Unpopular Green Day Opinions

[WhiteTim]

I dont see how 21 Guns is a re write of BOBD...

[beejeezee]

An unpopular opinion! OK now I'll counter with why I absolutely hate the song.

It's the very definition of the "taking themselves far too seriously" Green Day that took over after American Idiot and went right into the 21st Century Breakdown album, which is why I don't like it. The character of St. Jimmy laces the American Idiot album with their usual dark sense of humour, so the album itself, whilst being all about the melodrama that goes on inside a disillusioned teenager's head, is fine by me.

After the Holiday video, that sense of humour went out the window in favour of super serious, anything to attract the emo kids, the September Ends video was particularly horrific. Then they went and put out 21st Century Breakdown. The cover of that record is yet another example. The video for 21 Guns is another miserable affair, but what's worse is the song itself. It's a bland, formulaic power ballad-by-numbers, a lazy re-write of Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (which itself was a magnificent song, because it came from a real place) that marked itself out immediately as an obvious single purely because of how radio friendly and derivative it was. It screams "let's re-write our biggest single from the last album" and any band who ever does that will always be and should always be treated with suspicion.

This is the unpopular opinions thread, seeing as most people dislike the song your comment is unnecessary.

And just to add, I think the song is beautifly written. It's unique in every sense of the word.

[Tim Rains]

If you picked the best 20 songs from the trilogy and made 1 album it would be green day's best album. Billie's vocals are great, the guitar solos are awesome, mikes bass lines are his best since dookie, and the albums have a theme

[Cath]

If you picked the best 20 songs from the trilogy and made 1 album it would be green day's best album. Billie's vocals are great, the guitar solos are awesome, mikes bass lines are his best since dookie, and the albums have a theme

that's probably a popular opinion but anyway. i prefer to have 37 songs and three albums and have some that i don't like that to have only like 14 songs on a album only. maybe they wouldn't have picked the songs we prefer to be on that album too. look they choosed Oh Love as principal song and single for the trilogy and that's not a fan's favorite.

[Tim Rains]

I agree, I like the trilogy the way it is as well. I put that as an unpopular opinion because the trilogy seems to get a lot of criticism and didn't perform to green day standards as far as sales. I have multiple friends who like green day that had no clue the trilogy even existed...

[Mar]

Even though it is a Network song, Roshambo is probably one of THE BEST songs ever written by Billie.

You beat me to it. It's truly a fantastic song and while I wouldn't want it to be a GD song for obvious reasons, I do wish it was more well-known. I think Right-Hand-A-Rama is pretty awesome, too.

[HolyHandGrenade]

You beat me to it. It's truly a fantastic song and while I wouldn't want it to be a GD song for obvious reasons, I do wish it was more well-known. I think Right-Hand-A-Rama is pretty awesome, too.

Reto has an amazing riff.

The Network's songs aren't to be taken that seriously, they're a parody of pretentious 80s new wave music for the most part (with their interesting choice of clothes being a parody of the fashion/style that went with it). I love the tongue in cheek humour of it all, plus a lot of the lyrics are just laugh out loud funny, and a lot of the music isn't half bad either. It's really interesting to hear them doing something so different. Take them for what they are and they're fun and cool.

(Although they're not Green Day of course )

Spike is a perfect example

[GaxnorianLiberator]

Some people don't seem to like 21 Guns all that much, so I guess this goes here.

21 Guns is probably one of my favorite songs, at the very least is holds a lot of sentimental value for me. 21 Guns happened to be the first Green Day song I heard and was the song that made me love Green Day, along with music in general. It got me through some rough times in my life and I still get emotional any time I hear it.

I personally can't stand it for a few reasons.

1. Almost everyone I knew in High School had it on their mp3 players. But tracks like BTL remain mostly unheard of.

2. It was on the radio way too fucking often.

3. It reminds me of my fat cheating Bisexual whore of an Ex Girlfriend. As it was her favorite song from 21st CB until she dated me. It was the only one she knew of till she dated me.

[Clayish]

Roshambo is a top ten song, including Green Day, FBHT, Network, etc.

