After doing three Weezer reviews, I thought I’d change up the pace a little bit and review the album that I know most: Revolution Radio by Green Day. This is one album that I listen to constantly, and the only album by Green Day that I have on CD. To be fair, Spotify is far more convenient, but that doesn’t affect my attachment to this album. Though it’s not perfect, it’s still worth my thoughts.
The album starts off with Somewhere Now, and more prevently, a calm acoustic intro with sounds in the background that sound like an audio version of the Northern lights. The lyrics here and throughout the entire song are fantastic, and the beat is contagious, especially the excerpt of full-on rock after the acoustic. The verse is virtually perfect in my opinion, and the words are so careless but so well-thought out and meaningful on wavelengths that shouldn’t be possible. The chorus is slightly confusing with the line “we all die in threes”, but it’s not enough to impact my rating. The calm ‘bridge’ contrast with the riff works surprisingly well, like a lot of things in this song that seems like it would sound clunky and mechanical, but sounds smooth and emotional. One great solo later, the next section is the best part about the song. Here has the best lyric in the entire song, and this ending is just as good as the entire song. Overall, an amazing opener for an astounding album. This is definitely an A++ (98/100) in my book.
No questions asked, best song on the album. Bang Bang is an amazing single that’s great in just about every way possible. It’s powerful, fast-paced and has intense political views. The song has a very touchy subject, and somehow Billie Joe pulls off the vocals of a terrorist, which gives the song even more strength. The edge to this song is masterful, and has fantastic riffs all around the board. This song happens so fast for a 4-minute long song that it’s amazing. The post-chorus is the most hectic part of the song, followed by the cooldown/bridge. Both of these parts have the same benefits of the entire song. This song is amazing in its intense tones, amazing drum fill that makes the entire song for me, and of course, the riffs. It just gets better and better, and it really brings you in and doesn’t let go. Fantastic song, A+++ (105/100).
Next we have Revolution Radio, the namesake for the album. This song starts off with another amazing riff and lead into the opening. This is just as fast as Bang Bang, and almost as political. It has a lot to say, and says it in so few words that it’s surprising that you can tell what they’re trying to convey. Every lyric in this song is awesome, and it’s so masterfully crafted to the point where everything sounds professional, a sound that often isn’t marked with punk rock. Despite this, it is still a punk song, more or less. Much like Bang Bang, I don’t have much to say other than I don’t have anything negative I can think of. It does sound minorly calculated and (very minorly) repetitive, but it’s still a great song. The fact that it is essentially a verse - chorus - verse - chorus - solo - chorus song is the sole reason it’s not a 105, but it’s still an impressive A+ (95/100).
Say Goodbye is a change of pace from everything Green Day. It really is an unexpected song that sounds nothing like this band - but I don’t hate it. Like everything on this album, it has very strong statements on the world today, and not in an optimistic view. More than anything else, it really does convey the message that there is a lot of horrible stuff happening. There are some minor problems, like the fact that it is overproduced and the fact that it rhymes ‘well’ with ‘well’, it’s not a song I’d choose over the previous three. Still, the solo hits hard, and for how simple the song is, it’s far from formulaic. In fact, it’s the most unique song Green Day have made since Peacemaker. There isn’t much to say for this song, because every time I hear it, it sounds new. This is also a good time to mention that Green Day themselves produced this album, which is impressive for a first time in the industry. I do really love Say Goodbye, but it does have some issues. I’m giving it a B+ (84/100).
Outlaws. A++ (100/100).
Bouncing Off the Wall is the song after Outlaws, an amazing track. Not only is it a calm but slightly nervous song reminiscent of The Forgotten, another song I love, but it does the idea better. The contrast of quiet and easy-to-listen-to verses and the blaring choruses resonates with me as a good decision, and the lyrics are as per Revolution Radio has led me to expect (fantastic). Outlaws is five minutes of pure joy and amazing music. The song shows Billie Joe thinking about when he was still in his late teens, about when Dookie came out, and he talks about it like it was a previous lifetime, when in reality, it was only a previous lifestyle. It’s a nostalgic ride for us and Billie Joe alike as we remember the times where Basket Case was playing on the radio daily. The solo is as powerful as anything in this song, and the bridge is the best section. This entire song is amazing and serene. Billie Joe Armstrong accepts that he’s moved on from his teenage years and looks forward to the future of being a rockstar, that all started with Dookie back in 1994. The verse at the very end of the song is magical, and the echo into silence ends a beautiful song off right. As I’ve previously stated, Outlaws is A++ (100/100) for me.
Bouncing Off the Wall changes the pace drastically with an upbeat song that wastes no time getting to the core of the music. Just barely cracking two minutes, this song is careless and fun to listen to. This is my go-to song for any type of situation where I need to be riled up for something. The verses are short and sweet, and the chorus does its job, even though it’s only said twice. The lyrics are funny, but they still fit the song, and Bouncing Off the Wall really does get you going. The instrumental at the end is the only reason this song is over two minutes, and I don’t have much to say about this song. It’s a fast song that you don’t need to think about to enjoy. This entry was short, but the song doesn’t have much else to say. A++ (97/100).
Still Breathing is the second single from this album, and for good reason. It’s slightly more poppy than the rest of the album, but still manages to be an uplifting song that doesn’t come off as irrelevant to someone not in need of uplifting. The song is absolutely perfect for a single, and the verse/chorus soft/loud contrast is here too, just not as drastically. This is a great song to pick if you need cheering up, or if you just want to hear a catchy song. The lyrics are meaningful and clear, which is a good way to describe this entire song. Every day it becomes more relevant, as more and more people need something to help them. The bridge is fantastic, and not hectic, but still very loud. This song is the perfect definition of hope, and more people need to hear this song. This is another song that exceeds expectations, and it’s surprising to me that Green Day still have so many great songs up their sleeve after making three albums in three months. This song could be argued as a 110, but I think it deserves an A+++ (105/100).
