Back in the day of the Rock Opera (read: the 70's), I didn't have much use for the form. Why? It was probably just a sound thing. Like many types of music not making my list back then, most rock opera's didn't actually rock. I'm thinking of things like Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell. I mean, not only was there a dearth of snarling guitar but, gees...my parents might actually like this stuff!!
Then The Who's Tommy came into my life and everything changed. Weird, just one album and suddenly I'm hooked on the idea of a concept album. Plus, the music just killed me...as did Quadrophenia, The Wall and Kilroy Was Here (sorry! just seein' if you were paying attention.) Part of the attraction (even though I wasn't a lyrics guy back then either) was the cool way that the music and message themes were interwoven and sometimes periodically restated as the album progressed.
As time went on rock operas and concept albums fell out of fashion. Sort of like art rock. They were seen as pretentious and bloated. Then punk rock exploded and wiped the slate clean. Even though I still listened to my Emerson,Lake & Palmer albums in secret, I gladly rode along with the ripped shirt and safety pin brigade. It felt good.
Now, all these years later, a punk rock opera? Well, why not?
I've been wondering where Green Day was going to go with their three-chord raveups. This particular direction I wouldn't have guessed. Apparently the guys set the mood by listening to some rock opera/concept album classics including Tommy, Jesus Christ Superstar, Rocky Horror and Ziggy Stardust. The result,American Idiot, is a pretty much stunning piece of punk/pop storytelling.
The opening (and title) track rocks hard with that signature Green Day start/stop thing. Where Green Day has made a giant leap forward is with the 9-plus minute "Jesus of Suburbia". Bits of this 'suite' are actually driven by the sound of a piano. Weird (for this band) but effective. But...not as weird as when the glockenspeil comes in to punctuate a few lines. They've defintely torqued their use of dynamics. It's a blast.
Ah, but even the "not a lyrics guy" cannot (or should not) avoid what American Idiot is about. Yessir, this is one angry record.
Alienation.
Alientation and anger and frustration. Yes, the guys in Green Day are not happy with the policies of our government. But it's not that simple. On the one hand you've got those policies and on the other you've got the assumptions made about them. In particular, the idea you must agree with the military actions of our government because it is the right and patriotic thing to do.
- Maybe I Am The Faggot America
I'm Not A Part Of A RedNeck Agenda
Not only is there dissent...but there is the pressure applied on those who dare to say "no". A kind of implied conformity. This is something that is missing from most discussions of the current state of our polarized discourse: the poisonous effects of all of that negative energy focused on the 'other' side. I've even seen dissent described as 'dangerous', being a form of giving aid and comfort to the enemy. When the Soviets close down newpapers of opposition, do we agree with that action? Is our democracy so weak that it can't survive internal debate?
American politics is not the only subject touched on here as there are several characters (St. Jimmy, Whatsername) who stumble their way through what life has to offer. Their stories are drawn to conclusions on "Homecoming" (which other reviewers have likened to The Who's "A Quick One While He's Away", but I think it's closer to London Calling by way of Cheap Trick) and the closing "Whatsername".
In some ways, Green Day took a big chance when they released the song "Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)". But in a VH1 segment on the band, Billie Joe Armstrong said that it was probably the most punk move they could have made. I used to agree with that sentiment, until the release of American Idiot.
More fine Blogcritics reviews of American Idiot can be found here and here.
(First posted on Mark Is Cranky)
Article comments
1 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
wahey! thanks for the link, man. And great review. i can't belive the ammount of yackings to be found about how this is some anti-bush anti-war polemic, and thats it. its about what you said - alienation. It's a very personal story. kinda like Quadrophenia in that regard.
The idea thats it's some anti-war epic (although it does have anti-war sentiments here and there) is totally misleading and an insult to something this complex.
Great stuff.
2 - Mark Saleski
plus, Jesus of Suburbia is justabout too much fun....it goes right on the list of "can't be played too loudly".
3 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
it is! i just got the limited edition today. about to investigate. its packaged in a hardback book type deal with all these writings and so on from our dear American Idiot. looks like a treat...
4 - Greendayfan
i love green day they have really good music the song American idiot is so true i totally agree!
5 - Greendayfan
the song wake me up when september ends is so awsome and sad but I thind it is cool that a punk rocker would write a song like that for his dad who died but not nececarilly for his fans
6 - mitch
it is fuckin anti bush government you retards. i have seen green day live even though i dont particulary like them and before playing "holiday" billie joe quoted "raise your hands and give a big fuck you to george w bush"