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My birthday is September 30th, 1990. I am 19 years old. If you do the figuring, I was only 10 years old when this decade started. So it would be ignorant of me to say that I have been following this decade’s musical history with fierce knowledge and admiration. I honestly didn’t become an “indie” rock fan until I was about 14-15 years old. Before I started listening to Arctic Monkeys, Arcade Fire, and Clap Your Hands Yeah, I was more into alternative rock. My early youth consisted of Green Day, Weezer, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, etc…I still listen and love these bands, but clearly don’t base my habits on the genre anymore. There albums are mostly shifted deep in my ipod, getting played every so often, but not nearly as frequently as they once were when I was in middle school.
I didn’t always love music the way I do now. No one in my family loves music the way that I do. I live with my mom and stepfather. They are both casual music listeners, still listening to Fleetwood Mac and whatever came out of the 70s-80s. They never really pressed me on music, so I was not one of those kids that just copied their parents taste. I couldn’t stand the assholes in my high school that put classic rock on the highest pedestal. They lacked identity. The whole fun about falling in love with bands is the identification you have with the bands. I love the Beatles like the next person, but I didn’t live with them. I didn’t watch them debut on Ed Sullivan, and I didn’t get to live through their incredible development as a band. They are one of my favorite bands, but I can’t connect with them in the same way that I do with bands like The Shins and Arcade Fire. That’s why I can’t understand kids my age who divulge in nothing but classic rock.
When I turned 14 in 2004, I started to find a keen interest in music. I started investing a lot of my time into records and one of the new records to catch my attention was Green Day’s new record, American Idiot. Green Day was always a favorite of mine. How could you not like an album like Dookie? It was everything I was looking for in an album at that age. I remember hearing “American Idiot” (the single) for the first time and being blown away. Not because it was the best song, because it wasn’t. But it was an entirely different Green Day than I knew growing up, and I was in a state of shock! I waited impatiently for the albums release date, and went to best buy to purchase the album the minute I got out of school. I played it the minute I got home, and could not believe how different Green Day sounded. They turned into an entirely different band.
They dressed in black and red, wore eyeliner, and became political. Instead of their usual knack for goofy pop-punk songs, they made a full-blown rock opera. The song had 5 different songs within it, and for me it was an entirely different listening experience. It was dramatic, epic, and most importantly it rocked. The rest of the album was the same way. “Holiday” was right in your face, while “Boulevard Of Broken Dreams” was a beautiful piece that sadly got overplayed by public radio.
The songs were there, and I ate them up. Each song told their own story, and created characters. It was like nothing else that I had heard. At the time, it was practically the only thing I listened to. I became obsessed with the damn album. I think most people can admit that the songs were a step forward for the band. However, most people disliked the bands new look, and let that cloud their view on the album. It became cool to hate Green Day. I didn’t care. This album was a big part of my life at the time, and I wasn’t going to let what anyone said change my opinion.
I saw them live in concert in support of this album, and had a great time. I sang along to this album with my parents, my friends, and my brother and sister. I spent hours discussing the album with my friends online, and defending it on forums. You can say that this album was the album that really got me into music. It was the first time that I became engrossed in an album, and it should be blamed for my music obsession.
I could go on and on about this album. At the forefront, it is a solid collection of songs that I can put on at any moment, and sing along to proudly. Green Day really hit a homerun with American Idiot. But more importantly, behind the music are lots and lots of memories. Isn’t that the beauty of music? Music allows you to make connections to memories in your life. Memories of my youth, when life was…simpler.
I do not love Green Day the same way I did when I was fourteen. I wasn’t really a fan of 21st Century Breakdown. That is because it came at the wrong time. American Idiot came at the right time in my life, and I needed that album. I thank Green Day for making me interested in the album, and music in general.
[mp3] : Green Day – Jesus Of Suburbia
[mp3] : Green Day – Whatsername
8 Comments
to me it was Is This It by The Strokes. I’m pretty sure that album was a life changer for me.
American Idiot is a masterpiece. My first introduction to a real concept album, or a real “complete” album in general save for classic rock. Then “Funeral” took it to another level. I love music.
Green Day were my first “favorite” band. Everything you said about this album was exactly my experience with it.
Green Day was my first ‘favourite’ band too, and I agree with the memories thing completely, I was nearly half way? or just early into high school and I have great memories of dancing around on the tables at lunch singing songs like ‘King for a Day’ and being told to shut up by the rest of the school. Green Day has probably been the band that carried my through high school. Well done on the review =]
This album really got to me as well. I’m really sick of music snobs who write this band off. They’re one of the best at what they do.
“wasn’t really a fan of 21st Century Breakdown. That is because it came at the wrong time. American Idiot came at the right time in my life, and I needed that album.”
Because Green Day’s the band you deserve, but not the one you need right now. So we’ll hunt them because they can take it. Because they aren’t our band. They’re a silent group of musicians, a watchful ensemble. A dark trio.
The “I didn’t get to live through their development” and “I can’t connect with them in the same way” is something I’ve always felt but have never got off my chest, not with regards to GD but rather when asked which band I think is the best ever… I tend to go for something I’ve grown with too, instead of objectively stating one of the obvious forerunners.
I like your style!
Wow, this review exactly encapsulated my experience with the album. I remember making lists of reasons I loved this album, and it definitely was a major reason that I am so into music now. Seriously, awesome review, it was right on.