The Playlist: Revolution Radio

Green Day, a pop-punk band from Northern California, released a new album October 7 titled Revolution Radio. Revolution Radio is the big follow up album to the Uno, Dos, Tre series. This time the band is heading back to punk-rock originality by shouting about what they believe in while keeping mellow tunes in the album.

The new album is one that falls into an original punk sounds as opposed to a catchy pop tune like “Wake me up when September ends.” Green Day ensures a back to the basics with criticizing the government and it brings me back to the American Idiot days with Billie Joe Armstrong’s Bush mask that the band has famed themselves on. I think that the band is doing just fine expressing themselves through political matters and how they feel about it. Their single “Bang bang” is heavy with drums and guitar, and it’s fast and loud. It’s something more of a headbanging tune and I find it to be fantastic.

The album is more about causing an uprising, something that people can stand up to, believe in, and change the community for the better. I think that with Green Day heading down this path is more of a chant of revolt against this year’s presidential election. Billie Joe Armstrong, Green Day’s frontman, has posted several things on his social media accounts that are against the then-candidate Donald Trump. Green Day has been known for expressing themselves and political statements are explicit in the album.

This isn’t the first time the band is getting political. Their 2004 rock opera, American Idiot, had made references to the economy at the time and also decisions made by the government as a whole. Revolution Radio once again challenges the government and makes an impact on listeners. I like the challenges that they raise to listeners- it gives them a fight with the band and government.

It all come accross as to modes, fast and loud, or mellow and strong.The album was generally okay there were some songs that I just got into, and others not so much. I think there is more potential for a rock ballad that touches all the heart strings. Green Day, I know, has the capability of doing that.

The single “Bang Bang” is fast and almost make me want to start a mosh pit, and that for me kept a really strong connection to their albums in the past. As for other songs like “Still Breathing” it’s about finding a place a reason to live and small accomplishments for those with depression or anxiety. It is a very strong song and plays an emotional toll on the audience. Honestly I’m fine with a couple songs that are mellow, but a punk band with about half the songs done that way. It’s not as satisfying.

If you’re a fan of Green Day this album is well worth the time because it bring new challenges for listeners, as for those who are not that into the band, try a few singles off the album and decide from there. As a fan of them in the past Green Day has opened up opportunities to expand their sound and evolve with it, but to me it was nothing more then the band experimenting with a new sound while keeping one foot in the two centuries.