Blasphemy & Genocide: Unpopular Green Day Opinions, Part 2

[WhiteTim]

I'd rather this thread have died than read this.

Some people just want to watch the world burn

[Hermione]

That raw, punk sound probably ruins 1,039 SOSH for me. I tried listening to some of it some time ago (after a lot of time, maybe year or more tbh) and my ears were aching.

I think you get used to it quite quickly, like I remember when I first heard Kerplunk it was so strikingly rough and raw sounding that it was off-putting, but I soon got used to it to the point that I didn't even notice it and it seems strange that it sounded that way to me now. Neither of those albums sound very raw to me anymore, the first one in particular almost sounds the opposite because the lyrics, singing, melodies, and a lot of the music are so sweet and poppy that it cancels out the rawness of the recording. I think it's worth giving yourself a chance to become accustomed to the sound, it's meant I've been able to enjoy those albums as well as music from other bands that would've sounded too rough for me before.

[Beerjeezus]

I think you get used to it quite quickly, like I remember when I first heard Kerplunk it was so strikingly rough and raw sounding that it was off-putting, but I soon got used to it to the point that I didn't even notice it and it seems strange that it sounded that way to me now. Neither of those albums sound very raw to me anymore, the first one in particular almost sounds the opposite because the lyrics, singing, melodies, and a lot of the music are so sweet and poppy that it cancels out the rawness of the recording. I think it's worth giving yourself a chance to become accustomed to the sound, it's meant I've been able to enjoy those albums as well as music from other bands that would've sounded too rough for me before.

I used to enjoy that sound before, but now I think it doesn't suit the songs very much...they would deserve something a bit different imho. It's not too raw though. I'll have to give it a more careful listen.

[Chin for a Day]

It kinda annoys me when fans try to deny Green Day are pop like it's some sort of terrible thing. Yes they are a rock band but there's no denying the fact that they have elements of pop in their music, and there's nothing wrong with that.

It annoys me as well. Any artist is in the business to be successful. If they say they aren't they are liars. If all they wanted was to play good music, they would become tax attorneys and play to crowds of 200 people on the weekends. GD adapted to become successful and that is by adding elements of pop. Nothing wrong with that, as a matter of fact, it is too be admired.. Plus, just because you are pop, doesn't mean you are bad. There are plenty of good pop artists out there. Of course there are some that really suck too. I don't care what genre you call an artist, if the music is good, I listen.

[bagelfeet]

East Jesus Nowhere is arguably their best song

[Bob2123]

East Jesus Nowhere is arguably their best song

lol

[JOE THE X-KID]

East Jesus Nowhere is arguably their best song

I'd definitely say it's up there

[Spike]

I'd definitely say it's up there

Looked up. Couldn't see it. Disappointed.

[Sauli]

Not anyone can come up with as good jokes as you, Tom.

[Spike]

Not anyone can come up with as good jokes as you, Tom.

Thank you

[Sauli]

Thank you

Well, if to had to choose I'd definitely rather see you as a Jesus than Nim Jim

[Anaïs.]

East Jesus Nowhere is arguably their best song

Without question the best on 21CB lyrically. JoS and Good Riddance edge it out, though.

[Spike]

Without question the best on 21CB lyrically. JoS and Good Riddance edge it out, though.

Wait, as in Good Riddance is in your top 2 Green Day songs?

[Anaïs.]

Wait, as in Good Riddance is in your top 2 Green Day songs?

No, but in terms of what I believe to be their *greatest* songs it is.

[Spike]

No, but in terms of what I believe to be their *greatest* songs it is.

Ah, ok. Debatable, but still wrong.

[Sauli]

The eternal battle of the objective and the subjective, right?

East Jesus Nowhere is lyrically great, and makes some serious statements which in my opinion were and still are accurate. In that respect I could compare it with American Idiot. Both makes their points clear and both of them are controversial and so very relevant. Those are that kind of songs which made Green Day as a band matter again in the eyes of the public.

Still, they aren't musically their best and are not in my personal top 10. But they should be considered objectively important songs, if we think about their importance to their career.

Same goes for Good Riddance. Nobody can deny its importance, or the message its lyrics have. For to me it was the first step they took on the path that led to American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown - they broke the genre barriers and took a big step forward. The release of that song was very bold movement. And it paid off.

The musical greatness of those songs is a matter of taste, but the importance and the impact of theirs is a cold fact. Those are not in my top ten, personally, I repeat, but those are the songs I appreciate the most.

Seeing the difference and being able to make the distinction between the importance and the subjective goodness of a piece of art is very important.

It's like, yes, I can say and I have a right to claim that Pink Floyd is a criminally overrated band in my opinion, but I can't deny their importance. Or if we take another example. You have every right in the world to say that the Lord of the Rings is a boring medieval nerd fest that merely includes imaginary characters walking trough all kinds of woods, and I understand and respect that opinion, and also kind of agree with it, but neither of us can deny the importance of it or the impact it has had on pop culture in general.

