If you’re a Green Day fan like me, you were probably a little hesitant to hear the new record “21st Century Breakdown”. I mean come on, the previous release “American Idiot” was such a monumentally awesome album – It seemed a tough act to follow. In fact, I’d almost say it was so good that I’d give the band a “get out of jail free card” for the follow-up record. Even if they had released “American Idiot 2 – Electric Boogaloo” I’d probably be ok with it.

Album Review: Well, I’ve had the new record “21st Century Breakdown” for a few days now, played it through in it’s entirety three times, and I just have to say…

Like American Idiot was, 21st Century Breakdown is different, melodic, catchy, and basically an awesome record!

I really, really dig this record more each time I play it. It’s not really a huge leap from American Idiot. In fact, I see it as sort of a sister record. One thing that stands out to me is that the songs seem very.. um.. mature for Green Day. The harmonies are awesome, the melodies are great, and I feel like the band reached out of their standard formula a little when writing it. I mean, I’m not saying the record is unlike any other Green Day album. That’s not the case. If I had never heard any of 21st Century Breakdown before, walked into a bar and heard another band covering one of the tunes, I would instantly know it was a Green Day song. But, the writing just seems a little more thought out.

There is almost a 50s-pop sort of vibe that I get from some of this record. If you were to back off the distortion a bit and mellow the vocals a tad, some of these songs could just as well been sung by Buddy Holly! I love how Green Day is able to set that sort of vibe, yet give it a modern “edgy” overtone.

I’ve been a fan of Green Day since the early 90s. They always seem to deliver. 21st Century Breakdown is no exception. I almost wanted to not like it, I mean I was still digging American Idiot and was not ready to “shift gears” to another record. But, after a few spins I have to say: Buy this record… it’s completely kick ass.

Green Day – 21st Century Breakdown Tracklist

1. Song of the Century
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
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
14. Horseshoes and Hand-grenades
15. The Static Age
16. 21 Guns
17. American Eulogy: A. Mass Hysteria/B. Modern World
18. See the Light