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Green Day: American Idiot
by Mike Diver
What's this? A *Green Day *record, and me, in the same room, and it's not 1994 anymore? Who'd have thunk it?
More importantly, who'd have thought, four years after the atrocity of ‘Warning’, that the world’s perennial jokers in the punk rock deck would re-emerge with an album that’s not merely tolerable, but actually reasonably accomplished. ‘American Idiot’ is an admirable achievement – an album that doesn’t sell us short on the pop hooks of albums past, but one that also delivers a healthy dose of politics to the mix without sounding like a six-legged cliché-riddled embarrassment. How’d they do it? Four years under you-know-who in the White House might have something to do with it. By now you’ll have heard the title track. It’s only the prelude to some 40 minutes of politically conscious songwriting that belies the track record of a band better known for dumbing down punk rock. If this encourages just a small percentage of new voters in the US to take action and make their contribution count, then it’ll have done one of its jobs.
Of course, another job is to make us dance in a pop-punk stylee, and, predictably enough, Green Day come up with the goods: ‘Holiday’ is excellent, likewise ‘St Jimmy’. Much has been said about the band’s new fondness for epic, prog-style song structures (and lengths), but flames of fear should be doused – with the exception of a couple of tracks, most noticeably the multi-chaptered ‘Jesus Of Suburbia’, this is three-minute stuff from top to toe, the latter of which should be tapping in earnest throughout.
I remember the prickle of excitement on my skin when listening to ‘Dookie’ in science class ten years ago; this very nearly brings it all back. A strong return to form.
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Green Day - American Idiot
Warning was an atrocity? It's by far the best, most consistent and most inspired thing they've done up to now, and it's far better than Dookie. -
Re: Green Day - American Idiot
Gotcha. -
Green Day - American Idiot
Bought the new green album on the strength of their performance at reading this year,which i personally loved.. it was a great end to the weekend! Im on my second listen of american idiot and so far the track to stand out is "holiday".
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Green Day - American Idiot
Green Day are probably the most overrated band in existence. They've always been a 5 or 6/10 albums band, their lyrics are continually rubbish and their riffs are so vigorously recycled that the council refuses to take them any more. People speak about them in the same breath as Nirvana and The Buzzcocks. ONE-NOT-VERY-GOOD-IDEA-FULL-STOP. -
Re: Green Day - American Idiot
They 'pioneered' US punk pop. So basically they are responsible for Blink 182, Sum 41, New F***d Glory, Good Charlotte and Simple Plan. Cheers! -
Green Day - American Idiot
I'm sick to death of that fucking song. XFM seem to play it every ten minuets.
And I aint too keen on New Found Glory either - can't decide what I hate the most about them - their fucking irritating reason to kill music, the lead singer who think's he's funny or the guy on guitar who think's he's cool.
Not going to go on about Good Charlotte for various reasons although I hate their fucking atrocious music and Sum41 are an UGLY band - especially the dwarf that's fucking Avril Lavigne and whatever it is that plays drums and sings.
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Re: Green Day - American Idiot
My heart stopped when I read that bit...
Waiting and Macy's Day Parade are clearly classics.
But I'm not too sure about this single. The idea of Green Day going political sounds like it could be the worse thing ever. -
Re: Green Day - American Idiot
That's a bit harsh!
(And I think their lyrics are really good...) -
Green Day - American Idiot
I'm completely unafraid to say I love Green Day's music and that I think this album is fucking brilliant. -
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i do too..:) -
Green Day - American Idiot
i cant believe people are having a go at green day for the sins of good charlotte etc and bringing that kinda stuff into the world. do we hate nirvana for creating the evilness that is puddle of mudd? didnt think so. personally i think green day have found a sound that is reminiscent of the time in between insomniac (sooooo underrated) and nimrod (arguably their best album) and have a real fire in them. good to see the boys back. -
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Actually . . . some of us DO hate Nirvana for creating the abomination that is modern rock music.
Like, say, me. -
Green Day - American Idiot
Perplexed - good review, but only 3 stars , which implies average?? -
Green Day - American Idiot
I'm sick to the back teeth of Nirvana. -
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I have no idea how Green Day got lumped in with all those shite bands. If New Found Glory or Good Charlotte EVER get compared to the Ramones, the Buzzcocks or Nirvana, then I might be inclined to think that they belong in the same league as Green Day. Otherwise, I find it plain absurd. And calling "Warning" an atrocity is just cruel. -
Green Day - American Idiot
I like Nirvana, it's just the "KOURTNEY KILED KURT!!!!!11111" children and general Kurt worshippers who irritate the fuck out of me. -
Green Day - American Idiot
I've never really been sure about Green Day, i mean they bring out some damn fine singles, but on closer inspection, the albums tend to be padded with shoddy filler tracks - 'American Idiot', however, is fantastic start to finish - 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' is stunning- up there with 'Good Riddance' - it's just crept into my top five albums of the year -
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yeah, i too hate it when they spell Courtney with a K. -
Re: Green Day - American Idiot
I'm sick to the back teeth of the pixies.
