Blasphemy & Genocide: Unpopular Green Day Opinions, Part 2

[DeJennsitized]

18 minutes ago, petros said:

Cause what I'm saying is that it looks like they do the same thing. Also after the trilogy flopped and they turned to politics again and more specifically into hating a certain politician(the us president) that also makes them look to do the same thing that got the relevant the other time don't you thing? I'm not saying that I think they did it. I'm still thinking about it. It seems like they did kinda do the same thing to get relevant again but on the other hand I don't want to believe this about my favorite band.

They didn't 'turn to politics' again. They never stopped. Trilogy albums weren't political for the most part because Obama was in office and he's actually not a racist idiot. They hate Trump because he's hateful. Sure it feels like history repeating itself but that's not because of Green Day, the situation last time was similar as well. But this time the threat is greater so of course they're going to talk about it. Wretched & Devine's post with Billie's tweets go back to 2011, that was her point - that it's not a new thing to try and get relevance.

If people are going to accuse them of trying to stay relevant for doing something they'd do anyway, just because American Idiot happened to be a huge hit, then they can't win.

12 minutes ago, Wretched & Divine said:

I've accepted my fate as being in a minority with Youngblood. I love it so much  I don't listen to 1039/Slappy Hours very often, probably for the same reason and I just haven't given it much thought. Nimrod and Warning are full of such wonderful unconventional love songs. When It's Time is definitely not my cup of tea, sorry Billie.

I agree....except for the Youngblood part  

11 minutes ago, Scattered Wreck said:

I agree with everything you said other than the LNOE part, I love that song.  I think for me, sometimes Billie writes songs that come off, to me, as he is just throwing out cliques to try and impress someone, not necessarily to mean them.  There seems to be real passion in songs like Worry Rock or Scattered or Church on Sunday, as opposed to WIT that to me just comes across as a whiney boy. 

Yes, I feel like that too. I also think the Nimrod/Warning love songs are more than just trying to woo someone, which is probably why I like them more.

[Wretched & Divine]

13 minutes ago, petros said:

Well in this post while we still disagree on some things you don't come off as you did in your other posts so yeah it probably was me using the world fanboys or girls. So I'll agree with you on that  

I apologise if I jumped the gun a bit there, and I should have probably accounted for the fact that English is probably not your mother tongue? I don't mind having a heated debate as long as everyone is being respectful of each other. There's no problem in agreeing to disagree and leaving it at that.

[Leni.]

4 minutes ago, petros said:

It's just one song though they didn't really talk about politics during trilogy. And my argument isn't really about the music. As I said revrad doesn't feel forced to me and I like that album. What I don't like are the interviews and the live shows statements.

Only one song yes, but AI had two and people still think the album as a whole is political. They didn't have to talk about it, there was nothing that they would disagree on or not that much of it, so that's probably the reason, as I see it. Now it's a different situation. And if they feel the need to say things like that you should respect that and not be saying that they should "stop bitching". They're only humans too. I still don't understand why you feel so offended by this issue with them talking about politics all the time now. Clearly something happened and they just feel the need to express their feelings as you do about it here quite often recetnly, which I'm not saying is wrong. But the truth is maybe the next time you should try to use other words to describe your views since you sounded really unfriendly in your first post, so it's reasonable people here would feel offended

[Wretched & Divine]

5 minutes ago, Jenn. said:

I agree....except for the Youngblood part  

You have to at least agree that will be a total blast when they do it live. Riiiight? But I admit I'd never request Youngblood over a Dookie/Nimrod/Warning love song live if they took requests, so perhaps you've got a point  

[DeJennsitized]

3 minutes ago, Wretched & Divine said:

You have to at least agree that will be a total blast when they do it live. Riiiight? But I admit I'd never request Youngblood over a Dookie/Nimrod/Warning love song live if they took requests, so perhaps you've got a point  

The chorus would be fun to sing along to! And a new song we haven't heard live is always exciting  

[stories and songs]

2 hours ago, petros said:

Cause what I'm saying is that it looks like they do the same thing. Also after the trilogy flopped and they turned to politics again and more specifically into hating a certain politician(the us president) that also makes them look to do the same thing that got the relevant the other time don't you thing? I'm not saying that I think they did it. I'm still thinking about it. It seems like they did kinda do the same thing to get relevant again but on the other hand I don't want to believe this about my favorite band.

Here's my take on that trajectory from 21CB to the Trilogy to now: With 21CB, they clearly wanted to beat AI (and pretty much said so themselves), so they went heavier, darker, and more political. Personally I adore 21CB, but a lot of folks saw it as riding on the coattails of AI. Which is perhaps a fair assessment. 

