2008 Woodie Awards
Twice the CD reviews, twice the fun
Reviews of the new Greenday and Mos Def albums
Cory Pittman and Erika Ramirez
Issue date: 10/22/04 Section: No Limits
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By Cory Pittman
Senior Staff Reporter
Greenday's new album, "American Idiot" has quickly become popular in the short time since its release.
When "Warning:" was released, many Greenday fans were disappointed with the sudden turn to a toned-down new direction a less upbeat than that of the past.
Going back through big albums, like "Nimrod," and "Dookie," it was quite surprising to see the change with "Warning:." This change was not appreciated by a large number of Greenday fans.
When rumors of a new album began to circulate, many were concerned about the taste of the album. Would it be the style heard on "Warning:," or would it go back to a faster, older style, more reflective of punk music? After the release, many people's concerns turned to praise, many calling "American Idiot," album of the year. The upside to the album is that it has a mixture of everything Greenday has been known for, from the slow acoustic songs, to the fast upbeat punk songs, and mixing up the sad, comical, or ironic lyrics that Greenday is well known for. This album is not for those who were only fans of Greenday in the early days. People who only like such music found on albums like "Kerplunk," or even "Insomniac," or "Dookie," probably wont enjoy this album as much. About half the album is faster paced, a quarter slower acoustic, and the other quarter being slower, but having a rock feel, similar to songs like "Redundant," from "Nimrod," or "When I Come Around," from "Dookie."
The faster parts of the album are reminiscent more of "Nimrod," than earlier albums. In large part, the success of this album comes from not only going back to older traditions that people enjoyed, but expanding on newer ones that weren't as big fan favorites. This album has a little bit for nearly everyone. This album is also where you can find some abnormally long Greenday songs. Two songs on the new album are over 9 minutes long, very unusual for a band who has specialized in much shorter songs.
Senior Staff Reporter
Greenday's new album, "American Idiot" has quickly become popular in the short time since its release.
When "Warning:" was released, many Greenday fans were disappointed with the sudden turn to a toned-down new direction a less upbeat than that of the past.
Going back through big albums, like "Nimrod," and "Dookie," it was quite surprising to see the change with "Warning:." This change was not appreciated by a large number of Greenday fans.
When rumors of a new album began to circulate, many were concerned about the taste of the album. Would it be the style heard on "Warning:," or would it go back to a faster, older style, more reflective of punk music? After the release, many people's concerns turned to praise, many calling "American Idiot," album of the year. The upside to the album is that it has a mixture of everything Greenday has been known for, from the slow acoustic songs, to the fast upbeat punk songs, and mixing up the sad, comical, or ironic lyrics that Greenday is well known for. This album is not for those who were only fans of Greenday in the early days. People who only like such music found on albums like "Kerplunk," or even "Insomniac," or "Dookie," probably wont enjoy this album as much. About half the album is faster paced, a quarter slower acoustic, and the other quarter being slower, but having a rock feel, similar to songs like "Redundant," from "Nimrod," or "When I Come Around," from "Dookie."
The faster parts of the album are reminiscent more of "Nimrod," than earlier albums. In large part, the success of this album comes from not only going back to older traditions that people enjoyed, but expanding on newer ones that weren't as big fan favorites. This album has a little bit for nearly everyone. This album is also where you can find some abnormally long Greenday songs. Two songs on the new album are over 9 minutes long, very unusual for a band who has specialized in much shorter songs.