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Act I – Heroes and Cons
2. 21st Century Breakdown
3. Know Your Enemy
4. ¡Viva La Gloria!
5. Before the Lobotomy
6. Christian’s Inferno
7. Last Night on Earth
Act II – Charlatans and Saints
8. East Jesus Nowhere
9. Peacemaker
10. Last of the American Girls
11. Murder City
12. ¿Viva La Gloria? (Little Girl)
13. Restless Heart Syndrome
Act III – Horseshoes and Handgrenades
14. Horseshoes and Handgrenades
15. The Static Age
16. 21 Guns
17. American Eulogy
a. Mass Hysteria
b. Modern World
18. See The Light
The only way punk-trio Green Day could top 2004’s American Idiot was to become even more grandiose. 21st Century Breakdown is a three-part, 18 song rock-opera lasting over an hour. Yet the shift in sound and style that made Idiot so ground-breaking now feels almost comfortable and familiar. There are few surprises on Breakdown, although that does not stop the album from being thoroughly enjoyable all the same.
It seems ironic that out of all the 90s rock and punk bands, Green Day, who became famous for songs on masturbation, are now the ruling kings of the punk world. While Idiot upset a lot of hardcore fans for being too mainstream or not ‘punk’ enough, it is truly a brilliant masterpiece. They could not keep writing Dookie forever, especially now that band members are in their thirties with marriages, divorces and children. Breakdown is a continuation of the mature, rock-opera sound they created last time around.
A few things have changed since the last album though. For starters, the longest songs are just over five minutes long, compared to the nine minute, five-part songs that made Idiot famous. The Bush-era hatred has calmed down a little of course, although that was to be expected with the election of Barack Obama. The one thing that has not changed, however, is that lead singer/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong is still pissed off, and boy, does he make that even more obvious this time around. Lyrics like “Your confession will be crucified / You’re a sacrificial suicide/ Like a dog that’s been sodomized” from the mosh-inspiring (and easily one of the best tracks on the album) “East Jesus Nowhere” are not as clever as lyrics from Idiot, but they certainly get the point across. It’s this attitude that made Green Day worldwide sensations, and it continues to be be just as fun and rockin’ this time around.
Most of Breakdown sounds reminiscent of Idiot, but it still has some really great tracks. The slower-building “Restless Heart Syndrome” and “Peacemaker” are the rare departures from the now familiar sound. The title track, “21st Century Breakdown” sounds the closest to “Jesus of Suburbia” off the last album, but that’s meant as a compliment. Most songs though, especially the first single, “Know Your Enemy”, sound like b-sides or tracks that could have been on Idiot. That does not mean they’re bad songs-in fact, it’s quite the opposite. They are rollicking, fun songs that will no doubt start mosh pits around the country as Green Day embarks upon their summer world tour, but it would be nice to hear something new, since this is after all, not Idiot.
Breakdown is long and ambitious, but it will always stand in his predecessor’s shadow, because it’s just not quite as good and it’s not different enough to stand apart.
Make no mistake, this is a good (possibly even great) album. It’s just no American Idiot.
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