(March 2019) I have completed episode 205 of my “opus project.” This edition: GREEN DAY. Based on their radio play, I had dismissed them as safe-space punk for the masses. But with this review, I was selling them far short. The rhythm section is *chef’s kiss* and the guitars are hooky and loud. Early on, the over-production was unsuited to the genre, but as they grew the songwriting caught up and broadened into power pop and guitar rock. Billy Joe’s affected vocals, once irritating and dominating, got better integrated. Green Day is a model for how a band matures and adds dynamism without letting go of their foundational tone.
Favorite album: Insomniac
Favorite song: American Idiot
Favorite power ballad: Redundant
Favorite rock opera: 21st Century Breakdown (better than American Idiot)
Special sauce: Tré Cool
Compared to expectations: ⇑
Opus Project 