I do, however, love nirvana. -
Green Day - American Idiot
it's fucking tremendous and very cleverly done
I think it deserved 3 and a half, maybe 4 -
Green Day - American Idiot
I've never really been into Green Day b4, but 'American Idiot' is fucking brilliant!!!
... and i thought DiS would have given it a much better rating than 3/5, its got to be worth at least a 4/5!!!
I may have to check out some of the bands earlier records (in case i overlooked some good stuff), seeing how good American Idiot is... as its the only Green Day album i own at the mo.
and as for Nirvana... most def one of the most over-rated bands of all time!!! problem is, they're also one of the most influential :-0 -
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as a long time green day fan, i'm thrilled by this album - it is their strongest for a v long time. but i have to say i'm a bit taken aback by all the rave reviews. i wonder whether after 4 years of republican conformist blackmail people are so starved for dissent, any dissent, that they are grasping at this album as a morsal of hope. either way, it's fantastic; green day are on top form, there's actually a band i want to see this year, and if this album encourages even a very few people to express dissent or simply vote, so much the better. -
Green Day - American Idiot
Green day and blink had their day a long time ago, there is maturer and better punk coming from America and England, see Yeah yeah yeahs, Libertines, Departure, the strokes -
Green Day - American Idiot
They say alot more as well, and not just bush is a twat, go and vote etc etc -
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You have no idea. -
Re: Green Day - American Idiot
Unless, of course, you've tricked me with your irony.
You cad. -
Green Day - American Idiot
being serious?
oh you are?
you're stupid. -
Re: Green Day - American Idiot
Hahaha.
Last time I checked the YYYs, the Libs, and the Strokes aren't punk.... -
Re: Green Day - American Idiot
Hmm...
You could argue that YYYs were, in some ways, some kind of a punk band, in the loosest possible sense.
Then again, you could say they're one-album wonders who're stuffed next year when the NME does a Datsuns on them.
Gutted.
Thank fuck the Seconds are good. -
Green Day - American Idiot
the strokes? punk?!!!!agreeinging with Citrussunken though, I mean this album aint the most political punk album ever obviously but at the end of the day its green day-by-numbers but at their best. and i think we should differentite between punk and punk style cos Blink and prob Green day would admit theyre not 'punk' in the traditional sense of the word (ie anarchy anti establishment) but have taken aspects from this and are getting people talking and arguing bout it which is really important. -
Green Day - American Idiot
No, green day are punk, for people under 15. And yes strokes are a punk band, it's all punk rock, you people are the same people who said Kink's 'you really got me' wasn't a punk song,there is nothing new in this green day album at least Yeah yeah yeahs are doing something different with the genre (to rock'n rollmassacre and zen-arcade, Yeah yeah yeah's are not punk rock!!!????! yes and nor were the sex pistols I suppose? fools.) -
Green Day - American Idiot
im sorry - 'you people'??? I think you'll find I did say there was nothing new on the Green day album although for me and plenty others, its still very fresh sounding album. and I agree it isnt ground breaking. however I cant see how the Strokes are punk...yes the first album made a few waves broke a few rules but still, not punk!!! YYYS are more so, just with the antui fashion and KAren O making a change from the maleness of all these The bands.
All i will finish with saying is that American Idiot is a strong solid album, of course with its highs and lows, but its not the same as any of their previous albums which shows they can move past songs about wanking and school which were great but the majority of their original fans are now early/late 20s I guess and so its still crucial to be relevant and sound as vital to us as when we listened to their angst pop punk in our teens. i really cant compare green day to the Libs et al as its all different bar The Clash being major influences...hmm did I make any sense at all? -
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if you like kurt cobain you better have a good reason.
he killed himself because he couldn't write a song without ripping off the pixies. -
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Harsh.
Nirvana only ripped off the Pixies 25% of the time.