[SmoothedOut]

The bands you just listed gives metalcore a bad name you listed pussycore

Sorry about that. I had always known that those bands weren't metalcore. It's just that there never seems to be people around to defend it and I have a lot of friends who listen to those bands and call them 'metalcore' so I guess it's kinda stuck. Whatever real metalcore is I respect that if they are any better. But yeah, the point was that the youth of today seem to find rebellion in what you call 'pussycore'. A lot of my friends I could've mistaken for punk rockers have no idea what punk rock is but they do listen to 'Attack Attack'. I don't really see how it's considered rebellious lyric-wise.

[Asa.]

I really don't care for Pinhead Gunpowder.

[SmoothedOut]

I feel quite the same. The trilogy is probably the first set of Green Day albums where the lyrics seem to have no depth. It kind of ruined the whole three albums for me. Previously, there was either a strong sense of socio-political commentary or just very personal take on relationships and feelings, for example. I think if they found some kind of middle ground between the two kinds of approaches they took before, they could make something special. I think given Billie Joe's experiences in rehab and what appears to me to be a growing hatred of certain genres of modern music, they just might be onto something. I'll always have some hope...

I think you're absolutely correct. It has the smartass nature like a lot of the band's lyrics from those days, it's got humor and yet, it's also got heart with its message. However, I think their performances of it are just not that fun anymore. They seem almost rote and I think the time could be spent performing something else.

I think it's after they released the trilogy that made me realize certain things about the band in their state right now. The new lyrics certainly seem to lack depth. The way the songs are played is also.. questionable. I'm pretty sure Green Day could've added much more to the songs both lyrically and to the overall final product. One thing that puts me off is the fact that the songs are played all so neat and tidily but because they intended for it to be recorded like it was recorded in a room (hence the live, somewhat raw sound), it ends up sounding rather.. strange and weak. Too simple. Even for Green Day's standards.. Even if they said they wanted to make a dirty, raw record I don't think the trilogy can ever be as genuine as Dookie in terms of dirty, raw, and in your face punk rock and roll. That's my opinion on the sound. And lyrically: from what I've read from fans, there seems to be a song or two that ruins the whole trilogy for them - and it's a different song for different fans. What one might hate might be what one might love. But that's the problem. The trilogy is just so big and - diverse? - that it's hard to get a grip on the whole thing. To me, I guess there's some songs on the trilogy that just don't match the level of the others. I'm just kind of confused right now. I don't think they found that middle ground which is quite troubling..

Which leads to how I think about the band's live performances of their old material (pre-American Idiot) and new material (post 21st Century Breakdown). I think "King for a Day" still has it just because I think nothing can ever top the musical majesty Green Day brings on stage when they play it. However, I just don't think they stay true to their older material anymore. Performance-wise, any song Green Day plays live is AWESOME. But when it comes down to what the songs on Dookie meant to the band when they were released, how they played it, and the attitude they had on stage when playing it, I think it's almost nowhere to be seen now. The lyrics are important. When they play the older songs live, they seem to play them just so we can hear them. But the character behind the songs have disappeared along with their youth. That's just my opinion. I mean, Billie didn't used to sing "Chump" just because the crowd requested it. They sang those lyrics because it's what they had to say. When people say their older stuff has no meaning and their newer stuff does, I think they fail to see just how much Green Day had to say in that period of time. Why else would have they gone through the whole 90s just singing about what they sang about if it meant nothing to them? Nowadays though, when they play requests like "Brat" or "Stuck With Me" I doubt the lyrics don't mean anything to them anymore. How Billie rallies the crowd now fits very well with the songs on American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown and makes for a very good show. But if they couldn't stray away from that when they were gonna start writing less politically charged songs again, maybe they shouldn't have released the trilogy. It's just kinda hard singing along to the newer stuff while they look like they're still trying to put a stop to the war.

Opinion.

