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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Over three years in the making, 21st Century Breakdown is the answer to the question Green Day are stuck with--exactly how do you follow up a twelve million selling rock opera? With more of the same, of course, just like the Who used to do. To be honest, the narrative line is largely incoherent, following the story of starstruck young lovers Christian and Gloria (as in G-L-O-R-I-A) as they confront The Man in a predictably dystopian world. But though plenty of bands have recently resuscitated this long discredited form--The Mars Volta and the excellent, not dissimilar Thermals, to name but two--none can pack in so many decent tunes as Billie Jo Armstrong, Tre Cool and Mike Dirnt. Even as they approach middle age, they still sound trapped by their youth, whether it’s Armsrong describing himself (or maybe his character) as a child of the Nixon era or simply reviving the power-pop sound of Cheap Trick. Yet if the plot is murky, songs like single "Know Your Enemy", as reductive as AC/DC and as gleefully catchy as the latest Disney teen rock sensation, the shameless and resigned power ballad "21 Guns", "Before the Lobotomy", one part punk rock, one part melodramatic ballad, and the classic rock of the title track sound like radio staples on the very first hearing. Older listeners may be reminded of Husker Du’s equally impenetrable and ambitious song cycle Warehouse. But that was the work of a band actively seeking fans. 21st Century Breakdown is a wildly unfocussed collection seemingly set on confusing them. But it certainly features some great tunes.--Steve Jelbert
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CD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 45 people found the following review helpful
By LAWRAH SMITH
Format:Audio CD
Was really worried about this album...
Green Day took a big risk with American Idiot and ended up pulling off something brilliant. My concern with 21st Century Breakdown was that it would just be trying to repeat the same thing, and not live up to that standard. But although it definately follows in the same vein it stands up on it's own, and if anything is one step better than it's predecessor.
The songs range from melodic epics (Last Night On Eath) to 2 minute rage filled snarls (Christian's Inferno). There's even a bit of gypsy punk (Peacmaker) thrown in for good measure. But whats great is that all the songs are strong. This is not an album written around 3 singles...in fact, apart from "21 Guns" (which is so radio friendly they'd be mad not to release it) I would struggle to pick out the singles. And despite the difference in styles, somehow it all fits together as a piece of music.
The concept this time round is a little looser, with less of a narrative story than American Idiot. It's more a collection of songs about different emotions the two characters, Christian and Gloria feel over the course of the century so far. Whilst the two are ever present in the 3 acts, they don't feature so heavily that they start to get on your nerves (something else I was worried might happen).
As a last note I'd just like to say that "East Jesus Nowhere" is bloody brilliant.
And to those people saying they've sold out...if they were still releasing Dookie/Insomniac clones 13 years after making them you'd be moaning about that instead so just shut up.
Green Day took a big risk with American Idiot and ended up pulling off something brilliant. My concern with 21st Century Breakdown was that it would just be trying to repeat the same thing, and not live up to that standard. But although it definately follows in the same vein it stands up on it's own, and if anything is one step better than it's predecessor.
The songs range from melodic epics (Last Night On Eath) to 2 minute rage filled snarls (Christian's Inferno). There's even a bit of gypsy punk (Peacmaker) thrown in for good measure. But whats great is that all the songs are strong. This is not an album written around 3 singles...in fact, apart from "21 Guns" (which is so radio friendly they'd be mad not to release it) I would struggle to pick out the singles. And despite the difference in styles, somehow it all fits together as a piece of music.
The concept this time round is a little looser, with less of a narrative story than American Idiot. It's more a collection of songs about different emotions the two characters, Christian and Gloria feel over the course of the century so far. Whilst the two are ever present in the 3 acts, they don't feature so heavily that they start to get on your nerves (something else I was worried might happen).
As a last note I'd just like to say that "East Jesus Nowhere" is bloody brilliant.
And to those people saying they've sold out...if they were still releasing Dookie/Insomniac clones 13 years after making them you'd be moaning about that instead so just shut up.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Why do people need to tag music, is either brilliant, rubbish or indifferent depending on your musical tastes. Always liked Green Day, perhaps the only US band I have ever been into, and I remember punk/new wave in 77!
another superb album, even my kids of 9 and 6 love it!
another superb album, even my kids of 9 and 6 love it!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Nik Jack
Format:Audio CD
Having gone out on a limb by writing a punk concept album with American Idiot, following its success there is little wonder Billie Joe Armstrong would do it again one day. I have waited a very long time for this! American Idiot caught me at just the right time in my life - unsurprising when I realise that we are all the same age. So what would the writing, the concept and the story be now that the band are in their 30's? The anticipation was huge, but so is 21st Century Breakdown.
Green Day are obviously still evolving as a band, and why not? For those who wanted them to stay the same all this time - go listen to their early stuff again. They are getting older & growing up same as the rest of us!!
Although the narrative of the story is not so complete as American Idiot,(I don't think you could make a stage musical out of this album), it still flows through the emotions of the two main characters. I also think it is less angry. It starts with a typical two-style song in 21st Century Breakdown - beginning slow and then bursting out - and fires on from there. There are the recurring themes of enemies (in all their forms), the age of static and of course, comment on the war and the government (although maybe a little less direct than in American Idiot).
I know lot of people have said that releasing Know Your Enemy as the single was possibly a bad move as it is one of the weaker songs on the album. I know what they mean, as Static Age is more catchy, and 21 Guns works brilliantly at the end of Transformers 2 and will already have had a wider audience. However, I don't think these guys need to think in terms of commercial success any more! I think this was an artistic choice. Why release a possibly better single, but from the 3rd act of the story?... Read more ›
Green Day are obviously still evolving as a band, and why not? For those who wanted them to stay the same all this time - go listen to their early stuff again. They are getting older & growing up same as the rest of us!!