Even then they weren't really ripping them off. They were giving them their dues, granted, but you can't accuse Nirvana of ever being copycats. Every band in the world takes something from other bands that have affected them. Kurt and co like the Pixies, so it's hardly surprising that the influence came through a few times. -
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SOOOO damn right about the 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams'!! As soon as i heard it i thot of 'Good Riddance'. Only a band like Greenday could realease 2 amazing tracks like that where just the thought of it makes the lil hairs on your back go ooooooh! -
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SOOOO damn right about the 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams'!! As soon as i heard it i thot of 'Good Riddance'. Only a band like Greenday could realease 2 amazing tracks like that where just the thought of it makes the lil hairs on your back go ooooooh! -
Green Day - American Idiot
An intelligent respnose which puts you above the people who do not have any clue about music on this talk back (when i said 'you people' i was talking about Zen arcade and the other 'massacre' person, and that first part is for them as well) but to say libs and strokes are'nt punk but to then admit they are directly influenced by the clash and romanes which are the clearest forms of punk is a contridiction. They are punk simply because like the sex pistols, clash and the ramones they have energy, they use 4 chord progression and they play faster and rawer then any other kind of music out there. If you do not agree that they are punk rock you tell me what they are? Rockin roll would be way to broad -
Green Day - American Idiot
i suggest you actually listen to zen arcade
not my yatterings, but the album :o)
good day. -
Green Day - American Idiot
Green day album is great. Of course they are punk rock. Punk rock in a way that yeah yeah yeahs and strokes could never be...both thos ebands are New York fashion catwalk bands withy nothing top say, they are both bands who would be playing any style of music if it was 'fashionable'. -
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The Strokes are not punk!
They are rich kid fashion poseurs from new York who play guitar music because its trendy, they have nothing to say and say it in a really weak way- the opposite of punk! -
Green Day - American Idiot
Punk is dead and youre next... -
Green Day - American Idiot
oh dear. Sister rock go back to your blink 182 albums, if any of your american wank punk even came close to strokes 'this is it' then it will be a cold day in hell (where i will be faced with green day and sum 41 playing that god awful shite') -
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"Music taste: post punk, yeah yeah yeahs, joy division the smiths"
Go back to reading the NME and dropping buzz words to your mates.
Good.
Bye. -
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It's called knowing about rockin roll so go back to your smash hits mag you 'good charlotte' twat -
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How'd you work out that I liked Good Charlotte? -
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because you sound like someone who would like immature shitty music -
Re: Green Day - American Idiot
How can you hear me?
Are you, in fact, in this room?
Oh.
My. -
Re: Green Day - American Idiot
hmmm....you really do sound like a knobber, this is web site for music not a 'look im really clever, i can be sarcastic' web site. you need to go on imadickhead.com -
Re: Green Day - American Idiot
Ohh temper temper -
Green Day - American Idiot
Green Day clearly are one of the truly great still existing showmen, they constantly turn out good music, much of the 'wank-punk' probably inspired your bands such as the strokes brodieman_11. its laughable how people come on the internet and write such mind-numbing stupidity such as calling blink and GD shit, Tell me, do you wear an expensive fashionable scarf and monacle, and read interesting poetry when you go to see the strokes play??!! funny thig is i like the strokes, but as soon as they make it big im sure they'll be, i quote ''god awful shite'' too'!!! -
Green Day - American Idiot
tell u what, i know the whole "nirvana" thing finsihed a few posts back, but guess what?!!! just because kurt cobain wrote good songs and then killed himself, it doesnt make him an angel and it doesnt make nirvana the best rock band in the world ever. yes, okay, they broke the rules. yes, OKAY, they did actually write good songs!! but when are people going 2 get over themselves? dont compare every single f-ing band 2 nirvana - some bands are different ... when have green day EVER sounded like nirvana? argh!!!!! lets stop getting stuck on the past and actually like good songs for what they really are....good songs. i think that wud b a good idea. -
Green Day - American Idiot
wow you guys are all insane. -
Green Day - American Idiot
Getting back to the album: I like it. But on some listens it seems average, others it seems great, which is odd. Fave track is Wake Me Up When September Ends, although it's hard to dislike Homecoming when it includes a song like Rock & Roll Girlfriend. Who would have thought the drummer would write an album highlight? -
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Well seeing as Tre Cool is the mac-daddio and the best rock drummer around at the moment, its surely not that hard to believe! I love the beginning of Homecoming when his roll kicks it all in, superb! -
Green Day - American Idiot
Personally, i think american idiot is the one of the most overplayed and shite songs green day have ever done. I was sick of it when they began playing it on the lock up ages ago, and still it hangs around like a dead fish. As for the album, who knows, suppose its good cos its "green day and we all love them". Nimrod will still remain a classic. -
Green Day - American Idiot
I have been a LOYAL Green Day fan since 1997 when a friend gave me a tape copy of DOOKIE (B4 peeps had CD burners!), and I was instantly hooked. It was a completely new musical direction for me, as I had always been into the heavier end of Metal, but I became addicted to their catchy riffs and piss take lyrics. Then NIMROD was released and I was Blown away. I then hunted down all of their previous albums, and became a Green Day collecter. If punk could be distilled into it's purest form, then GREEN DAY would be the result! Nimrod, for me, was by far their best album, and it is still as strong today. But then came WARNING, and even though I would never put the boys down, it was by far the weekest album they ever did, and was far removed from the sound template on all previous albums! But hey!... At least they weren't afraid to experiment, because look at what we have now!!!