[musso_kn]

I think it's after they released the trilogy that made me realize certain things about the band in their state right now. The new lyrics certainly seem to lack depth. The way the songs are played is also.. questionable. I'm pretty sure Green Day could've added much more to the songs both lyrically and to the overall final product. One thing that puts me off is the fact that the songs are played all so neat and tidily but because they intended for it to be recorded like it was recorded in a room (hence the live, somewhat raw sound), it ends up sounding rather.. strange and weak. Too simple. Even for Green Day's standards.. Even if they said they wanted to make a dirty, raw record I don't think the trilogy can ever be as genuine as Dookie in terms of dirty, raw, and in your face punk rock and roll. That's my opinion on the sound. And lyrically: from what I've read from fans, there seems to be a song or two that ruins the whole trilogy for them - and it's a different song for different fans. What one might hate might be what one might love. But that's the problem. The trilogy is just so big and - diverse? - that it's hard to get a grip on the whole thing. To me, I guess there's some songs on the trilogy that just don't match the level of the others. I'm just kind of confused right now. I don't think they found that middle ground which is quite troubling..

Which leads to how I think about the band's live performances of their old material (pre-American Idiot) and new material (post 21st Century Breakdown). I think "King for a Day" still has it just because I think nothing can ever top the musical majesty Green Day brings on stage when they play it. However, I just don't think they stay true to their older material anymore. Performance-wise, any song Green Day plays live is AWESOME. But when it comes down to what the songs on Dookie meant to the band when they were released, how they played it, and the attitude they had on stage when playing it, I think it's almost nowhere to be seen now. The lyrics are important. When they play the older songs live, they seem to play them just so we can hear them. But the character behind the songs have disappeared along with their youth. That's just my opinion. I mean, Billie didn't used to sing "Chump" just because the crowd requested it. They sang those lyrics because it's what they had to say. When people say their older stuff has no meaning and their newer stuff does, I think they fail to see just how much Green Day had to say in that period of time. Why else would have they gone through the whole 90s just singing about what they sang about if it meant nothing to them? Nowadays though, when they play requests like "Brat" or "Stuck With Me" I doubt the lyrics don't mean anything to them anymore. How Billie rallies the crowd now fits very well with the songs on American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown and makes for a very good show. But if they couldn't stray away from that when they were gonna start writing less politically charged songs again, maybe they shouldn't have released the trilogy. It's just kinda hard singing along to the newer stuff while they look like they're still trying to put a stop to the war.

Opinion.

I wouldn't say the older songs don't mean anything to them anymore. That seems counterintuitive: all humans have a connection with feelings from the past, right? They, especially Billie Joe considering he's the main songwriter, probably don't experience those emotions so immediately anymore. It's inevitable, really. Musicians are people, and people, along with their work, change.

However, I don't feel the lyrics across the trilogy bear any resemblance to anything prior to American Idiot, because there's none of the genuine angst that made 39/Smooth to Warning so charming. At the same time, they seem to be desperately trying to dissociate themselves from their angry, political side. They're a very 'reactionary' band. They've never made a record where they weren't out prove something and the trilogy was a way to say "hey, we can still be fun!". From my point of view, it's the first time they've failed. If anything, the trilogy is the first time they've come across as "rock stars". Many people will disagree with me and say the grand American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown albums and performances really showed them being "rock stars". That seems to be what you were suggesting, I think. I disagree; they were very much involved in making the music great and the message of those two records was hugely important and yet very personal in places. Listen to Boulevard of Broken Dreams or 21st Century Breakdown, for example. There's so much heart in those songs. The trilogy, with its references to nothing but sex and drugs (there are a few exceptions), feels soulless.

Green Day is the antithesis of soulless, at least up until now. That's why I love them. I don't know what it is about the trilogy that makes it so unrelatable, so dispassionate, but I don't think it has anything to do with their further rise to fame since 2004. Maybe it was Billie Joe's drink/drug problems, maybe it was just the sheer volume of songs they were dealing with. But they have to bring it back somehow.

[cindeeedasilva]

... There's so much heart in those songs. The trilogy, with its references to nothing but sex and drugs (there are a few exceptions), feels soulless.

Green Day is the antithesis of soulless, at least up until now. That's why I love them. I don't know what it is about the trilogy that makes it so unrelatable, so dispassionate, but I don't think it has anything to do with their further rise to fame since 2004. Maybe it was Billie Joe's drink/drug problems, maybe it was just the sheer volume of songs they were dealing with. But they have to bring it back somehow.

