This Is A Public Service Announcement (Warning - Green Day)

Member Name: rleigh

Product:	Warning - Green Day
Date:	19/03/08 (65 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Some strong tracks are contained within this album.

Disadvantages: For the most part 'Warning' is really quite disappointing.

There was a time when I considered Green Day to be amongst my favourite bands and whilst those times are now long gone I must admit that I do from time to time still give their music a listen. Released in 2000, 'Warning' was Green Day's sixth studio album and has achieved platinum status in America meaning that it has at least sold in excess of 1 million copies there. For me this album does not open very well at all and this perhaps goes some way to explaining why the album is the only major label release of theirs not to have achieved at least double platinum status in America.

The title track 'Warning' opens up this album and truth be told I consider it to be one of the most boring tracks that Green Day have ever written. I just feel it is entirely lacking of any real life or excitement, it begins the album badly but fortunately it is not all bad news here. I remember the tune for this track being used for a tampon advert a couple of years back which I found quite amusing so obviously it does have its uses. As we progress into the second track we are treated to the excellent 'Blood, Sex and Booze', an energetic number with a brilliant guitar riff driving through its centre. It's not an instant classic of a Green Day song and yet it is one that I have listened to many a time over the years. I bought this album on the day it was released and although I have to say that all in all I was a little disappointed, there are a number of tracks present on this album that are extremely well written and tremendous fun to listen to.

'Deadbeat Holiday' is a vaguely enjoyable track from this album, it's certainly better than a lot of the tracks here at least. It's by no means one of the bands best ever efforts but nonetheless it has an enjoyable and singable tune to it and is greatly upbeat in sound even if it is a little devoid of enthusiasm. With this album the band tried to take on more of a folk punk approach and in my opinion this didn't work too well for them at all. It's not exactly a bad album, it's just not very exciting and they have in fact done a hell of a lot better than this. It's not their finest moment but there are certainly a good few tracks here well worth listening to.

'Waiting' I feel is a powerful little number and is blessed with an absolutely brilliant chorus. It's one of my favourite tracks that the band have recorded in fact. It just hits all the right spots for me, it's a well rounded Green Day track and whilst it was not one of their more successful single releases it did manage a brief appearance in the UK Top 40, peaking at number 34. In truth it should have done a lot better than this but it was the third and final single released from this album so I doubt as much effort went into the promotion of this release as there probably should have been. 'Minority' also features on this album and is another of my favourites that the band have ever recorded. This one fared a little better commercially and reached number 18, it was in fact the lead single from this album though so that may have had something to do with it. It's a powerful track blessed with a brilliant chorus, the band certainly don't disappoint with this effort and do in fact do themselves mightily proud.

'Macy's Day Parade' ends this album amicably, it certainly ends 'Warning' better than it began at least; that's for sure. It is not the most exciting track of theirs, but then again this isn't the most exciting album of theirs and we should only be thankful that the band do not end this album with one of the poorer efforts from this release. First and final tracks are important to me, and whilst the band did not make a good first impression on me with this album, at least they tried a little harder with the closing track and do not disappoint as hugely so here. This track provides a nice relaxing end to the album and after firing their way through the penultimate track 'Minority', the way in which this album progresses suggests that it would only be right to end the proceedings on a gentle note.

All in all I would have to say that 'Warning' is really quite a disappointment as an album. It certainly has it's moments, but for me there are just too many filler tracks here and listening to this album is therefore not an entirely pleasant experience, but by no means an unpleasant one. Some of the tracks here I would recommend and yet others I would strongly suggest you go nowhere near listening to. This album is just so hit and miss, some of it works so well and yet with other tracks on this album I feel they completely fail in their aims of folk punk. I commend Green Day's efforts for trying here, I really do, but there just aren't enough positives to be drawn from this album I feel. Never one to knock bands for trying out new things, I have tried to highlight as much as possible here where the band succeed on this album but there is definitely no denying that there are times here when the bands plans don't come together at all well. Give this album a listen, there are some excellent tracks contained within 'Warning' but be aware that not all of the tracks here are very good.

Summary: 'Warning' is an extremely inconsistent performer, prepare at times to be seriously underwhelmed.