Nearly four years after the release of 21st Century Breakdown, Green Day is now releasing the first of their new trilogy of albums. The trilogy, initially intended to be one album, grew in size to the point where the band was left with no option but to add multiple albums. Each is intended to be released two months apart starting today with ¡Uno!.
In this progressive time, nothing but a tragic ending awaits bands unwilling to evolve. With ¡Uno!, Green Day courageously takes a stab at the newest trends while maintaining their bands identity as a punk rock group. The album overall can be seen as an experiment in dance music, an alien process for the group.
Fans will be happy to see Green Day’s physical image has not digressed from the punk scene and that the only changes they have undergone are some slight and subtle tweaks in their sound.
The album initiates with the track “Nuclear Family,” which seems to melodically resemble former track “Pop Rocks and Coke.” The continuous suggestion of previous hits throughout the album appears to suggest little musical progression by Green Day. However, upon further listening, the subtle changes become more apparent.
Green Day attains the pop tweaks through bouncier rhythms in songs such as “Stay the Night,” a feeble switch from their former choppier ones, as well as a deviation in the general feel as created by the the diction and forceful lyrics of the songs.
Such lyrical intensity is apparent on the track “Kill the DJ.” In addition to the outright demand for “Someone [to] kill the DJ,” the band lets loose expletives. The track has been lightly bashed for over repetitive lyrics and lack of meaning, however, it acts as nothing more than the bands statement that they are not a dance or pop band.
The accompanying video shows Armstrong along with fellow band members Mike Dirnt (bass) and Tré Cool (drums) arriving at a dance club on motorcycles, where they inattentively walk through the club. Eventually a blood filled scene suggests the fulfillment of Armstrong’s request for someone to “Kill the DJ.” The track acts as a medium by which the band expresses its feelings regarding the decline of punk and rock music.
This intensity remains true to former Green Day sound, as does the instrumental and rhythmical intensity. However, the sound that was once essential for the punk rock scene changes to give way for the new desired dance vibe, eschewing the volume and the grunge sound typical of the band.
Praise must be given for the bands ability to preserve their image and natural sound through the entire this transition. Credit can largely be attributed to the content of the music and the lyrics themselves. Lead vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong is not shy with his diction or in his confidence and willingness to speak openly.
The tone fabricated from this album sustains Green Day’s glory as a punk rock group, however by way of a new power pop apparatus to successfully fulfill the new needs of listeners and provide necessary adjustments to prolong the longevity of the band’s sound.
The four-year wait for a new Green Day release was a long stretch. After the refreshing release of ¡Uno!, ¡Dos! will only be two months behind and ¡Tre! only four months-definitely a worthwhile wait for Green Day fans.
