This quartet of fun loving, tight trousered hipsters entered the music world with one simple thing that they wanted to achieve. They wanted to make music that girls can dance to. They did just that with their brilliant self titled debut. Full of sharp lyrics and infectious lyrics. But they did much more than that. They made the whole music world stop and look at them. Whether it be from their most overrated song, “Take Me Out” to their most underrated single on that particular album, “This Fire,” and they made catchy, sing-along dance rock. It’s very simple what they do, but no other band of our time can recreate what they do. No young band comes close to recreating Franz’s brand of stylish, obscure music. Their new album perfectly follows their debut by beating it. It streamlines their charms—those oblique beats that frame 60’s Britpop. Whether it be the simple yet very effective beats from frontman Alex Kapranos and Nick McCarthy, or there subjects of hedonism and violence and love, or that charming voice of saucy frontman Kapranos. Any of the three, it doesn’t matter, it’s very, very effective. The sound of the album has spiky guitars, punky yet very danceable beats and their charisma.

The album starts with a gleeful, violent tale of hedonism and theft, with the extremely infectious, “The Fallen.” Full of cross cutting guitars and strong drum beats. “Well they say your trouble boy/Just because you like to destroy/All the things that bring the idiots joy/Well what’s wrong with a little destruction,” Kapranos gleefully sings in his saucy sprawl after the spiky guitar beats have slowed down. There’s so much kinetic energy in here you’ll be out of breath by the end. “Do You Want To” is a more like a victory song teams sing in the dressing sheds than a fun tale of famous friends, arty parties and(shocking) homoeroticism. This bombastic, glam rock anthem will have you dancing in know time.

Then comes another gleeful reprise of “The Fallen.” “This Boy” is a tale of being a bachelor, a wealthy man and another tale of hedonism and drugs. effective and you can’t for get the shout it out loud song, “Evil And A Heathen.” It’s short, sweet, catchy and has a chorus that you can’t refuse to sing-along to. “Outsiders” is an alright song. It has some shouting and some weird sounding guitars. But is not as good as some of their B-sides. “I’m Your Villain” nails that dark side of Franz that are found on songs like, “Take Me Out”

There’s always time for an oblique rocker like, “Walk Away.” Kapranos sings in a softer voice than his usual voice, but geez, is it affective. And there’s piano driven ballads, “Fade Together” that are full of lightly, beautiful piano, great acoustics and a soothing voice by Kapranos. Then comes the beautiful, Beatlesque ballad full of wild yet, soft vocals and some nice piano. And you can’t forget the acoustic guitar.

This is an album that has gleeful songs, “The Fallen,” “This Boy,” “Evil And A Heathen,” bombastic, glam rockers, “Do You Want To,” a bunch of tempo shifting rockers, “You’re The Reason I’m Leaving,” “Well That Was Easy” and soft ballads, “Walk Away,” “Evil And A Heathen” and “Fade Together.”

Let me be clear: the latest Green Day release, American Idiot, is the album that made me actually like this band. Yeah, sure, there were other songs that I liked of there's, "Time Of Your Life," "Longview" and, "Basket Case," but this was their first album I actually approached. This time around, this band is a more sophisticated trio, one that has worked and s**t do I mean worked to create a modern masterpiece that will stand the test of the time. They sound much more grown up. Fans and non-fans will appreciate the trio’s craft. This is barely a punk CD it picks musical genres and fuses them together for one powerful performance



Sure, it's the same members (guitar/vocals by Billie Joe Armstrong, bass/vocals by Mike Dirnt, and drums/vocals by Tre Cool), the same band that made hits "Basket Case" and "Longview" punk/rock radio smashes and the "ballad" "Time of Your Life" but this is a smarter Green Day release. The songwriting is more precise, the attitude a lot more refined, and the music is very, very sophisticated.


This album is 57:16 minutes of pure rage. Though it may not sound like it, it really is. It's a 57 minute anti-bush, anti-war and just a fun complaint rock opera. What stands out for me is the way the longer tracks like "Jesus of Suburbia" and "Homecoming." They have multiple musical sylings throughout each chapter.

"Jesus Of Suburbia" starts as a straight-forward punk song and in my opinion is the best song on the album. "City Of The Damned" kicks in next and is the best chapter on the song. Lyrically the band is smarter, introducing the next chapter with the lines, "No one seems to care." That sets up the aggresive chapter, "I Don't Care," it's full of distorted vocals and a simple guitar and drum beat. This is the closest the band will come to any of their previous releases. Then comes, "Dearly Beloved." It begins with a different vibe and Armstrong asks, "Am I retarded/Or am I just overjoyed." Then, yet again, the vibe switches for the finale, "Tales From Another Broken Home," where it has raging guitar and slows for just Armstrong's voice and a piano. At just over 9 minutes, this is Green Day's "Stairway To Heaven." Perhaps the highlight of their career.

