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The Daily Tar Heel

Album review: Green Day's "Revolution Radio"

Photo taken from Pitchfork

Photo taken from Pitchfork

My love for Green Day is anything but a secret. 

When people ask me what my taste in music is, I usually reply with “stuck in my middle school emo phase.” I have cried while listening to “Last Night On Earth” on more than one occasion. I did a project my senior year of high school on the album American Idiot. When I found out Green Day was releasing  a new album, Revolution Radio, on Oct. 7, you could say I freaked out.  

While nothing could top the masterpiece that is American Idiot, after hearing the singles “Bang Bang,” “Revolution Radio” and “Still Breathing,” I had high expectations.

“Bang Bang,” the first single and the second track on the album, instantly gave me "American Idiot" vibes, to the point where I basically started crying I was so excited. It’s extremely political, written from the point of view of a mass shooter. This came as no surprise, considering how politically outspoken the band is, especially lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong. Another tidbit I loved about “Bang Bang” is how you can hear snippets that sound like they were lifted straight from “St. Jimmy,” a song from American Idiot. 

The second single, “Revolution Radio,” was essentially the “American Idiot” of Revolution Radio — and no, not just because the song has the same name as the album. In “American Idiot,” Green Day talks about not wanting to be a part of an age of hyper-consumerism, war and reality television, and “Revolution Radio” tries to galvanize listeners into doing something about it.

“Still Breathing,” the third single off of the album, was a surprise to me. It’s not a bad song (in fact, it’s one of the best songs on the album), but it doesn’t sound like anything I have heard from Green Day in the past. This particular song seemed like a departure from their previous sound and an exploration in pop-rock.

My favorite song on the album is “Outlaws.” It’s extremely personal and nostalgic, a glimpse into Armstrong’s heart. It is perfect and beautiful and probably amazing live.

If you like Green Day, you need to listen to this album. Revolution Radio is the follow-up to 21st Century Breakdown that we wanted and needed (sorry, ¡Uno!, ¡Dos! and ¡Tre!)

@karynhbrown

swerve@dailytarheel.com

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