the album comes from the music itself. Its just great rock music. Stop trying to call it punk. What good does that do anybody? Very few albums have the immediacy and power and genuine emotional punch that this record does, and the truth is, even ten years after its release, it hasnt aged a day. Ive also found that so many people I know judge the album by how successful it was or what they think its about based on the singles theyve heard a million time or the music videos or the Broadway musical. Well, this is the album that absolutely changed my life, and Im not afraid to say it. It completely changed the way I listened to rock music. In my lifetime, I still havent experienced anything as talked-about or controversial in a rock album--EVERYBODY was talking about it. I couldnt even go to the park around the corner without being asked if I had heard the album yet by a complete stranger. That just doesnt happen anymore. Ive also found that whats impressive about the album isnt the narrative itself or even the politics. Its the music itself. And as an album? Its nothing less than extraordinary, both structurally and emotionally. I cant remember the last time I heard something that loud and energetic explode out of the radio and stick with me like that. Its just not something that happens anymore, sadly. Even if you hate Green Day or only like Dookie, I would highly advise listening to the album itself before making a judgement about whether its your thing or not. Few albums are as important to me as this one. Thats my two cents. youtube/watch?v=58hUq7hnueQ
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 20:09:58 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015