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Green Day

Saviors

Written by: PP on 11/02/2024 14:43:28

Most people had written off Green Day a long time ago after more than a decade of mediocre and downright awful records. Older fans probably did that already when "American Idiot" was released in 2004, which is among the most overrated albums of all time in this scribe's opinion, and constituted a point in time when Green Day chose pop and overproduced theatricals to conquer the mainstream over writing genre-defining catchy, upbeat pop punk songs (see "Dookie", "Nimrod" and "Insomniac").

Yet on their fourteenth album "Saviors", the band turns the clock back by about twenty-five years with a glorious return to the sound they professed during the 90s. Where was this album after "Warning"? It sounds like a long-lost effort that's been in hiding while the band dealt with their identity crisis years following the ridiculous mainstream success of "American Idiot". Gone are the theatrical dramatics of that era and the fuzzy garage influence of the last couple of weird records. In their place, brilliantly upbeat and cheerful pop punk with irresistible choruses.

Take "Look Ma, No Brains!", for instance. It is probably the best song Green Day has written since the "Nimrod" days. It's infectiously catchy and carefree and feels more quintessentially Green Day than anything else they've written since that album. "1981" is an equally great, fast-paced banger with another instantly catchy chorus that surpasses the vast majority of tracks they've written this century. Or what about "One Eyed Bastard" with its "Hitchin' A Ride" vibes? This is exactly the Green Day we've been waiting for. Refreshed, revitalized, rejuvenated, and most importantly, with boots firmly attached to the ground rather than the megalomaniac stratospheres of the 'rock operas' or whatever they called tracks like "Jesus Of Suburbia".

Sure, you've got material like "Goodnight Adeline" or "Father To A Son", which are boring ballads in the same vein as, say, "21 Guns" or "Wake Me Up When September Ends", but they are in the minority on an album that otherwise oozes of lovely 90s guitar distortion. "Coma City", for instance, might be full of grandeur thanks to its far-reaching, expansive sound, but those guitars and the chorus get me every time. Likewise, "Corvette Summer" feels so effortless and carefree in its 90s nostalgia that it's impossible not to like, much like "Strange Days Are Here To Stay" a couple of songs later.

If you're longing for Green Day to return to a sound that echoes "Dookie", "Insomniac" and "Nimrod" material, this album is a godsend. It captures everything great about Green Day's mid-90s era without ever sounding dated in the process. All the useless dramatic flair has been thrown out the window in favour of a more straightforward pop punk sound that underscores what good songwriting is all about (hint: not over-inflated radio anthems). Here's to hoping this isn't just a one-off but the band is back for good.

Download: Look Ma, No Brains!, 1981, Strange Days Are Here To Stay, The American Dream Is Killing Me, Dilemma
For the fans of: Simple Plan, Screeching Weasel, The Offspring, Blink 182, Sum 41
Listen: Facebook

Release date 19.01.2024
Reprise