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The makers of American Idiot bring you their 2nd classic Punk-Opera..21st Century Breakdown! It’s the first album from the Oakland, California Punk Trio, Green Day, in 5 years. Like American Idiot followed the lives of J.O.S, St. Jimmy, and Whatsername, 21st Century Breakdown follows the lives of a young couple named Gloria and Christian who are living in the first half of the 21st century and have already seen the bad side of the world for this century from Unemployment Rates, Nuclear Halocaust, and Wars unlike the ones we currently see now and today. This leaves the question…is whats going on in the world today gonna get worse? Was Nostradamus right?

So with that said Green Day enlisted Veteran Rock Producer Butch Vig (Known more as the producer of Garbage) and put together a 2nd punk-opera. The Big Impressive part is that Green Day not only solidified that they’re Punk till they die, but also re-invented the genre they in a way forefronted…Pop-Punk.

Billie Joe Armstrong’s Songwriting Blossoms on this entire album! They added a 2nd Instrument once again, which hasn’t been seen since 2000’s Warning (Harmonica on the song “Minority”). This time, their instrument of choice was a Piano. Let’s not forget the very familiar sounds of an old friend as “Blue” (Billie Joe’s first Guitar which you might’ve heard on songs such as Basket Case, Geek Stink Breath, Nice Guys Finish Last and Minority) makes its return to the band’s musical murder spree.

This album is also filled with some more bluesy and “Power Ballad” style music. For example, the song “Last Night On Earth”. Billie Joe said in an interview: “we’re doing alot of songs that were inspired by the likes of Bob Dylan and John Lennon”. “Christian’s Inferno” is just an insane punk anthem that will leave your eardrums ringing so loud that your neighbors will think it’s time for fucking church!

The 4 songs I am really feeling are Peacemaker, Last Of The American Girls, Murder City, and 21 Guns. Murder City is another great song and on a side note, Billie Joe wrote the song after doing 2 things: 1: Visiting the city of Detroit, Michigan; and 2: attending a concert on a certain day in october of last year featuring 2 certain face-painted clowns (could be wrong).

But with all good masterpieces, you gotta have a bit of conterversy. I know you’re gonna say “what the hell is this fat motherfucker babblin about?” Well I am referring to “American Eulogy Part A: Mass Hysteria” and the following lyrics “Because the martyr is a compulsive liar when he said it’s just a bunch of n****rs throwing gas into the hysteria.” Now I know that Bille Joe is not racist, but there’s gonna be alot of people that will call him that for saying the N-Bomb. Let’s put it this way. On American Idiot he called America a Faggot. So in the words of ill bill “If this song offends you you’re a hater”. The closing song “See The Light” is one hell of a way to end an album. It sounds a lot like the 2nd song on the CD but it’s different as far as the song-writing and music go.

This album is for anybody who wants to listen to some good Rock without the bullshit you get from listening to the crappy radio.

Tracklisting

01. Song Of The Century

Act I: Heros And Cons

02. 21st Century Breakdown
03. Know Your Enemy
04. ¡Viva la Gloria!
05. Before The Lobotomy
06. Christian’s Inferno
07. Last Night On Earth

Act II: Charlatans And Saints

08. East Jesus Nowhere
09. Peacemaker
10. Last Of The American Girls
11. Murder City
12. ¿Viva La Gloria? (Little Girl)
13. Restless Heart Syndrme

Act III: Horseshoes And Handgrenades

14. Horseshoes And Handgrenades
15. The Static Age
16. 21 Guns
17. American Eulogy

A. Mass Hysteria
B: Modern World (Main Vocals by Mike Dirnt)

18. See The Light

Websites

GreenDay.com
MySpace.com/GreenDay

Record Label:

• Reprise Records

Release Date:

• 05/15/2009

Reviewer:

• -KM-