A bit late, but here it is, once again, the return of controversy!
#34: Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown2009 - Punk/Pop/Alternative/Opera Rock - California, USA Once again, controversy! Last time when I revealed this album I think I lost some of my followers in the thread. I hope this time you’re more used to it, but what the hell, it’s my list. Infact, 21st Century Breakdown is my favorite Green Day record, and I can’t really do nothing about it. I just see pure brilliance through this album, great musicianship, and a lot of experimentation, talking about Green Day. Infact, this is the furthest Green Day have ever been from punk rock. 21st Century Breakdown is a concept album, divided in three acts: “Heroes And Cons”, “Charlatans And Saints” and “Horseshoes And Handgrenades”. It feels that this album’s concept was actually trying to be an American Idiot 2, and so it kinda feels forced. But ultimately they’ve done a good job with the lyrics actually, so I don’t mind about that. Whilst musically, as I’ve said, there’s a lot of experimentation for the band. We’ll see, now, let’s take a look at the tracklist. Keep in mind that Green Day are technically a punk rock band:
After the intro, which is also a recurrent melody in the album,
Song Of The Century, the record actually begins with the title-track,
21st Century Breakdown. This track was defined by the band “our Bohemian Rhapsody”. Infact, like the Queen track, it goes to three distinct phases: the first, this kind of mild melodic rock track (reminds me of some classic rock acts), the second, a more aggressive and punk-ish thing and the last, an anthemic kind of outro.
Know Your Enemy is probably one of the very few punk pieces in the record. It was also the single, but it’s not that much of a strong song compared to the others. Not bad though.
¡Viva La Gloria! starts out quite melodic, with piano, only then to transform into a fun and fast pop punk tune. It’s lovely. Now for one of the best in the album,
Before The Lobotomy. This song once again, starts out as a ballad, but towards the end, energy kicks in, this time in 7/4! Very uncommon for punk (even though it’s not all that punk). Anyways, this song is furnished with beautiful melodies, and a powerful message. Now for
Christian’s Inferno the band sails through industrial seas, combining electronic noise with a typical Green Day chorus. This is one of the most critiquited ones, and I honestly never got why.
Last Night On Earth is the sweetest Green Day ballad around. Entirely done with piano, this one is a love song, of course. And being one that usually hates love songs if they’re not done with some kind of uniqueness to them, this is an exception. It’s a bit cheesy though, but still great. Act two begins with probably my favorite song in the album,
East Jesus Nowhere. Still haven’t got that title. This song has a bluesy atmosphere, that actually translates pretty well to Green Day. Other than that it also has some eastern atmospheres in the instrumental section. Check the live version of it, especially
this one, you’ll not regret it.
Peacemaker explores more of a spanish/ska idea, and I do enjoy it. A lot, especially the instrumental part. It’s unexpectedly complex, especially drumming-speaking. It’s also a hate song, and I love hate songs, as incoherent that sounds
.
Last Of The American Girls is another one of those poppish songs, although more groovy and somewhat slower. I also hear a bit of Weezer in it. Once again, like Know Your Enemy, it feels a bit sub-par. Although, I enjoy it more than KYE.
Murder City is THE punk song in the album. This is how it should be done, Green Day. This is what Uno, Dos and Trè should’ve sounded like. Amazing groove, flow and instrumental value. When they play this live they include a sax solo (I have no idea why) and it actually fits great, so check that out.
¿Viva La Gloria? (Little Girl) has a piano-ragtime feel. I love the 6/8 use in this album, and this song is the best use of it. Now, here come the feels. Restless Heart Syndrome is one of the most, if not
the most emotional Green Day song out there. They’ve really proved their musicianship and maturity in this one. It’s sadly underrated though, everyone looks at that fucker 4 tracks later. No offense to 21 Guns, but I really think this is far superior. That climax. After a few tears and a lot of shivers, it’s always nice to rock the fuck out. And that’s
Horseshoes And Handgrenades job. This song, man, this song. This piece opens the final act of the album and it’s an headbanging fest. It really pumps me up.
The Static Age brings things back towards a melodic edge, and it’s the best song of its kind in the record. It has a really great vibe and makes me smile, even though the lyrics are sad in a way.
21 Guns is the most popular song out of this record, and even though I bashed it a few lines before, I still have to say that it is a great ballad, with quite the moving bridge. And video. The record closes with two of my favorites in there:
American Eulogy, a two-piece song that reminds me of Homecoming and Jesus Of Suburbia (Mike sings in it), and
See The Light, a song that takes the intro of 21st Century Breakdown, and makes it a song on its own. The result? One hell of a closer.
This is a very controversial entry to the list and yes, I see why so many people bash it. But if it weren’t for Green Day, I probably would not be where I am today. I respect them for what they did and what they represented for me at such a young age, and this is their masterpiece IMO. Haters gonna hate
Favorites: Before The Lobotomy, East Jesus Nowhere, Peacemaker, Restless Heart Syndrome, Horseshoes And Handgrenades, The Static Age, See The Light