I totally understand where you guys are coming from. But I think these songs do have meaning and they are relatable, just like every album they've made previous to the trilogy. You have to look at it from the point of view of the artist. Their 1990-2000 era of music was relatable to young Green Day fans because they were written in the point of view of a young Green Day. American Idiot/21CB was relatable because of how relevant the political situation was at the time.

Lets remember these guys are now in their early 40s and theres been quite a gap between the trilogy and 21CB. The tracks on the trilogy that mean a lot to them may not resonate with you as much as their other music because they've been through a lot of things most younger fans won't experience until a few years later. To me, it sounded like they were trying to have fun and lighten up their serious political image from the 2004-2009 era. Its nothing like the 'raw' 20 something year old attitude of Dookie/Insomniac/Nimrod but ya gotta remember they aren't a bunch of 20 something year olds writing music anymore.

To be honest a lot of the stuff off of Uno and Tre really resonated with me and made me cry because I really felt they came from a very deep place in Billie's heart and it brought me back to a lot of similar situations I've dealt with.

Idk I've done a lot of rambling here lol but at the end of it all I think there was passion in writing the Trilogy, its just coming from a very different place in their lives.

[musso_kn]

I totally understand where you guys are coming from. But I think these songs do have meaning and they are relatable, just like every album they've made previous to the trilogy. You have to look at it from the point of view of the artist. Their 1990-2000 era of music was relatable to young Green Day fans because they were written in the point of view of a young Green Day. American Idiot/21CB was relatable because of how relevant the political situation was at the time.

Lets remember these guys are now in their early 40s and theres been quite a gap between the trilogy and 21CB. The tracks on the trilogy that mean a lot to them may not resonate with you as much as their other music because they've been through a lot of things most younger fans won't experience until a few years later. To me, it sounded like they were trying to have fun and lighten up their serious political image from the 2004-2009 era. Its nothing like the 'raw' 20 something year old attitude of Dookie/Insomniac/Nimrod but ya gotta remember they aren't a bunch of 20 something year olds writing music anymore.

To be honest a lot of the stuff off of Uno and Tre really resonated with me and made me cry because I really felt they came from a very deep place in Billie's heart and it brought me back to a lot of similar situations I've dealt with.

Idk I've done a lot of rambling here lol but at the end of it all I think there was passion in writing the Trilogy, its just coming from a very different place in their lives.

There are exceptions. Brutal Love is heart breaking. I'm not one of those fans who expects them to write the same shit, both lyrically and musically, over and over again: I like it when they branch out of their comfort zone. In a way, you're probably right: the songs are written with passion but the problem is that I just can't relate to or even appreciate a lot of the stuff on the trilogy. That doesn't take away from whatever hard work went into it, but it leaves me personally feeling a bit empty and disappointed. I'm the quiet and inexperienced sort, so I'm not particular enticed by or understanding of the 'partying' mentality. Politics, religion, angst, unrequited love and frustration...I get all that. It's just perspective, I guess.

[angel green]

The trilogy was fun, but it really does lack depth. I enjoyed it, but something I can't get over is how the 99 Revolutions tour has basically the same set list every night.

[Guest]

The trilogy was fun, but it really does lack depth. I enjoyed it, but something I can't get over is how the 99 Revolutions tour has basically the same set list every night.

That's pretty much the same on every tour though. Green Day rarely change their setlist a lot during the first leg of the tour. The second leg is where they just play whatever.

[cindeeedasilva]

There are exceptions. Brutal Love is heart breaking. I'm not one of those fans who expects them to write the same shit, both lyrically and musically, over and over again: I like it when they branch out f their comfort zone. In a way, you're probably right: the songs are written with passion but the problem is that I just can't relate or even appreciate a lot of the stuff on the trilogy. That doesn't take away from whatever hard work went into it, but it leaves me personally feeling a bit empty and disappointed. I'm the quiet and inexperienced sort, so I'm not particular enticed or understanding of the 'partying' mentality. Politics, religion, angst, unrequited love and frustration...I get all that. It's just perspective, I guess.

