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.
8) Peacemaker
‘Peacemaker’ is a frantic, Latino flavoured number with strings thrown in. The lyrics cover everything from “Molotov Cocktails” to “Sweet Vendettas” and again we’re given the feeling that this album is a release of pent up aggression.
9) Last of the American Girls
This is a poppy guitar track focusing on a girl. It could very easily be a single but it won’t set the world on fire.
10) MurderCity
This is a quick paced track with power guitars that seems destined for the live arena. This is stadium rock at its punkiest – again very similar to ‘Letterbomb’ from ‘American Idiot’. Very much a stand out track.
11) ?Viva La Gloria?
Our second instalment of Gloria is a slow affair with jangly pianos making it sound like it was recorded in a bar in the Wild West. It’s simple after the opening with power guitars and an easy structure – another single contender.
12) Restless Heart Syndrome
This is a slow love song, laden with strings again that feels like its going nowhere until a bitter rage drags it into the depths – the big winding guitars and pummelling drums inject urgency into a track with drifts for too long.
13) Horseshoes and Handguns
Before you put this on take a listen to The Hives ‘Main Offender’. They sound almost uncanny at points but Green Day have an angrier way of going it. This is one of the songs of the album – with Billy Joe punctuating it with “I’m not fucking around!” It’s a BIG rock number and one which is truly Green Day at their very best.
14) The Static Age
This is pure-single fodder and nothing more. Riding on a tight bassline it can’t mask it’s frailties and ends up sounding very similar to both this and their last albums, just worse.
15) 21 Guns
Did someone say power ballad? This is the focal point and similar in style to Boulevard of Broken Dreams. Gigwise would bet an arm on it being a single at some stage. It has it all – epic guitar solos, acoustics, building verses and a giant chorus. Superb.
16) American Eulogy
Do you think Billy Joe is angry at the world yet? If you don’t then his repetition of “I don’t want to live in the modern world,” might just convince you. Truly an anthem and vintage Green Day in its style.
17) See the Light
The ending, just as the beginning was, is well marked. Acoustic strums and building drums make way for long and winding choruses and political symbolism. As the track itself fades away so do Green Day and after 5 years wait they’re back.
So what does all this mean? It means Green Day have made an album that is only brilliant in parts – generally when they break out of their comfort zone of 4 minute pop songs. It’s a bit too long also – but there’s plenty of stadium filling potential in there and when Green Day hit the heights they sound as fresh as they did on ‘American Idiot’.
