News

Are You An American Idiot?

• 11th Aug 2009

In a certain magazine (mentioning no names, but it begins with K) the best 50 albums of the 21st century were disclosed, which saw Green Day gracing the number one spot with 2004’s ‘American Idiot’. Well, all I can say is you only have yourselves to blame, as it was voted for by the readers. Now don’t get me wrong I like Green Day but I think old skool Green Day is better than new Green Day. There are some good songs on the ‘American Idiot’ album but to say it’s the best album of the past 9 years? I wouldn’t go that far. I suppose what I found even more shocking was At The Drive-In only came in at number 47 with their 2000 album ‘Relationship Of Command’ now that is a great album. The Ghost Of A Thousand’s second album ‘New Hopes, New Demonstrations’ is a personal favourite as well so that’s two album’s straight away that I would easily put above ‘American Idiot’. Of course this is all subjective; it comes down to an individual’s personal taste.

‘American Idiot’ is an attack on American society and how the American dream now leaves people disheartened as opposed to hopeful. The album reached number one in nine different countries, so this is a feeling that is resonating around the world. But, of course it will tap into people’s emotions, we are disappointed and we do feel a heightened sense of fear in this age of rife terrorism. So maybe this is why people voted for it? Although, saying that I think L7 expressed these feelings better in more angst ridden songs like ‘Wargasm’ and ‘American Society’ but they didn’t release them in the 21st century so unfortunately they don’t make the list.

Anyway I can’t help but have a little chuckle when Green Day’s song writing on ‘American Idiot’ takes us on a journey with characters and plotlines – are they turning into Bon Jovi? Bon Jovi gave us Tommy and Gina whist Green Day, more unconventionally, call their characters St. Jimmy and Whatsername . At the same time though you can’t knock a band for trying to experiment with their writing style, be it only slightly.

So is it a successful album? The album has so far sold 13 million copies, was number one in nine countries and won a Grammy. So ‘American Idiot’ has made a lot of money for the band’s label and the band themselves. As for Green Day I think they would agree it’s been a success for them commercially and I’m guessing they have achieved artistically what they set out to achieve, a modern day rock opera depicting American society. Therefore ‘American Idiot’ has been a success for the label, it’s been a success for the band, but is it really a success for us? Like I said earlier At The Drive-In’s ‘Relationship of Command’ is a great album, I don’t know how many copies it’s sold and I don’t care either. Whether it sold one copy or 10 million it makes no difference to me. It’s just a damn good album in my opinion. So for me, no I don’t think ‘American Idiot’ is the best album of the 21st century so far. It’s alright, but it’s not the best. So, what is the best album? It’s actually hard to choose just one, so while I ponder what my favourite albums are of the last nine years, you can have a mooch at the website. Oh and don’t forget to comment below on what you think is the best album of the century.

On the website this week we have all the latest news and reviews. There are interviews with Laurent Garnier and Sound Of Guns who are headlining Glasswerk’s very own Acad Fest which takes place this Saturday 15th August. Other featured gigs are Deaf Havana, The Parlotones, Mark Morriss.