Honestly when I was little listening to all their stuff, it barely had meaning to me, I was a kid - i knew nothing lol. All I remember was that when I was angry or my parents were fighting, listening to them was the only thing that would make me feel better. As the years went by I'd still listen to those songs on repeat and it felt like every day I understood the meaning to a different song. I used to HATE Redundant. I thought it was a stupid song. About 5 years ago on one night I got to a shitty point in a relationship i was in and that song's meaning hit me straight in the face and I loved it - because I understood it.

Now, years later I can listen to their discography and appreciate it from my point of view and theirs from the time period they wrote it. Not only does their music sound good to me, I get it. Just like you understand all the Green Day albums/songs you love. Different songs speak to different people. Its cool the way their music works

[SmoothedOut]

I wouldn't say the older songs don't mean anything to them anymore. That seems counterintuitive: all humans have a connection with feelings from the past, right? They, especially Billie Joe considering he's the main songwriter, probably don't experience those emotions so immediately anymore. It's inevitable, really. Musicians are people, and people, along with their work, change.

However, I don't feel the lyrics across the trilogy bear any resemblance to anything prior to American Idiot, because there's none of the genuine angst that made 39/Smooth to Warning so charming. At the same time, they seem to be desperately trying to dissociate themselves from their angry, political side. They're a very 'reactionary' band. They've never made a record where they weren't out prove something and the trilogy was a way to say "hey, we can still be fun!". From my point of view, it's the first time they've failed. If anything, the trilogy is the first time they've come across as "rock stars". Many people will disagree with me and say the grand American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown albums and performances really showed them being "rock stars". That seems to be what you were suggesting, I think. I disagree; they were very much involved in making the music great and the message of those two records was hugely important and yet very personal in places. Listen to Boulevard of Broken Dreams or 21st Century Breakdown, for example. There's so much heart in those songs. The trilogy, with its references to nothing but sex and drugs (there are a few exceptions), feels soulless.

Green Day is the antithesis of soulless, at least up until now. That's why I love them. I don't know what it is about the trilogy that makes it so unrelatable, so dispassionate, but I don't think it has anything to do with their further rise to fame since 2004. Maybe it was Billie Joe's drink/drug problems, maybe it was just the sheer volume of songs they were dealing with. But they have to bring it back somehow.

Oh yes. I didn't really mean to say they shouldn't change as musicians. This is something they have done really well since their formative years. You're right though. They wrote the songs. They'll relate to their own songs more than any of us ever will. Haha. But I don't know. With the way things are now with the band, it's just hard to believe. But that's what you get from a band that's been around all their lives and writing songs for not one but two generations of people.

And I agree! I'm sure everyone agrees American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown were really different from anything prior. The lyrics weren't as straightforward as the old stuff and Billie spoke in hymns - especially on 21st Century Breakdown. All the melodies and repeated lines. They were brilliant for what the concept albums were. Which is also the reason why I think they can only get away with that sort of writing if they released more concept albums. "99 Revolutions", "Let Yourself Go". They can be mistaken for 21st Century Breakdown songs for their repetitive choruses and the brilliant backing vocals Mike, Jeff, Jason, and Jason have all perfected in the past. But as I said, this just isn't what a normal Green Day album would sound to me - normal being a non-concept Green Day album. Since the trilogy seems to be a mix of both styles, there's just this strange feeling. And I think they perform really well live. Especially the songs from American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown. I actually meant both. In the end, the reason why we get a good show is because they are very true to what they sing from those two albums - which brings about this sort of riot feel in the crowd. It's amazing. I think they were rockstars since they released their first album.

And yeah, I really have to agree with that. Everything they have ever done has just been perfect. Up until now. There's just this feeling that they weren't able to pull it off this time round, and as a Green Day fan it's natural to be disappointed. I've been wondering myself.. It's knowing that this band has never made a wrong step since the day they formed that brings about this feeling of disappointment when you look at the trilogy and just feel like you wish they had released it in a better way.

I'm also quite a quiet person too. But the only thing that keeps me alive and hopeful of this band is my knowledge of them. I don't think these three are the type of people they portray they are in the trilogy. Knowing this band that has represented the anti-social, creative, and snotty side of the youth for 20 years? Hah! I'll admit I can be anti-social. I can be creative. I can be snotty. But I don't go to clubs and think about sex all the time. And knowing that, I don't think Green Day do either. Haha! I just try to laugh it off. Let's hope there's still the best to come from Green Day!

