Green Day
Warning

Review by Ian White
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CD Stock Number: Adeline Records 012-1

 

  It would be so easy to say I told you so, though I did tell you so! The first time hearing the post-punk trio from Oakland play live in a back alley behind the HMV store in downtown Toronto I knew that all of my online accolades extolling the quality of this band were finally justified. In the post-Nirvana music world, many critics felt that Pearl Jam were the only legitimate heavyweight contender and nominated Lord Eddie as Kurt Cobain's successor. Well... in the spirit of the Sex Pistols and the Clash, Green Day just charged ahead, and quite frankly, have consistently put out better and more sophisticated albums than Pearl Jam (which was not all that tough) rendering them a non-player. No matter how vulgar some might find the lyrics on Dookie!, the fact still remains that Green Day evolved from their raw form into a rather sophisticated trio whose lyrics are a lot more mature and intelligent than people give them credit for.

Another reason for their success is that Green Day kept things tight, from a musical perspective. This Rush fan can see a lot of the professionalism of Geddy, Neil, and Alex, in Billie Joe, Mike, and Tre. Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool are a fantastic rhythm section, equal to any other bassist/drummer combination in the rock world today. While their influences (the Clash, Sex Pistols) crashed and burned, Green Day matured as musicians, as parents, as listeners, and as a result has continued to record gems such as Warning. Cynics have continued pointing at the most overplayed song of the year "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" as proof that Green Day went soft and sold out, but after listening to Warning, it's so obvious that they feel no pressure to impress anyone. These guys are actually having fun as musicians, and as a result the music isn't forced or politically correct. To top it all off, it even sounds good on vinyl. Play this recording loud and remember why you love rock 'n' roll.

Enjoyment: 80

Sound Quality: 65