Green Day - 21st Century Breakdown (Part 1)

Before I dive into the year's most anticipated rock album, let's review: 15 years ago, they struck gold with Dookie, a pop-punk record of songs about masturbation and pot smoking. As the decade went on, they actually grew as a band, even having an acoustic hit ("Time Of Our Lives") and releasing a brilliant pop record that nobody cared about (Warning). Their fan base dwindled, they were ready to retire to county festivals and "Where are they now?" shows, and then something miraculous happened: in 2004, they released a political rock opera. Not only did it sell 12 million copies and inspire a Broadway musical; it's actually song-for-song one of the best albums of the last ten years.

Could anybody have guessed 15 years ago where they would go? Wouldn't Pearl Jam, the Stone Temple Pilots, or the Smashing Pumpkins have been more likely candidates for biggest band in the world right now? How did Green Day pull it off?

Their new album, 21st Century Breakdown, answers these questions while showing that no part of their storied career was a fluke. They've continued to grow as musicians and songwriters in a way once thought impossible for suburban pop-punk artists. The new record has 18 tracks, so I don't think I'm going to get through them in one sitting:

1. "Song Of The Century" - Nice intro - they are trying even harder to play up the Tommy comparisons this time.

2. "21st Century Breakdown" - A piano intro leads to arena-filling guitars and a fun vocal harmony on the chorus. Pretty standard Green Day until the glorious Brian May-esque guitar solo toward the end.

3. "Know Your Enemy" - Here's the extremely catchy tune from the commercial. How many rock records this decade have had commercials? That's an accomplishment in itself. Great song, although using is as a first single masks the fact that they do try new sounds on this album. Oh well, just sing along with the youthful government hating. You can't resist.

4. "Viva La Gloria!" - Billie Joe on piano! What next, Jay-Z on banjo? Anything is possible at this point. Anyway, this song starts like a bad Neil Diamond ballad before the band comes crashing in. After that, typical Green Day fare (never a bad thing).

5. "Before The Lobotomy" - Now for Billie's next trick - high octave singing! He's on fire at this point. After another slow intro, the band alternates between ska riffs and punk chords with more lyrics about loosing your mind. The last part is a slower drag out sing-along - there's basically four songs put together here. Like "Jesus Of Suburbia", it holds together well.

6. "Christians Inferno" - The muffled electronic drum effects are the only surprise here. Otherwise, another great Green Day thrasher. Apparently, he doesn't like religion either. OK fine, they aren't winning any awards for lyrics.

7. "Last Night On Earth" - I'm waiting for Billie to drop a weepy piano ballad. Yes, here we are! This one is going to be huge. Every high school prom for the next ten years will play this track. "I'm sending all my love to you" - he just swung for the fences and hit it. This concludes the first of three "acts". The first seven tracks could have been an album, but we have 11 to go.

8. "East Jesus Nowhere" - Think Marilyn Manson's "Beautiful People" with less disturbing lyrics and better singing. Any time you rhyme "crucified" and "suicide", the kids are going to love it. The bass rhythm is actually danceable, courtesy of the always underrated Mike Dirnt. Another track that will probably be a hit.

9. "Peacemaker" - Combine Green Day with Latin music and pirate sea shantys and you have this flash of brilliance. I can't hear this one enough times. No other band alive can pull this off. The dramatic pause before the guitar solo and the background "hey hey" are the icing on the cake.

With this track in mind, I should mention this - there are a few things in music that are always reliably brilliant. Some examples are the Edge's guitar playing and Tom Waits' singing. I have to add one to their ranks: Tre Cool's drumming. I can't say enough about it. This band can't fail with that guy behind them.

Here's a good place to stop. I'll finish in a few days.