[musso_kn]

I'm also quite a quiet person too. But the only thing that keeps me alive and hopeful of this band is my knowledge of them. I don't think these three are the type of people they portray they are in the trilogy. Knowing this band that has represented the anti-social, creative, and snotty side of the youth for 20 years? Hah! I'll admit I can be anti-social. I can be creative. I can be snotty. But I don't go to clubs and think about sex all the time. And knowing that, I don't think Green Day do either. Haha! I just try to laugh it off. Let's hope there's still the best to come from Green Day!

I don't think they're those kind of people either, if only for the fact that this 'party animal' persona doesn't suit them! When they produced songs about 'excess' throughout the nineties, and even somewhat on American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown, they had a real sense of humour about them. They weren't taking themselves too seriously. Compare Fuck Time with Blood, Sex and Booze: same subject matter, totally different approaches and only the latter really works. I kind of see what you meant about how they haven't left their political, serious phase completely: they're trying to talk about trivial things as if they're the end of the world! And it's hilarious - for all the wrong reasons. But, yeah, bottom line stands that they're still the three (or four...) loser kids from Berkeley/Oakland and they should re-embrace it anyway they can.

[Duhhan1023]

The thing for me is this. I really like the trilogy, since UNO came out i've been listening to the trilogy on average 5 days a week. The problem is that I'm not really proud of it, when I talk with my friends about what albums they're listening to, they all go like Biffy Clyro's new album is amazing and Muse latest album is fantastic, these last 2 days everyone is saying how much they liked daft punk's new album. I didn't hear a lot of people talking about how the trilogy was amazing, and I'm not confident enough to go and tell them to listen to it because deep inside I'm not really proud of it. In the case of 21st Century breakdown and American Idiot things were different, I was proud to be a green day fan, those albums really represented me as a fan and I wasn't ashamed of being a green day fan. I know, i'm talking like i'm not proud that I like Green Day ( which is not true they are my favourite band and I visit GDA everyhour !) but in these day and age many people seem to forget who are Green Day and just see them as a young teenage girls band and not for adults. And I REALLY HATE THAT. I want them to release an album where they can show how technically are good and how they can write great songs which are not cheesy as those of the trilogy.

[DecanoLP]

I think it's after they released the trilogy that made me realize certain things about the band in their state right now. The new lyrics certainly seem to lack depth. The way the songs are played is also.. questionable. I'm pretty sure Green Day could've added much more to the songs both lyrically and to the overall final product. One thing that puts me off is the fact that the songs are played all so neat and tidily but because they intended for it to be recorded like it was recorded in a room (hence the live, somewhat raw sound), it ends up sounding rather.. strange and weak. Too simple. Even for Green Day's standards.. Even if they said they wanted to make a dirty, raw record I don't think the trilogy can ever be as genuine as Dookie in terms of dirty, raw, and in your face punk rock and roll. That's my opinion on the sound. And lyrically: from what I've read from fans, there seems to be a song or two that ruins the whole trilogy for them - and it's a different song for different fans. What one might hate might be what one might love. But that's the problem. The trilogy is just so big and - diverse? - that it's hard to get a grip on the whole thing. To me, I guess there's some songs on the trilogy that just don't match the level of the others. I'm just kind of confused right now. I don't think they found that middle ground which is quite troubling..

Very good post I completely agree.

[musso_kn]

....but in these day and age many people seem to forget who are Green Day and just see them as a young teenage girls band and not for adults. And I REALLY HATE THAT.

This makes me want to slam my head against the wall to the beat of Platypus (I hate you).

[Hermione]

I don't think the Trilogy lacks depth. Not all songs need depth (Fuck Time for example), and if they don't need it they're not lacking it . But besides a few songs like that there's plenty of depth in the lyrics, there's funny, sexy, dark, romantic, introspective and thoughtful lyrics on those albums, there's everything there. Even the songs with less depth add up to something more in the context of the albums, you have the fun of the party along with the bad side of the party and then the reflective aftermath. I'm totally satisfied with them.

I really don't care for Pinhead Gunpowder.

