Green Day – “¡Uno!”
Album Reviews | Oct 8th, 2012
Record Label: Reprise Records
Genre: Pop Punk
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Over the past 12 years I have been somewhat critical of Green Day albums. “Warning” was an abrupt change in their sound, but still an awesome album…I was optimistic about “American Idiot”, but was disappointed in many of the songs although there were quite a few gems…”21st Century Breakdown” was a god-awful attempt at a rock album, but was nothing more than a rock and roll mess. Now the band has another concept planned out for their next three releases. “¡Uno!” is the first album in the Green Day trilogy. Does it compare to classics like “Dookie” and “Nimrod” or is it another teen angst album like Green Days’ last two releases?
I am very happy to say that this is by far the best Green Day album since the release of “Nimrod” in 1997. Put on the backburner are the theatrical rock opera sounds replaced by the snotty punk rock sounds that put Green Day on the map and helped to usher in the punk movement of the mid 90’s. The thing about the songs on “¡Uno!” are that they don’t sound like recycled songs of old. They are punk songs from a band that learned how to play their instruments and play them well. These are the tightest punk ditties that the band has ever released and they also show some of their influences on their sleeve. “Kill the DJ” sounds like a “Combat Rock” era Clash song while “Loss of Control” and “Angel Blue” has enough guitar solos to make Mike Ness proud.
Although there are some songs that slow down the pace of “¡Uno!” the album is full of high energy songs that fans of earlier Green Day stuff will be sure to enjoy. It’s been a long time since I played a Green Day album on repeat. Newer GD fans may not get into this album, but here’s hoping that this can be a gateway into the punk sound that made them famous. I’m looking forward to seeing what the next two albums in the Green Day trilogy hold.
Bottom Line: The most punk rock album that Green Day has released since “Nimrod”. Old fans will rejoice while some newer fans may be turned off by the faster songs.
Notable Tracks: Kill the DJ, Nuclear Family, Angel Blue, Oh Love, Carpe Diem
Overall Rating:
