Green Day return four years after a potential career low to deliver their best work since 'American Idiot'.
It's safe to say the last decade plus of output from Pop Punk mainstay Green Day has been somewhat deflated, flat, and uninspired. From the bloated and inconsistent triple LP's 'Uno', 'Dos', and 'Tre' to the solid but underwhelming 'Revolution Radio' to the downright cringeworthy 'Father of All...", things have been rocky for the trio. That's part of the reason why early marketing and teasers for their newest project, 'Saviors', piqued fan interest from the very start.
It appeared that Green Day was going back to a more straightforward, loud, fun style that they had built their career on decades ago. Could the band still pull off such a youthful, simple rock album after all these years? The singles proved promising, but it's finally time to dive all the way in and find out!
Right off the bat, 'Saviors' leaves an exciting impression, with the opener 'The American Dream is Killing Me' harkening back to the louder, brash stylings from the 'Nimrod' era of the band. It's a fast, anthem worthy track that instantly sets the tone for the entire record. 'Look Ma, No Brains!' follows with a similar, if not slightly more juvenile, vibe. It channels that early Green Day feel without feeling played out or derivative, which is something you could say about many tracks throughout the LP.
That's not to say that they don't take risks with their sound on 'Saviors', as the track list sees them experiment with their song structure and melodies more than any release prior. While that can lead to the album being a bit all over the place, it also makes for some of the most memorable songs Green Day has released in well over a decade. 'Dilemma' delivers a riff heavy, sing along rock anthem about losing your sobriety and identity, and is as melodic and ear worm-esque as anything in their catalogue. '1981' is a short, driving, pounding ode to Rock n' Roll and headbanging.
There are a few misses dotted throughout the 15 tracks on offer, but they don't overstay their welcome and don't hurt the flow of the record too much. 'Corvette Summer' is a little bit too simplistic and screams filler, as does 'Goodnight Adeline', and to a lesser extent 'Bobby Sox.' They never verge on the worst of their catalogue, but they stand as outliers on an otherwise inspired and fun album.
I'm pleased to say that after a decade of mediocrity, Green Day have delivered another solid record, at a time when I wasn't sure they could anymore. I recommend giving it a listen, especially if you hold their early work in high regard. It might not reach the heights or passion of those projects, but it stands up among them as a worthy addition. Stay tuned for More Green Day content in the near future!
Standout tracks: The American Dream is Killing Me, Dilemma, 1981, Coma City, Strange Days Are Here to Stay, Saviors
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