Do I make make any sense?

[Spike]

Lord of the Rings is a boring medieval nerd fest that merely includes imaginary characters walking trough all kinds of woods

Nailed it.

But yeah, that whole post is great. That's why 21st Century Breakdown is by fair their best album musically but still not my favourite.

[Sauli]

Nailed it..

Blah, I still like it, but there's a big difference between liking something and being unable to see its faults. And yes, for some people I recommend only the movies, since Tolkien's prose is often a bit wooden, to say it frankly.

. I prefer the more playful atmosphere of the Hobbit, personally.

[Beerjeezus]

I enjoy Makeout Party.

[Mayonaise]

Dookie was about as punk as a kiddie pool. (Still amazing, though)

Edited October 16, 2014 by Soviet Idiot

[Sauli]

Punk is a funny thing. Nobody agrees what kind of music it is, and everyone has a different conception of what is real and what is fake punk. Then people go all over nuts and start shitstorms whilst arguing what is real punk and what is not, what is cool and what is not.

In the end people concluse it is all about some kind of "attitude" which nobody can determine.

Genres are a funny thing in general. Y'all take music too seriously.

[Hermione]

It annoys me as well. Any artist is in the business to be successful. If they say they aren't they are liars. If all they wanted was to play good music, they would become tax attorneys and play to crowds of 200 people on the weekends. GD adapted to become successful and that is by adding elements of pop. Nothing wrong with that, as a matter of fact, it is too be admired.. Plus, just because you are pop, doesn't mean you are bad. There are plenty of good pop artists out there. Of course there are some that really suck too. I don't care what genre you call an artist, if the music is good, I listen.

I don't think that's the reason there's pop elements in their music at all. They've always had those elements there ever since their very first EP, not to become successful but because that's the type of music they wanted to play. The songs on 39/Smooth and Kerplunk aren't any less pop sounding than Dookie. They're influenced by amazing bands that incorporated a pop sound such as The Beatles and The Ramones and many others and appreciate that sound, and play that way because it sounds good to them. They became successful because it turns out lots of people agree that it sounds good. They didn't have to compromise to achieve the sound that people like, it's just what they always played.

[The Disappearing Boy]

Looked up. Couldn't see it. Disappointed.

You must have been looking in the wrong place, I looked up there and saw it

Punk is a funny thing. Nobody agrees what kind of music it is, and everyone has a different conception of what is real and what is fake punk. Then people go all over nuts and start shitstorms whilst arguing what is real punk and what is not, what is cool and what is not.

In the end people concluse it is all about some kind of "attitude" which nobody can determine.

Genres are a funny thing in general. Y'all take music too seriously.

The first rule of punk is to have no rules.

Which demonstrates why 'punk' is a nice idea in theory, but but rarely ever lasts beyond that authority-hating, anti-establishment, non-conformist phase that every teenager goes through.

[Sauli]

The first rule of punk is to have no rules.Which demonstrates why 'punk' is a nice idea in theory, but but rarely ever lasts beyond that authority-hating, anti-establishment, non-conformist phase that every teenager goes through.

Which explains why every good "punk" band must grow up and change if they want to remain relevant.

[Chin for a Day]

I don't think that's the reason there's pop elements in their music at all. They've always had those elements there ever since their very first EP, not to become successful but because that's the type of music they wanted to play. The songs on 39/Smooth and Kerplunk aren't any less pop sounding than Dookie. They're influenced by amazing bands that incorporated a pop sound such as The Beatles and The Ramones and many others and appreciate that sound, and play that way because it sounds good to them. They became successful because it turns out lots of people agree that it sounds good. They didn't have to compromise to achieve the sound that people like, it's just what they always played.

I disagree. First, I didn't say compromise, I said adapted, huge, huge difference. It doesn't matter what career you choose, whether it is show business, doctor, president, etc to remain viable and successful, you need to adapt to changing environments. The same things that worked in 1989 will not necessarily work in 2014. One of the reasons that GD has remained successful for 25 years is their ability to adapt and change. Albert Einstein had his own definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. There are many bands that didn't adapt and they are now playing oldie shows. I think 39/Smooth and Kerplunk are different than Dookie, Nimrod and Insomniac. Then Warning, American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown are different than the rest. There are definitely more pop sounds in Dookie, Nimrod and Insomniac then 39/Smooth and Kerplunk. The songs are much more radio friendly. There is absolutely nothing wrong with how they have adapted, but they most definitely have. Yes, they were influenced by The Beatles and The Ramones, they were also influenced by the Sex Pistols and The Stooges, all different sounds. GD's greatness is because they could take those sounds that influenced them and successfully adapt to become successful and remain successful. Personally, I'm excited to see what they can come up with next. Even though I truly believe they are done, sadly.