A M E R I C A N I D I O T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I first heard the title trck, I was lost for words! Not only had they found their raw energy again, but had nicked everyone elses as well! The ambition and creativity of tracks like JESUS OF SUBURBIA and HOMECOMING I have only heard before from the likes of PINK FLOYD and LED ZEPLIN!! Mark my words, this album will take a long time to sink in. The songs are so DEEP that you have to listen to the whole album whilst reading the lyrics for weeks untill you truly understand what Billie Joe is singing about!! I mean, every track on the album is linked. 100's of on-line forums are buzing with questions like " Who are the Jesus of suburbia, and St. Jimmy?" I guarantee you that in years to come, THIS ALBUM WILL BE COMPARED TO DARK SIDE OF THE MOON FOR IT'S DEPTH AND ARTISTIC COMPLEXITY!!!!!
If you like GREEN DAY but don't rate this album, then you are missing the whole point of what it is all about. It is not to be taken as a normal album, but listened to all the way through as a whole story. Because that's what it is. Who's story you ask? Well, that would be telling!! Oh, alright then. It is Billie Joe Armstrongs story!!!!! The reference to the "Jesus of suburbia" is about George W Bush, Who Relies on the support of the Republican Fundamentalist Christianas and their votes to do what he wants, and "St. Jimmy" is a refference to the desire to take drugs and get wasted, to escape, and even to die by overdose (GIVE ME NOVACAINE)!!! YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST!!! I am going to see GREEN DAY on their AMERICAN IDIOT TOUR at Cardiff International Arena on 3rd Feb. I will let you know how the gig goes. Tickets ARE still available from www.ebay.co.uk for most of their gigs in the UK, and average at about £70. considering all the ticket vendors sold out within 48 hours back in october, there are a few to be had. GET THEM WHILE YOU CAN!!!
The AMERICAN IDIOT album has changed the course of music history forever, whether people like it or not.
It is definately ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Feel free to reply.
Regards,
Thagoatboy! -
Green Day - American Idiot
I have been a LOYAL GREEN DAY fan since 1997 when a friend gave me a coppied tape of DOOKIE (B4 peeps had CD burners!), and I was instantly hooked. It was a completely new musical direction for me, as I had always been into the heavier end of Rock and Metal, not punk, but I became addicted to their catchy riffs and piss take lyrics. Then NIMROD was released and I was Blown away. I then hunted down all of their previous albums, and officially became a Green Day collecter. If punk could be distilled into it's purest form, then GREEN DAY would be the result! Nimrod was, for me, by far their best album, and it is still as strong today. But then came WARNING!! Even though I would never put the boys down, it was by far the weekest album they ever did, and was TOTALLY different from the sound on all the previous albums! But hey!... At least they weren't afraid to experiment, because look at what we have now!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!A M E R I C A N I D I O T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When I first heard the title track, I was lost for words! Not only had they found their raw energy again, but had nicked everyone elses as well! The pure sonic/lyrical ambition and depth/scope of creativity on tracks like JESUS OF SUBURBIA and HOMECOMING have only been heard before from the likes of PINK FLOYD and LED ZEPLIN!! Mark my words, this album will take a long time to sink in and be recognised for what it is. The songs are so DEEP that you have to listen to the whole album whilst reading the lyrics for weeks untill you truly understand what Billie Joe is singing about!! I mean, all the tracks on the album is linked to each other by the lyrics. 100's of on-line forums are buzing with questions like " Who are 'The Jesus of suburbia', and 'St. Jimmy'?". I guarantee you that in years to come, this album will be compared to the likes of DARK SIDE OF THE MOON and THE WALL for its vision and artistic complexity!!!!!
