Dr. Blackwell's BLOG

Friday, May 15, 2009

A Magnificent 21st Century Breakdown

Filed under: Popular Music — Dr. Christopher Blackwell @ 18:57

greenday21stcenturybreakdown3.jpgToday, Green Day released their new album 21st Century Breakdown. All I can say about this album is, “WOW!” 21st Century Breakdown is an absolutely incredible follow-up to the band’s American Idiot, which many critics speculated simply couldn’t be topped. While I won’t crown the new album as superior to American Idiot, I will definitely say it matches in-terms of musicality and deepens the sound of Green Day beyond the typical punk-rock genre and definitely demonstrates tremendous growth in their musical style.

Along with the heavy guitar instrumentation expected for most rock bands, many of the songs also feature a strong piano accompaniment; strings can also be heard punctuated throughout some of the songs on the album. When non-traditional instruments are utilized, they serve more to strengthen the background music rather than serve as an over-indulgence or over-emphasized originality statement. From the first released single “Know Your Enemy” to “21st Century Breakdown,” every song on this album is masterfully crafted and almost perfectly executed.

There are many heavy-rock anthems and also some powerful ballads like “Last Night on Earth” and “Restless Heart Syndrome” which highlight the amazing musical range of the group. 21st Century Breakdown is the best album to be released thus far in 2009 and just might secure that award for the remainder of the year. 21st Century Breakdown is available now for digital download through iTunes and in retailers nationwide from Reprise Records. Below, the band discusses the production of 21st Century Breakdown:

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