2008 Woodie Awards
American Idol proves to be a winner
Alison Zawadski
Issue date: 9/30/04 Section: Arts & Entertainment
Green Day recently released their 9th album, American Idiot, on September 21st. They are now starting a tour to promote the album, which will reach the Centrum on October 28th. For Green Day, formerly of Reprise Records, this is their first full length CD on the Warner Bros. label. The record features the single with the same name as the album, American Idiot.
The album follows the stories of Jesus of Suburbia, St. Jimmy, Whatsername, and of course, the American Idiot. The story begins with a song over nine minutes long about, "Jesus of Suburbia." This character's story is told in five separate chapters over the course of four songs. The first song though is a powerful criticism of morality in suburban America. On the song, "Holliday," Billy Joe Armstrong sings, "Zeig Heil to the president gasman/ Bombs away is your punishment/ Pulverize the Eiffel Towers/ Who criticize your government." The political stance is a huge issue throughout this album, and is made more evident by this attack on President George Bush and our current American government.
The song "Home Coming" is another five chapter story which describes the suicide of St. Jimmy, also mentioned four times throughout the album and comments on the apathetic view that Americans appear to have toward the government and the decline of morality. This song also features lyrics and vocals by the drummer, Tre Cool.
The album is profound, yet easy to follow.
In addition to the amazing lyrical content, I especially like the guitar effects on "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and the drum solo before "Extraordinary Girl." The album was not over produced, or over polished as many albums often are. As a result, the music is raw and more honest feeling. This CD is generally lighter than most of the Green Day stuff that we're used to, but doesn't quite have that "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" acoustic quality. Despite the CD's lighter sound, it still packs the same punch of any other punk rock record, with anthems containing the rebellion and criticism that we've come to expect from the band.
I give this CD the highest rating of 10 out of 10. I recommend this CD to every Green Day fan, new and old alike. Even if you're not a Green Day fan, this could quite possibly be the CD that does it for you.
Freshmen
English with a concentration in writing and mass communications
The album follows the stories of Jesus of Suburbia, St. Jimmy, Whatsername, and of course, the American Idiot. The story begins with a song over nine minutes long about, "Jesus of Suburbia." This character's story is told in five separate chapters over the course of four songs. The first song though is a powerful criticism of morality in suburban America. On the song, "Holliday," Billy Joe Armstrong sings, "Zeig Heil to the president gasman/ Bombs away is your punishment/ Pulverize the Eiffel Towers/ Who criticize your government." The political stance is a huge issue throughout this album, and is made more evident by this attack on President George Bush and our current American government.
The song "Home Coming" is another five chapter story which describes the suicide of St. Jimmy, also mentioned four times throughout the album and comments on the apathetic view that Americans appear to have toward the government and the decline of morality. This song also features lyrics and vocals by the drummer, Tre Cool.
The album is profound, yet easy to follow.
In addition to the amazing lyrical content, I especially like the guitar effects on "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" and the drum solo before "Extraordinary Girl." The album was not over produced, or over polished as many albums often are. As a result, the music is raw and more honest feeling. This CD is generally lighter than most of the Green Day stuff that we're used to, but doesn't quite have that "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" acoustic quality. Despite the CD's lighter sound, it still packs the same punch of any other punk rock record, with anthems containing the rebellion and criticism that we've come to expect from the band.
I give this CD the highest rating of 10 out of 10. I recommend this CD to every Green Day fan, new and old alike. Even if you're not a Green Day fan, this could quite possibly be the CD that does it for you.
Freshmen
English with a concentration in writing and mass communications