Youngblood was originally written for Cigarettes and Valentines in 2002, and I’m surprised that it wasn’t reused sooner. This song doesn’t really mean that much; it’s just an upbeat love song with an easy-to-love riff and catchy lyrics and riffs. This is a gratifying song to sing, because it’s so pure and punk-rock simultaneously. It almost seems to be over before it starts, because it’s another one of the shortest songs on the album. Green Day seems to like this song too, as they released a video for Christmas of 2018, even though it’s not officially a single. Another great song that I have so little to say about that I don’t know how to review. For all the sections I didn’t touch on, it all has the same positive energy that adds to the list of things this album is good at. A++ (96/100).
Too Dumb to Die starts off with a very strange intro with very strange lyrics. If the entire song sounded like this, I wouldn’t like it, but it very clearly is just so the entry into the actual song would be more impactful. This album tends to have very fast and very slow songs, and this is on the faster side. There’s so little time to process the amazing riffs and catchy lyrics that are happening that it’s surprising that so much is going on in such a simple song. If Bouncing Off the Wall wasn’t careless enough for you, this song doesn’t even attempt subtlety, constantly punching the listener in the face with the fake intro and the sudden cut-off of the second chorus that’s seemingly only there to embarrass those singing along who forgot to stop. Billie Joe even laughs in the background. Despite that, it really is another extremely catchy song that fits right in with Revolution Radio. These entries have been getting shorter, but there really isn’t enough time to process the layers of masterpiece that go into every song. I can say that this song caught me off-guard many times, and it was a rollercoaster ride of a recording from Revolution Radio. A++ (96/100).
Troubled Times is a song that I initially disliked. I always loved the verse, and this definitely falls under the ‘slow’ category, and more political than the entirety of the second half so far combined. Troubled Times is a very simple song, but I can’t find many things wrong with it. The verses are genius and touch on some very common problems, the kind that people stop noticing. Billie Joe Armstrong has a harder time pushing away the struggles of today. The entire song doesn’t have much on the rest of the album, but still a great song. It’s simply a better riff than most, but only in a specific mindset. I’d say this is the most casual song, despite being political (which is basically casual for Green Day). Casual doesn’t mean bad, though, and this song is a great example of a decent song doing its job perfectly. I give this a dead-on A (88/100).
Forever Now is the first epic I’ve reviewed. Almost seven minutes, this song is a long ride that’s enjoyable from start to finish. The intro is a perfect setup for this song, with the same remarkable energy. As with everything on the album, the lyrics are masterful but sometimes confusing. I don’t blame Billie Joe for this at all, and it honestly seems like a bonus - a reason for people to look into the songs more.
I personally love Billie Joe talking about himself for the first section, which is something he doesn’t do often; he’s usually taking a different persona when writing songs. The transition into the second section is smooth and clean-cut, like most of the album. The second part is slightly simple with its intro, but the riff following is gripping and surprisingly long. The section that follows is truly amazing, and I love the fact that this section is the one that is repeated for several minutes. The subtle reference to Revolution Radio is fitting with the intertwining events of the entire album, and this section is a nice contrast for being rather slow compared to section one. The section ends with the same riff that Somewhere Now uses, confirming the similarities between these songs, almost as if Forever Now is an extended version of Somewhere Now. The beginning tying into the end is something that most albums do; the end of the album feels completely isolated from the first song. Green Day doesn’t fall into this trap, and they make an album that feels complete by the end. (Yes, I am aware that there’s another song.) The repeat of the previously mentioned riff with growing amounts of harmonies is amazing and I could listen to it for hours, much like the most of this album. The minor instrumental after sounds just like Revolution Radio at its peak, and it gives you time to reflect on the entire album. Finally, before you know it, the Somewhere Now riff plays again, and the song comes to a peaceful ending. A+++ (110/100).
The album isn’t quite over, as Ordinary World is the victory lap. This song is beautiful and touching. The song was written for Billie Joe Armstrong’s movie of the same title, which is about a father who wants to be a rock star. This song is portrayed from that angle, but still sounds like a song that they would write for an album - just with an extra charm. The ‘we don’t have much / but what we have is more than enough’ line sums up the entire song. This song alone makes me want to see Ordinary World, just because of how serene and wonderful it is. The song practically puts you to sleep as you reminisce over Revolution Radio, completing the brilliant structure of this album. The tones from the background of Somewhere Now are here too, which is possibly unintentional but is a fantastic detail. This song ends the album off right with one last A++ (100/100).
That rounds up the song portion of the review, and grouping the scores together, Revolution Radio ends with an incredible 97.8. As with every other review, I still have bonus points to add, and here I’d like to mention that Green Day produced their own album. This doesn’t sound like rookie production, so I’m surprised for their first time. This deserves a point and a half in my book (99.3).
And because it’s at 99.3 right now, I have to say that it flows very smoothly. The album sounds complete by the end of it, which would give it one point, but we don’t have enough points left to give, so we’ll award it an 100+. So far, this and the White Album by Weezer have both been over 100, but I’ve been choosing to review only good albums so far. Maybe I’ll review Raditude next.
https://ift.tt/eA8V8J Submitted May 05, 2019 at 05:21AM by WelcomeToMyWorld21 http://bit.ly/2V0G7cF
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