Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown
Author: Peter Gregory | Published: May 14th, 2009
Perfectly fitting follow up to 2004's American Idiot
Green Day started off their career in the 90's as purely a punk band with a bit of pop influence that helped them gain notoriety that extended far beyond their San Francisco roots. That punk pop formula was what they adhered to for many years, that is until 2004 when they released the Grammy award winning album - American Idiot. That album portrayed a new side to an already well established band and their latest album does it again. It is perfectly fitting to see this as a follow up to Green Day's 2004 production.
By now many people have already heard the release Know Your Enemy which is definitely a good representation as to what the album holds in energy from the band and thoughtful lyrics from Billie Jo, but when you get through the rest of the album I am sure you will be genuinely surprised with the range the songs take on.
Green Day - Know Your Enemy
1. Song of the Century
ACT 1 - 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 2 - 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 3 - 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
Green Day started off their career in the 90's as purely a punk band with a bit of pop influence that helped them gain notoriety that extended far beyond their San Francisco roots. That punk pop formula was what they adhered to for many years, that is until 2004 when they released the Grammy award winning album - American Idiot. That album portrayed a new side to an already well established band and their latest album does it again. It is perfectly fitting to see this as a follow up to Green Day's 2004 production.By now many people have already heard the release Know Your Enemy which is definitely a good representation as to what the album holds in energy from the band and thoughtful lyrics from Billie Jo, but when you get through the rest of the album I am sure you will be genuinely surprised with the range the songs take on.
Green Day - Know Your Enemy
The album sort of has a life of it's own and is actually broken up into 3 specific parts and is best listened from first to last song. The story and theme flows smoothly and keeps you eager to hear the next song to see which direction it goes. The album is broken down into 3 sections or ACTS as shown below.
1. Song of the Century
ACT 1 - 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 2 - 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 3 - 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
To be honest I have never been a huge Green Day fan. I really liked some of their early stuff, but I felt a bit burnt out from the many years of pop punk releases that sounded rehashed and unauthentic to say the least. However, 21st Century Breakdown (like American Idiot did 5 years ago) gives me hope that they are dedicated to their art and are extremely talented musicians that are sure to impress their fans and maybe even those who weren't fans to begin with.
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