Review: Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown

I was never really a fan of Green Day.  OK, so "When I Come Around" on Dookie was a pretty good single 15 years ago.  Then American Idiot was released in 2004.  That put Green Day in a whole new light for me.  American Idiot hit all the right notes, with great songs thoughout the album.

21st Century Breakdown, in contrast, is a mixed bag.  Don't get me wrong, the album is good and true Green Day fans will appreciate it.  But after the American Idiot, I expected another leap.  The new album breaks no ground for Green Day.  It's Green Day.  There are hits on it.  I bought the Deluxe edition off iTunes.  "Last of the American Girls" has a pretty good beat to it.  "Know Your Enemy" feels much like all of American Idiot with it's pace.  Good reason it was picked as the pre-release single.  On the Deluxe Edition, it comes with "Like a Rolling Stone", which is kind of a slow pop ballad.  It was good and still distinctly Green Day in sound, but not exactly all there.  And that's just the problem.

21st Century Breakdown sounds like Green Day, but isn't any different from any other Green Day.  If you are a Green Day fan, you'll probably want to buy it.  If you are a casual fan, like me, you might like it, but it's no American Idiot.  Buy it here on ' or use the Amazon link above.