Green Day's '21st Century Breakdown' - Track By Track

Green Day’s highly anticipated new album, '21st Century Breakdown', isn’t out until May 15th so naturally Gigwise were excited when we got the invite to Warner Brothers HQ to listen to 1 of the 3 copies currently in the UK. Here’s what we thought in a track by track guide to the album. Oh and by the way it’s a 69 minute, 17 track epic, so be prepared…
 
1) Song of the Century/21st Century Breakdown
 
We’re welcomed with the gentle, hollowed out lyrics of Billy Joe Armstrong proclaiming “this is the song of the century”. It isn’t of course and nor do Green Day want us to think that – it’s merely the calm before the storm of proper lead off track ‘21st Century Breakdown’. The piano opening gives way to a full on rock track with a chorus which fits right into the American Idiot mould – setting out Green Day’s manifesto with punky drums and giant chords rebounding all over the place.
 
2) Know Your Enemy
 
For all the bravado and pounding drums this is a disappointing debut single not even on the same level of the gigantic ‘American Idiot’. Considering this is an album bursting with singles perhaps this wasn’t Green Day’s best devised plan but it serves a purpose of being a simple but effective punk rock number.
 
3) !Viva La Gloria!
 
This gives us our first introduction to Gloria, who along with Christian, act as the central characters of the album. It resembles the track ‘Letterbomb’ from American Idiot with a sing-a-long chorus and plenty of shouting of “Gloooooriaaaah”, very much a pop track.
 
4) Before The Lobotomy
 
This is a slower track with acoustic guitar intro. It eventually gives way to another big guitar solo and quick interchanges in pace. Billy Joe brings out his political symbolism in the line “like refugees, we’re lost like refugees,” and it’s not the last time we hear of his disillusionment with the current world – it’s clearly a central theme.
 
5) Christian’s Inferno
 
This track represents a break out of the comfort zone – it’s an aggressive, grimy number coated in scuzzy bass and pounding drums. Just as we get comfy with this uglier side to the Green Day boys they revoke into a chewing gum pop chorus. Not to worry though this is a highly effective method and in ‘Christian’s Inferno’ we have the album’s first focal point.
 
6) Last Night On Earth
 
This track contrasts nicely with the aggression of before, scaling it all back into a slow piano-led love song which could sit easily on a My Chemical Romance record. It’s nothing life changing but it is well written with Billy Joe repeating the line “If I lose everything in the fire, I’m sending all my love to you.”
 
7) East Jesus Nowhere
 
This track steps up the pace once more and focuses on the religious themes occupying Billy Joe’s mind. It’s the first properly outright punk number with bouncing drums and bold chords. Already we start to see when Green Day show unleash their fury the best tracks emerge.