21st Century Breakdown

Yes it's finally here. After five years of waiting the new Green Day album has arrived and will hit shelves May 15th.

Green Day has been developing their skills for as long as I have been listening to music, and longer. With the release of their latest album, I feel as though they have pulled together all of the greatest elements of previous albums, while continuing to push the creative envelope. Musically, the album may not sound impressive to most due to the always simplistic nature of their songs. However, when given a closer listen it is obvious they are taking songs in directions they have never gone before. 21st Century Breakdown somewhat abandons the grandiose feeling they created with their last album, instead trading it for raw emotion and slightly harder rock riffs. It is a much less gentle album. At the same time it is, in my opinion, a much more emotional album. The lyrics are the absolute best they've ever developed, proving they continue to grow as a band. They are everything you expect from Green Day; deep and heartfelt, yet somehow asinine. I would even go so far as to say maniacal at times on this album. I can hear the tears and the laughter and I am pleased.

I am particularly fond of:

Peacemaker
Murder City
Viva La Gloria

...and of course the single Know Your Enemy