#SUNDAYSPOTLIGHT: TOP TEN GREEN DAY
Twelwe albums and thirty years of career. It’s not that easy when your decades are filled with fertile and chaotic moments, but also major commercial amplitudes. Two ultimately successful albums were enough to allow you to do whatever you want: to release something for yourself and something for the rare birds. In that story, you become bigger than your genre. At the end, you are Green Day.
For this week’s #SundaySpotlight, I have decided to order the albums of this iconic band. Feel free to comment If you feel differently.
10.Uno, Dos, Tres (2012)
Ambitious music trilogy was split on three albums, but it was released in the same year. This represented the golden age of Green Day’s productivity. The quality was not missing as well, because they created their version of pop-punk. Some named it non-official album by their pseudonym Foxboro Jot Tubs, while the others have labeled it as stadium rock. The result was unbalanced and massive set of songs that managed to reach its full potential only when Billie Joey screamed them on concerts. The band did not earn the recognition they deserved, but days of glory were in front of them,
9.39\Smooth (1990)
The album that sounds like a parody of what we usually consider a demo tape survived the test of time. When it was re-released as 1039\Smoother Out Slappy Hours, it reached its highest potential. Going to Pasalacque is an evidence for my statement. What’s interesting is that the drummer John Kiffmeyer decided to pursue bachelor’s degree at that point. I guess he wasn’t aware that Green Day is going to become a monster.
21st Century Breakdown (2009)
How to top American Idiot? There is no way, but Green Day have tried similar approach. Rich release with plethora of rock opera songs and few memorable singles (Know Your Enemy, 21 Guns) did not explode in the same way as its predecessor. The band has tried to reach the highest stars on the sky, but it was impossible with severely serious political rock attitude. To reach the stars, you need to have more fun. Plus, it wasn’t time for revolution in United States at that point.
Warning (2000)
The transition to new millennium was confusing for everyone, including Green Day. Big changes on rock scene and new trends were the ultimate party time. So, the band decided to orient towards experimentation. A little bit more of ska, surf and folk. Minority was good.
Kerplunk (1992)
This was the first time that Green Day turned the heads of record label chefs. Another defining album tat will forever hold a special place in their fans’ hearts. Today, I would consider 2000 Light Years Away and Christe Road as evergreens.
5.Revolution Radio (2016)
After many years, the band has released simple, normal album. No trilogy, no concept, no rock opera. After a decade, Armstrong looked at the reality with lucid mind and realized it’s time t, once again, do what they like. Fortunately, the melodies they pulled off were are also success on the radio. Still Breathing is a true teenage hit, no matter that the world is not particularly in a revolutionary mood. But yeah, United States might be.
4.Insomniac (1995)
In the same way in which 21st Century Breakdown tried to follow the steps of American Idiot, Insomniac tried to continue the mission of Dookie. Was it possible to maintain at the pinnacle? No. Wide audience did not appreciate the obscure language and dark approach, but the album stands proudly in the band’s discography nonetheless.
3.Nimrod (1997)
Eighteen songs marked less notable period of Green Day’s career, but their first ballade was probably enough to move mediocre album far above the average. There is no beach or high school where kids don’t scream Good Riddance.
2.American Idiot (2004)
Ten years needed to go by in order for the planet to be ready for American Idiot. It was the right timing. Bush was president, Iraq was burning and hits were shooting! Wake Me Up When September Ends is till inevitable on Facebook’s feeds around the arrival of fall.
1.Dookie (1994)
Dookie is not an album by Green Day anymore. It is a legend, cult, institution, and maybe a part of music literature sometime in the future. There is not one song that does not kick ass. She is an absolute classic, and it came after 4 amazing singles. I don’t need to name them, right?
