Green Day back on its feet after misfire trilogy

In 2004, Green Day ruled the world with its triumphant comeback album, American Idiot. Jump ahead to 2016. Within these 12 years, Green Day has released four studio albums and a Broadway show based on American Idiot. Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong went to rehab in 2012. But even after all this activity, Green Day has needed another comeback. Their last effort, a trilogy of albums, Uno” Dos, and Tres, left fans disappointed. So is Revolution Radio, released Oct. 7, , the return to form that fans have been waiting for?
This is no sprawling rock opera or one-third of a trilogy. This is a straightforward release with no strings attached. There is no concept, storyline or main point attempting to drive this album forward. This decision is sure to leave many fans thankful. This is the first album recorded as a trio since 2009’s 21st Century Breakdown.
Revolution Radio is a concise effort. This 12-track album wastes little space and refuses to indulge in excess. It’s a cohesive effort that flows well. “Forever Now,” the longest track on the album. checks in at 6:52 but never feels tiring and sits comfortably among shorter songs. The connection between opener “Somewhere Now” and 11th track “Forever Now” is a nice touch, helping bring the album together.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famers’ latest release is their typical blend of high-energy punk rock and melody. Their sound here remains enjoyable as ever. There are a few moments where the punk rock isn’t quite as good and the melody feels a bit forced, but these instances are not frequent or severe enough to distract the listener. The band adds acoustic guitars and additional instrumentation, but it never goes overboard, keeping a nice balance.
Revolution Radio is fun and holds the listener’s attention. Green Day’s catchiness is also on full display here. There may be a bit of campiness and subtle pop flavors, but they never detract from the album.
Thankfully, Green Day members aren’t afraid of showing their age. The lyrics are a nice mix of the politically-fueled anger, the silly fun, and the honesty that they’re known for expressing. Some tracks show off their opinions on hot-button issues. Album highlight, “Bang Bang” is an explosive track told from the perspective of a mass shooter. While this album isn’t strictly a political album, the artists make their thoughts and feelings known. This album has no overarching lyrical theme. Not every song sets out to make a statement, but the ones that do make it loud and clear. Some tracks show off Armstrong’s introspective side, but the album never sets out to make an overtly personal record. When Armstrong does write about his fears, he does it well. One of the best lyrics off the album is from “Somewhere Now”:, “I’m running late to somewhere now where I don’t want to be.” And the album has fun here too, as evident with “Youngblood.” Green Day even retains some of the snottiness from its youth on “Bouncing off the Wall.”
After the album wraps up, it’s satisfying to say that there was nothing that left a bad taste in the mouth. “Troubled Times” is a formulaic cookie-cutter song with underwhelming lyrics, but it isn’t anything atrocious. The album feels a bit cliched at times, particularly the album title and some of the lyrics. The weakest content on this album never dips into being poor music. On a sidenote, the album art is weak.
It’s safe to say that Green Day is in a much better position than it has been in quite a while. While this isn’t close to being the best Green Day release, it’s better than its previous project. Revolution Radio is a solid entry worthy of the Green Day name. For this, Revolution Radio earns seven and a half out of 10 points.
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