See I wouldn't call that an unpopular Green Day opinion. Both bands have Billie and Jason in them but other than that they're not related. They have (for the most part) different songwriters and different styles of music. I happen to like both, but there's no reason to expect someone to automatically like Pinhead Gunpowder just because they like Green Day - they're two totally different bands.

[madeofspam]

- I started seeing chinks in Green Day's armor around when 21BD hit. Then they fell from the top spot of my favorite band ever (Local H holds that honor now, but GD is still a very close second) during the whole trilogy fiasco. While I didn't love every piece of music they put out unconditionally, I still enjoyed most of it and could usually listen to their albums without. The trilogy put an end to that.

- I honestly think the trilogy would have been better served as maybe one 14 or 16 song album. Spread across 3 albums was just too much and songs that should have been saved for a b-side collection got top billing instead. That said, I have a much better appreciation for the trilogy after hearing these songs live.

- I am also not cool with the marketing blitz for the trilogy either. Putting music on the Twilight soundtrack and reskinning Angry Birds for Green Day was just lame.

- However, I heard some people criticize the Green Day Rock Band issue. I thought that was fantastic and didn't think it's "selling out" at all. I am not musically inclined at all, so getting to interact with my favorite Green Day songs was amazing. I got the game on the day of release and played through every song in one set and loved every second of it and the sore arms the next day. Even though the Rock Band fad is over, I still think it was a great way for established, well known bands and new bands alike to share their music with the public. As for the Rock Band haters who say "Just learn a real instrument", not everyone has that ability. So getting to experience you're favorite band's music in a whole new way that's not as passive as sitting back and listening to it will always be a positive in my book.

- Okay I don't get all the Dookie hate. Is it me or does it seem like it's coming from the younger fans? Dookie is one of my favorite albums of all time. I love it just as much now as I did when I first heard it at 15. It is a perfect album in my opinion and every song could have been a single.

- This may get me some heat as an infrequent poster to these boards, but I noticed this come from alot of the younger fans too. Just because I don't like the new music as much, it doesn't make me "less of a fan" than you or anyone else. No band is perfect and you shouldn't blindly love and worship everything they produce like it fell from God's asshole to the ground. Every band will have low points and put out some stinkers, as GD have recently proved to us. If anything, some bands need those "low" periods and it motivates them to come back and kick as much ass as possible on the next album.

- To expand on the previous thing, this is again more related to fans, but the band has a fault in this as well. While I would love to have seen every GD show on the East Coast this tour, there is no way possible I could have afforded that. I have bills, work, a wife and kid to take care of and other responsibilities. It's just not realistic for me and for many other fans. Hell, there have been times where I missed a Green Day show or a show from another band I love because I couldn't afford them and it bothered the hell out of me. I was talking to someone in the crowd at the Camden show in 2011 and they acted like I wasn't a real, dedicated fan because I wasn't seeing them ten times on that tour. If you can do it great, more power to you, go and have a blast. It doesn't make you a better fan than me. Additionally, don't judge me because I'm not willing to shill out ridiculous sums of money for GD tickets either. Green Day ticket prices have been slowly, but steadily rising over the years. I'm afraid it's going to get to the point to where I'm not willing to spend that amount on a ticket, no matter how badly I want to see them. My limit would be $100 (including those retarded box office fees) for the best seats in the house and that's pushing it for me. Any band who says they care about their fans, but then charges crazy prices for the tickets, really doesn't care about them. They DO have input into the ticket prices. Kid Rock (love him or hate him) proved that recently where he fought to keep prices for tickets at his upcoming tour at $20. I am not a fan, but I highly respect that. They have more money than they can spend in ten lifetimes and there's no reason they need to charge as much as they do for tickets these days. It's not fair to the fans who have a limited income. NO band is worth a couple hundred dollars a ticket. Not even Green Day. Also, buying tickets from scalpers on Craigslist or eBay, charging 5 times the face value of the ticket doesn't make you a dedicated fan either. It takes chances away from fans who would love to see their favorite band, but can't afford those unfair prices. It also teaches the jerk off ticket brokers and scalpers who buy up all the good seats that anyone is willing to pay anything and they will keep doing that to take advantage of people.