This CD is not Green Day. I am a huge fan, and will be until I die, but this CD and American Idiot were so far from what they used to be. Sometimes that's not a bad thing, but in this case, I believe it is. I feel like they've become the very thing they used to be sing out against, and while everyone has to grow up sometime, they've gone a little to far.
There's nothing wrong with doing side projects. Foxboro Hot Tubs were amazing, and it was just Green Day with a different name and different sound. When I think of Green Day I think of 1,039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours, Kerplunk, Dookie, and Warning (I didn't want to list all of the CDs, those are just my favorites), not the super popular, catering to the masses garbage I personally think it's become.
And finally, the thing last thing I take issue with is Billie Joe's guitar playing. He's playing rhythm now. WTF. I loved his guitar playing, and At the Library is still one of my favorite songs of all time because of his amazing use of harmonics. The three person band was amazing, and I died a little inside watching the 21 Guns video and Billie Joe playing the rhythm guitar during the solo. Even in a music video.
This has gone on long enough, but I personally feel like they need to remember their roots a little. Yes they're crazy famous now, but they started playing at Gilman and that's when they were writing their best stuff. In my opinion.
EDIT:
Obama Osama Llama Diorama said:
and in my opinion has returned to the glory days of dookie
after a slightly embarrassing stop off at the corner of poppy and overplayed street with american idiot
anyone else feel this way?
or does everyone hate green day?
Listen to both albums side by side. They are not even close to the same thing, in sound and overall talent, and unfortunately 21st Century Breakdown is not a return to their glory days. It's a direct sequel of American Idiot. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for their next CD though.