And that's just song 2. That's how much this album impacts on you.

The concept of the album takes a little while to understand that's what makes it an intellctually, entertaining piece of mastery.

Without getting into the storyline that you, yourself will have to interpret there are tracks that just stick out. "Wake Me Up When September Ends" from the title reminds me of 9/11 tragedy. Yeah I was seven when the tragedy happened and I didn't understand what was going on but now I'm thirteen it's one of those moments in your life that will always be stuck in their. The lyrics also give off some hint of 9/11, "The innocent can never last." It fits in with the storyline and this is the song that attracted me to the CD. But when I heard "Jesus Of Suburbia" that's when I got it. "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" is the most overrated song on the album. Yes, I like it, but it won a lot of music awards and I just didn't think it was that good. "Holiday" is a political toe tapper. It talks of political messages but is a really fun and catchy song. "Homecoming" is longer than, "Jesus Of Suburbia" and is another five part song just like, "Jesus Of Suburbia" and with just as many feels.

Then the closer, "Whatsername" starts as a low key conclusion to this CD but then kicks in as a rocker. The song serves as a conclusion to the story being told throughout the CD with a powerful conclusion.

"American Idiot" will be remembered as Green Day's finest hour. It is their finest album. It has charisma, power and intelligence.

This debut delivers a full bore blues/boogie rock that makes you wanna get up and dance. While other bands like AC/DC make you wanna get up and shake ya head, Aerosmith are a band that isn't that heavy. They are a very blues orientated band that have gone on to be one of the most influential and loved bands ever. The Rolling Stones are a huge influence for this band of rockers(for years they were dogged as a Stones rip off) and the blues are also an influence. Steven Tyler sings deeper on this album than he would later employ while keeping in check the vocals that would later become his signature and calling card. Though a lack of originality may keep Aerosmith grounded, but this band's catchy songs, unpretentious swagger, infectious, slinky guitar licks and venomous back beats still seize the day.

The overall sound of this self titled debut is rougher than what we hear in this day and age. But this rougher production adding much more grit and sneer to, "Mama Kin" and that "walking down an alley" type atmosphere that makes up, "One Way Street"

It's like Aerosmith knew that they were starting somethin big, as the start of the albums opener suggests. "Good Evening people, welcome to the show" Steven Tyler declares at the songs beginning. It may sound cheesy or corny, but when you here Tyler and co's. swagger you are drawn into believing every word that Tyler snarls.

But the bad thing is that this album will always be known for the ballad, "Dream On" annoys me. As this album is would be awesome even if "Dream On" wasn't that good. But how Tyler and the crew build this song from a gentle ballad to a powerful, yet melodic refrain is what's kept this song fresh, even 27 years since it was released.

This album may stumble on the cover of, "Walkin' The Dog." I've never heard another cover of this song that's been better than Aerosmith's rendition and it's weak.

This debut represents a strong birth that has lost a little power over the years. Yeah, sure, it's easy to tell someone to get one of their live albums or, "Greatest Hits" albums but this album sounds dirtier than the rest of their albums to come and a great place to learn about this band.

Where do I start. "Get Your Hands Off My Woman" is a good song to just shout out. Though The Darkness may be out to relive good time rock, where you don't have to be angry to rock hard, this song sounds a bit angry, but in a good way. I mean just before the chorus he Justin shouts, "I've got no right to lay claim to her frame, she's not my possesion, you c**t!" Then the chorus kicks in, "Get Your Hands Off My Woman motherf**ker!" it's so catchy you just gotta sing along. And so is the main riff it's so infectious and rockin' you just gotta crank up your air guitar and blow up your bedroom, or wherever you may be! But the real effect that will get you laughing your head off is when Justin holds "Motherf**ker" at the end for a wild, screech! Great song! Great song! Though the single has the clean version and a crowd favourite not on "Permission To Land" "The Best Of Me"

Though The Darkness never released this song as a single I reckon it would have done real well. A top 10 hit maybe? It has everything a good song needs. A real memorable riff. Out of control verses. A shout it out loud chorus, solo, WHAT! no solo! OMG! Nevermind the riff and the chorus make up for this, and a wild scream and the WOOF! at the end. But the thing a love is the riff. It is hard and the choruses, really catchy. Go The Darkness!!!