Back in green (Warning - Green Day)

Member Name: mo79

Product:	Warning - Green Day
Date:	06/10/00 (39 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Classic Green Day but with a modified formula

Disadvantages: Not as energetic, doesn't touch their back catalogue

Remember Green Day? The last time they graced listeners ears was back in '97 with the phenomenal 'Nimrod' album, and the first time people really cared about them was on their '94 major label debut 'Dookie', and believe it or not but that album has outstripped sales of Nirvana's 'Nevermind' album!
Most people would penalise Green Day straight away for releasing a mellower album, particularly since the band's succesful formula is grounded in sub-riotous pop-punk, comprising of mainly maniacal and relational shouty lyrics by Billie Joe, and the maniacal rhythm section of Mike and Tre. In that respect, it seems the band are going risky by toning down that formula. They haven't thrown it away, and probably never will. I just hope this isn't their last album, as the photographs picture them as introspective rockers, and there's even an ad about their back catalogue...
As far as I know, the only bad egg in the major label catalogue of Green Day is 1995's 'Insomniac' album, which was just a quick recycled rehash, which could've been called 'Dookie 2'... And though this doesn't touch any of their other efforts either, it is definetly not a bad egg either. It gets respect for going against their own grain a little, but still being entertaining, and so a point is gained-but lost for the fact that they tried something different (and very welcome, especially in a band that doesn't change too much), but also that they diluted a formula which was a killer for them, no matter how stereotypical and hack.
Unlike bands like the cartoony Offspring or the brainless Blink 182, Green Day really are quite one hell of a clever band. The music might be quite simplistic, but as on a lyric from an older album, they are "smartasses playing dumb". And they excite me more than anyone in that genre.
I've always enjoyed Billie Joe's lyrically commentaries and his mild-disgust deliv
ery,as they really are cleverly thought-out, enjoyable, and I find I can relate to them at times and enjoy singing along. It's just that on this album he's not as sniping as he used to be. Drummer Tre Cool, who without a doubt is one of rock's greatest drummers isn't having a fit on the drumkit as he usually does and that's quite a shame as he's probably the most outstanding member of Green Day, he adds the most excitement. Then again you wouldn't expect him to play at breakneck speed on songs of a moderate or mellower tone. Bassist Mike Dirnt also isn't as manic as he's usually known to be.
Anyway, to the album! Opener 'Warning' generally sets the tone for the album. A kind of a folky feel, a kind of a poppy feel, and more of a feel of contentment and dealing with life rather than rallying and going against it like numerous other punk bands, following this is 'Blood, Sex and Booze' which seems to be a pub sing-a-long about a love of S&M, and features a sample of one of the recording crew being whipped by a dominatrix; Mistress Simone at the start.
One of my favourite songs has to be 'Fashion Victim', again a catchy number, as are all the songs, but mainly lyrically as it's just about those who are into trends, and it's just cool! 'Castaway' also has a good lyrical theme, and on this one it's about independence, I dunno if it's anything to do with that show.
One of the first most noticably folky ones has to be 'Misery' which sounds like a fusion of French and Italian/Spanish folk music (thanks to the relevant instrumentation, also played by members of the band, and guests) fused with moderate punk rock. The song is about misery needless to say, but it isn't a miserable song. After this things get a bit more mid-paced again with the "deal-with-it"-ness of 'Deadbeat Holiday' and 'Hold On'. 'Jackass' is the perfect song to dedica
te to someone who you think is stupid and hate; it reminds me of Beck a bit too, and he has a song called 'Jackass' too, but it's not like this. I don't like Beck anyhow. After this we get treated to more mellowness in 'Waiting', before being strung into first-single 'Minority', another moderate pop-punk affair at being individual. The music feels good, and the lyrics feel good. The delivery overall makes you feel good, but not enough to just make you go ape on like their previous efforts...Then it's a shock to say that closer 'Macy's Day Parade' is actually quite a sad song. It makes me quite emotional, with it's minimalism and lyrics about persuing new roads and options etc. Quite a good way to end really. I hope it's not their last album, I just keeping having this hunch that it is! Overall a great album, definetly one for existing Green Day fans, but probably not as good as their back catalogue, just by a bit. It got 3 stars for being good and an extra for being different, there's no 5th as it's just not as good as their old tried and tested and unmessed stuff. But you can't scold 'em! Well done Green Day (and also for self producing this)!
Also as a bonus track there's a live-from-Prague-'96 version of an old song called ''86', just so you know how they rocked on album before, and will do on tour, and may do on record again. Buy it Green Day fans (though some of you won't like it I'm sure)! Newbies checkout 'Dookie' or 'Nimrod' first!

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