The Greatest Days of Green (International Superhits - Green Day)

Member Name: rleigh

Product:	International Superhits - Green Day
Date:	30/04/08 (97 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some terrific tracks are included in this collection.

Disadvantages: The two new tracks recorded for this release are not very good.

'International Superhits' was released in late 2001, a greatest hits compilation album featuring two new songs also. The two new songs are those of 'Maria' and 'Poprocks & Coke', neither of which I find to be particularly enjoyable; the rest of the album however is definitely worth taking a listen to. Twenty one tracks are featured here; the two newly recorded tracks are featured first and then nineteen of the bands greatest 'International Superhits' follow.

Tracks 3-7 are from the bands most commercially successful album 'Dookie'. The most obviously included track here is of course 'Basket Case', it's those of 'Welcome to Paradise' and 'She' that appeal to me most here however. Both of the tracks I feel are absolutely excellent, these two are easily my favourites from the bands 'Dookie' album and many times I have listened to them over the years. Such energy is contained within these two, the pop punk music of this band comes through incredibly well here and never does the music disappoint. The guitar riffs are always excellent and the vocals of Billie Joe Armstrong come through sensationally well. 'Dookie' is not my favourite Green Day album, it does however feature a number of excellent tracks and those that are featured here are all well worth listening to I feel.

'J.A.R. (Jason Andrew Relva)' is included here which featured in the Patrick Read Johnson directed 1995 film 'Angus'. This is by no means one of the best songs to have been recorded by Green Day, it is however well worth its place on this album and it a track that is put across well by the band. Green Day vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong sounds extremely young here, his voice is fresh sounding and I for one love this vocal tone of the man. This track is I feel definitely well worth listening to, it's well constructed and never does the music of the band disappoint here.

Tracks 9-13 are from the Green Day album 'Insomniac' which was released through Reprise Records in 1995. 'Insomniac' is without doubt my favourite Green Day album, it is therefore these five tracks that appeal to me most from this 'International Superhits' album. 'Geek Stink Breath' and 'Walking Contradiction' are particular favourites of mine from this album, both of which are included here and they certainly do not disappoint. All five of the tracks chosen from this album have been picked well I feel, all of them are impressive but none more so than these two. There is something about 'Geek Stink Breath' that I just can't get enough of, it's a brilliant display of pop punk from the band and never does it fail to make me smile. I love the lyrical content of 'Walking Contradiction' and the melody also is excellent, both of these tracks comes together perfectly I feel and their inclusion on this release was therefore vital. The way that 'Brain Stew' leads into the track 'Jaded' is also excellent I feel and if you include one you therefore also have to include the other. These two tracks go hand in hand, both are excellent and I for one have no complaints with these two having been included on this 'International Superhits' album.

'Nimrod' was an album released by Green Day in 1997, tracks 14-17 showcase the music of this release and this is where the balance of this 'International Superhits' album takes a change. Whilst the Green Day albums of 'Dookie' and 'Insomniac' each have five tracks featured on this album; there are only four tracks here from each of the bands 'Warning' and 'Nimrod' albums. This was a smooth move I feel, 'Dookie' and 'Insomniac' are by far the better Green Day albums and their heavier inclusion here is therefore entirely justified. 'Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)' is an excellent track from the 'Nimrod' album featuring an almost solo performance from Billie Joe Armstrong and his acoustic guitar. The track at time features an orchestral strings accompaniment, for the most part however it is just Billie Joe Armstrong and his acoustic guitar that can be heard here and the track is I feel absolutely excellent. This is perhaps one of the most serious songs that Green Day has ever recorded and released as a band, it's a strong track and one that I personally have a fond love for. 'Nice Guys Finish Last' also features here from the 'Nimrod' album, another strong track and one that I love listening to. The nasal vocals of Billie Joe Armstrong comes across perfectly here I feel, the music is powerful and the sound created here certainly does not disappoint. This is not the most technically profound song in the world; it is however well put across by Green Day and effectively pulled off by the band.

The final four tracks on this album are from the bands 'Warning' album, not a great release but one with a couple of decent tracks to offer nonetheless. The albums title track 'Warning' is included here, one that I personally am not at all fond of. For me the track just lacks life and therefore is not particularly exciting at all to listen to. The track is close to four minutes in length and never does the music here ever excite or ever seem to contain any sort of energy whatsoever. Whilst this track I do not appreciate, the other three included from this album are I feel quite strong. 'Minority' is an energetic lively track which provides for a highly entertaining listening experience, the music is incredibly fun here and the music therefore works extremely well. 'Waiting' is also impressive, an incredibly powerful track and one that I personally have always greatly appreciated. The music is well put across by Green Day here, although this was not one of the bands best commercial successes it still definitely deserves its place here as the powerful pop punk offering that it is.

'Macy's Day Parade' brings this 'International Superhits' album to an end. This was in fact the closing track for the 'Warning' album also and therefore works well at the end of this release. This is not the most energetic or exciting track that Green Day has ever recorded as a band, it is however a strong track to close an album with and is one that I personally feel works incredibly well at the backend of this 'International Superhits' album. The track winds things down well, it's not a great track and yet it works perfectly at the end of this album. Some tracks work excellently at the end of albums, 'Macy's Day Parade' is a prime example of one of those tracks; were this track included at any other point on this album then it just wouldn't sound right, as the closing track for 'International Superhits' however it sounds absolutely perfect and I can think of no other Green Day track that could have completed this album more excellently.

For those that appreciate the music of Green Day then this 'International Superhits' album is well worth listening to. It's the perfect starting point for anyone looking to get into the bands music, twenty one tracks are included here and nineteen of them are commercial successes from some of the bands most successful albums. As this album was released in 2001 nothing from the bands 'American Idiot' album is included here, this is no bad thing in my opinion but for anyone expecting to find songs from this release then I'm afraid that you'll have to look elsewhere. The two newly recorded tracks for this album are in my opinion extremely poor; it's easy to look past these tracks however as what is also featured here is some incredibly fine music. Dependent upon your personal tastes then favourites from this album may vary; what I will say however is that 'International Superhits' is an album with plenty to offer and it should appeal to most. A few of my favourite Green Day songs are neglected here, most are featured however and 'International Superhits' is therefore a convenient album for me to grab when I wish to unwind to some of Green Day's greatest music.

Summary: 'International Superhits' is a compilation collection packed full of energy and excitement.