Although the narrative of the story is not so complete as American Idiot,(I don't think you could make a stage musical out of this album), it still flows through the emotions of the two main characters. I also think it is less angry. It starts with a typical two-style song in 21st Century Breakdown - beginning slow and then bursting out - and fires on from there. There are the recurring themes of enemies (in all their forms), the age of static and of course, comment on the war and the government (although maybe a little less direct than in American Idiot).
I know lot of people have said that releasing Know Your Enemy as the single was possibly a bad move as it is one of the weaker songs on the album. I know what they mean, as Static Age is more catchy, and 21 Guns works brilliantly at the end of Transformers 2 and will already have had a wider audience. However, I don't think these guys need to think in terms of commercial success any more! I think this was an artistic choice. Why release a possibly better single, but from the 3rd act of the story?... Read more ›
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It amazes me when people bash bands like Green Day. Any rock band that attempts to do something a bit different, to grow, to embrace new ideas, seems to end up crucified (an apt metaphore) by their long term fans and beloved by new ones. Is it REALLY so bad that a band like GD want to step out of the slacker pop-punk mold they've peddled (superbly) throughout the 90's and early noughties to become something a little more? These people are in their late 30's, for god's sake!
Anyway, they tried to do this with the rather good 'American Idiot' and were lambasted/applauded for it. The album was a great mix of the insanely catchy pop-punk songs that we've come to love with an often unintelligable rock-opera about Jesus of Suburbia/St. Jimmy. If you pushed the story to one side (only slightly) and focused on the music, you were left with an often thrilling album that seemed a logical step forward for the group. Good times. It would seem silly to follow this grand-ideas album with something closer to pre-'...Idiot' GD (which is kind of what they did with the shallow but loveable Foxboro Hot Tubs), so '21st Century Breakdown' is definitely the natural follow up. Still growth, but continuing with the theme set previously. See! Stagnant growth. I knew it would make sense.
Anyway, the album is broken into 3 acts. Ignoring the pointless 'Song of the Century', 'Heroes and Cons' kicks off the album with the well named '21st Century Breakdown', a song bristling with Springsteen-lite stadium fodder. Great start. 'Know Your Enemy', I'll admit, I don't like, but it is catchy as hell and I can see why they've released it. 'Viva la Gloria' starts as a nice piano-led ballad before bursting into the kind of GD tune that they used to write in the Nimrod days...... Read more ›
Anyway, they tried to do this with the rather good 'American Idiot' and were lambasted/applauded for it. The album was a great mix of the insanely catchy pop-punk songs that we've come to love with an often unintelligable rock-opera about Jesus of Suburbia/St. Jimmy. If you pushed the story to one side (only slightly) and focused on the music, you were left with an often thrilling album that seemed a logical step forward for the group. Good times. It would seem silly to follow this grand-ideas album with something closer to pre-'...Idiot' GD (which is kind of what they did with the shallow but loveable Foxboro Hot Tubs), so '21st Century Breakdown' is definitely the natural follow up. Still growth, but continuing with the theme set previously. See! Stagnant growth. I knew it would make sense.
Anyway, the album is broken into 3 acts. Ignoring the pointless 'Song of the Century', 'Heroes and Cons' kicks off the album with the well named '21st Century Breakdown', a song bristling with Springsteen-lite stadium fodder. Great start. 'Know Your Enemy', I'll admit, I don't like, but it is catchy as hell and I can see why they've released it. 'Viva la Gloria' starts as a nice piano-led ballad before bursting into the kind of GD tune that they used to write in the Nimrod days...... Read more ›
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4.2 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
CD
I can't stand them my self, but my son seems to think their great, just shows there's no counting for taste!
Published 5 days ago by Penmaenmawrkaren
5.0 out of 5 stars
American Geniuses
Although there has been something of a hiatus (5 years or so) from Green Day since their classic album - American Idiot - was released, they have clearly not been simply sitting on... Read more
Published 28 days ago by MR
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Green Day masterpiece
All things Green Day are worth it! I love the storyline in this album.
We used "Last Night on Earth" during our wedding ceremony, excellent choice!
We used "Last Night on Earth" during our wedding ceremony, excellent choice!
Published 3 months ago by L. J. Bayard
4.0 out of 5 stars
Green day
This music cd was a present and I'm sure it has provided many happy hours of listening than you very much
Published 4 months ago by sandra martin
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not the best
The packaging and arrival of the CD was very good, but the CD itself isn't Green Day's best album, but still worth listening to
Published 4 months ago by LRiordan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome
Love this album! Wasn't sure whether to get it, but so glad I did. Have now bought the album on the Rockband 3 videogame and can't stop playing it! Awesome!
Published 6 months ago by Dave B
1.0 out of 5 stars
RADIO FRIENDLY DRIVEL
What happened to Green Day? For years I stuck up for them with their deviance from their punk rock roots and finally it produced a great album American Idiot (although it's NOWHERE... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Roxo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oh yes!!
How do Green Day keep on making so many brilliant songs?? This CD is amazing, in fact most of their CDs are amazing...old and new.
Published 10 months ago by Pansy
1.0 out of 5 stars
They used to be so good...
Green Day, what happened?!? This album is TERRIBLE! Go back to your old stuff, I'm sorry but I simply do not like this album. Read more
Published 11 months ago by JuneH66
5.0 out of 5 stars
21st Century Breakdown!!!
I had never heard of Green Day before but heard a few songs that I liked a lot... eg. American Idiot, 21 Guns, 21st Century breakdown. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Tomz
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