If you like GREEN DAY but don't rate the AMERICAN IDIOT album, then you are missing the whole point of what the album is all about. It is not to be taken as a normal music album, but listened to all the way through, in its entirety, as a whole story. Because that's what it is, a story. Who's story you ask? Well, that would be telling!! Oh, alright then. It is Billie Joe Armstrongs story!!!!! The reference to the "Jesus of suburbia" is about George W Bush, Who Relies on the support of the Republican Fundamentalist Christianas and their votes to do what he wants, and "St. Jimmy" is a refference to the desire to take drugs and get wasted, to escape, and even to die by overdose (GIVE ME NOVACAINE)!!! YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST!!! I am going to see GREEN DAY on their AMERICAN IDIOT TOUR at Cardiff International Arena on 3rd Feb. I will let you know how the gig goes. Tickets ARE still available from www.ebay.co.uk for most of their gigs in the UK, and average at about £70. considering all the ticket vendors sold out within 48 hours back in october, there are a few to be had. GET THEM WHILE YOU CAN!!!
The AMERICAN IDIOT album has changed the course of music history forever, whether people like it or not.
It is definately ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS OF ALL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Feel free to reply.
Regards,
Thagoatboy! -
Re: Green Day - American Idiot
Of course GREEN DAY are punk!! Punk is not about being anti-establishment. Nor is it a style of music!! Punk is an ethos, a way of life. Green Day tell it like it is, and don't give a fuck who they insult or upset. They have their beliefs and morals, and there aint no-one who's going to tell them otherwise, or change their minds!!. They stick to their guns while others around them waver and fall by the wayside. They never conform to general consensus, or do what is expected of them. They do what they want to do. NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL PUNK!!!!!! How much punkier can you get? AMERICAN IDIOT will one day be recognised as the MASTERPIECE album that it is!!!! -
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"THERE IS NOTHING NEW IN THIS GREEN DAY ALBUM"??????????????????????????????????????????
Where the fuck have you been for the last five years?!? Perhaps you should listen to WARNING again, and then listen to AMERICAN IDIOT!! I mean come on brodieman_11. How many bands since PINK FLOYD, LED ZEPLIN and BLACK SABBATH have written songs that are FIVE tracks in one and last nearly TEN minutes??? ( I am reffering to the two songs: Jesus Of Suburbia, AND Homecoming. Two on one album!!!).
The AMERICAN IDIOT album is a MASTERPIECE that will CHANGE and INFLUENCE the sound and face of PUNK ROCK FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! -
Re: Green Day - American Idiot
Yeah, but linking songs doesn't mean there's any progress content-wise. I've heard this album the whole way through, and okay - they link a few tracks. But the music itself sounds the same as it ever has. -
Re: Green Day - American Idiot
The core element of the music may be the same, but the is a lot of added piano, glockenspiel, lots of different percussion instruments going on! Punk for under 15's? dont think so somehow..intelligent, thought provoking lyrics, Billie Joe playing solos again etc. This isnt a Good Charlotte style band. The Strokes?.....come on dude, they are manufactured, hype driven bullshit, theres a band whose songs all sound the same!
Considering the had a whole new album recorded which was leaning more to 'Warning' style that got stolen, its a testament to their skills. They forced each other to look at themselves and the stolen work and say "Was that the best we could do?" They couldve easily just re-recorded the stolen tapes, but scrapped it all and came up with 'American Idiot' extremely quickly. Green Day are one of the most punk bands in the world, and by that I mean they have never sold out their ideals and never became "bloated and arrogant rock stars". In this day and age, thats to be applauded.
They are musicians, they know that, we know that, thats the way it is. No bullshit or hype.... -
Green Day - American Idiot
You people must have all gotten lobotomies.
Thus far, I haven't read a post that accurately describes the intentions of the CD. All of the comparisons you are making moot as well, like comparing apples and oranges.
Since I don't have nearly enough time to point out the flaws in everyone's posts, so I'll tackle the latest.
First of all, even attempting to contrast American Idiot and Dark Side of Moon makes my head feel like it's going to implode. For one thing, they aren't even in the same genre. Dark Side of the Moon is a timeless masterpiece, and American Idiot is a satisfactory CD for the year (a pretty bad year in music, by the way).
If you want to claim that Green Day is punk, perhaps you should compare them to a punk band.
For example:
Sex Pistols
Dead Kennedys
GBH
The Clash
Almost anyone other than who Green Day has so far been compared to (There was vague mention of The Clash and the Sex Pistols earlier).
There is nothing especially poignant about this album, politically, though, I'm sure no one here cares.
There's more to understanding Politics than hating George Bush and opposing the Iraqi war.
When ignorant pre-pubescent MTV viewers attempt to analyze an album by an admittedly way-less-than-prolific band, and they're so wrong it's funny...Well, then we are in a sad state of affairs, people.
Seriously, at least watch an episode of the Daily Show before you try punditry. Be careful though, it may be educational. -
Re: Green Day - American Idiot
Oh come on, she so did kill him.
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