Firstly as you all may be aware this is the Berkeley punk trio's attempt at a rock opera, for the purposes of this review I will put aside the fundamental questions of whether a punk band should engage in this kind of endeavour (did punk establish itself out of a need to provide an alternative to this kind of overblown indulgence that was becoming more and more prevalent during the 70's? or does the spirit of punk mean that bands can try their hand at anything they choose?? answers on an e-mail to the usual address I suppose...).

Anyway on to the music, this is the bands first set of new music since 2000's Warning (aside from the new tracks appearing on the International Superhits best of and Shenaningans rarities collections) and the rock opera idea lends the album a sense of cohesion and directness which has been lacking since the days of Dookie and Insomniac, the mood for the disc is set perfectly with the opener (and first single) American Idiot, with its lyrics railing against society in general and the music getting straight to the point, a welcome return to the punk pop that made the band so popular all those years ago (Dookie is now 10 years old believe it or not!).

Whilst the lyrics in the main are really an extension of previous topics that the band have covered (a feeling of general disenchantment and alienation prevails throughout) with additional focus being centered on the current political/social climate within the United States. Don't worry though! Green Day have not turned into Fugazi or The Dead Kennedys in the process!!! the the band play to their strengths, the buzzsaw pop-punk that made them so popular and the album provides additional depth to this with ballads which are almost on a par with Good Riddance (from 1997's Nimrod) and slower rock songs which actually help to pace the album nicely, fans of the bands more punky moments (Dookie/Insomniac) will enjoy this as the more fragmented directions and experimental ideas (Nimrod/Warning) which proved a disappointment (to this reviewer at least) seem to have been shelved to allow the central themes of the album to be communicated as directly as possible.

Let us know your views on 'American Idiot'

Track List

American Idiot
Jesus Of Suburbia
Holiday
Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
Are We The Waiting
St Jimmy
Give Me Novacaine
She's A Rebel
Extraordinary Girl
Letter Bomb
Wake Me Up When September Ends
Homecoming
Whatsernamek

Line Up

Billie Joe Armstrong-Guitar/Vocals
Mike Dirnt-Bass/Vocals
Tre Cool-Drums/Vocals