UAWIL #195: Green Day - American Idiot
American Idiot is Green Day's concept album of the American Dream slipping away from a generation during a time of fabricated news stories and political parties dividing the nation to get power. Good thing this was only relevant 20 years ago right? Oh wait a minute...
In 2004, Green Day were in a bit of an existential crisis. It had been a decade since Dookie went Diamond in the US and platinum around the world and their appearance at Woodstock 94 helped propel them to one of the biggest bands of their generation. And while big hits and successful tours followed throughout the 90s, I can understand that it's hard to find things to rebel against when your rich and famous. Their 2000 album Warning didn't light the world on fire and then their next attempt at a new album was scuttled once the master tapes were stolen. It would have been easy for Green Day to call it day at that point.
However, Billy Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool decided to create a concept album that points out the lies and perils associated with chasing the American Dream against the backdrop of a neo-conservative government leading us into wars without justification. It follows the story of a young man from suburbia who wants out but finds that his dream of the big city is fraught with peril. And through all his trials and tribulations he manages to find love and the realization that maybe all wasn't so bad back in his hometown. But just because it's a concept album doesn't mean it's without radio friendly hits as it boasts chart toppers like Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Wake Me Up When September Ends, and The Wolf's favorite - Holiday. They have prog-like nine minute epics with different pieces which would rival those of YES and incredibly brilliant lyrics from Billy Joe against some of the best riffs of the era.
No matter your side of the political spectrum, American Idiot will grab you sonically and then pull you in with intelligent lyrics that reflected what America was becoming and warning about things we see coming to pass today. It's an amazing album from a time when rock bands weren't given much press but Green Day still managed to not only make their masterpiece but have it celebrated all over the world.
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