After 21CB, things felt so serious all the time, and I don't think the band liked who they were becoming. They started to become known as the elder statesman of their genre, and didn't want to be taken so seriously all the time. In many ways, they don't care what people think. They'll write about what they want whether it's popular or not, will make a Broadway musical whether it's the "cool" thing to do or not. But people's perceptions of them was always something that I think really got to them. In the shadow of AI, I think they became extremely self-conscious. So in the wake of all that seriousness, they let loose, and went way in the opposite direction. After AI, it seemed like they'd matured a lot personally, but in an effort to hang on to what they used to be known for, it's like they did a complete 180 for the worse. Whatever your feelings are on the trilogy itself, it's clear that the band was totally falling apart at that point. Post AI, they very quietly spiraled out of control, and it's not a hard downward spiral to map out.

But after everything they went through—not just Billie, but Britt and Jason's battles with cancer, too—it's like they finally gained some perspective and refocused on what they slowly but surely lost sight of. They refocused on their friendship and on making music that matters to them. Not overly forced in one direction or the other like 21CB or the Trilogy, but creating music about a mix of everything they care about: Personal struggles/accomplishments, and sociopolitical concerns. They found that sweet spot, and in the process, seem like they're themselves again, totally settled and happy with the image they're projecting. I don't think making a more political album again was a response to the Trilogy's commercial failures. I think it was a lot more about simply zeroing in on a select few things they wanted to write about, rather than writing a whole lot about nothing. Now, I see a band not feeling pressured to be anything but themselves. They don't need to outdo themselves or change themselves, but just go with what feels right. And it feels authentic.

Clearly, they care about politics—the punk scene is by nature political, and the people who decided to make American Idiot are clearly not apathetic to the world around them. By getting involved in politics again now, they're just continuing the way they've felt for a long time, just like many regular people are. I've been generally happy with the state of politics the past eight years, barring some major social issues that bother me (and that they also reference in RevRad, like police brutality and BLM). But now the world has been flipped upside down, and it feels like the entire Obama legacy is about to go down the drain. That scares and upsets me, and it has prompted me to stand up and help fight for what I believe in. Seems like they feel the same way. It seems like the same thing as the AI era because it is the same thing—Trump stirs the same fears that Bush did, but he's even worse.

I guess what I'm saying is that the concerns they're voicing now are very human, and come from a very emotional place. For someone invested in politics, someone who is left-leaning, it's very hard to keep quiet right now. I'd be shocked if they didn't want to talk about it. 

I will say that their management very obviously doesn't want them to talk about it as much as they have—in a recent interview, the journalist said Green Day's management instructed him not to bring up the election, because Billie wouldn't want to discuss it. That was total bullshit—Billie was relieved to be able to talk about it with someone. So clearly, it's a much more personal issue than it is a business decision. I think their management and PR's lives would be a hell of a lot easier if they just shut up about it. 

[Hermione]

It seems like they're doing the same thing again because the same (or very similar) thing has happened and they haven't changed their views, so naturally they're reacting the same way . They can't help it if the same shit happens again, feeling the way they feel to not react to it would be unnatural and false.

 

4 hours ago, Jenn. said:

Is it a popular or unpopular opinion that Tre is the best of the three?  

I'd say popular, Tre and Uno have a fairly even split on favourite I think and Tre wins on being called best because it's the more serious of the two. Thinking Dos is the best (as I do) is definitely the most unpopular  

 

[stories and songs]

I'm kinda split on Uno and Tre being the best of the Trilogy. I love how cohesive Uno is—it's quick and upbeat and fun. But Tre has Brutal Love. Brutal Love elevates everything around it because it's a damn masterpiece.

It's weird, because I think the most listened to songs from the Trilogy for me are mostly off of Dos, actually. Maybe IDK what I'm talking about. 

[Hermione]

9 minutes ago, stories and songs said:

I'm kinda split on Uno and Tre being the best of the Trilogy. I love how cohesive Uno is—it's quick and upbeat and fun. But Tre has Brutal Love. Brutal Love elevates everything around it because it's a damn masterpiece.

It's weird, because I think the most listened to songs from the Trilogy for me are mostly off of Dos, actually. Maybe IDK what I'm talking about. 

Yes! I think Tre is only ahead of Uno for me because of that.

[stories and songs]

The most unpopular opinion I probably have is that being honest, I'm not jazzed about the Trilogy in general and don't really care which one is the best. I have my little playlist from it and beyond that I can't be bothered with it. When I consider what Green Day album to listen to, the Trilogy doesn't really enter the equation. 

[Wretched & Divine]

17 minutes ago, stories and songs said:

I'm kinda split on Uno and Tre being the best of the Trilogy. I love how cohesive Uno is—it's quick and upbeat and fun. But Tre has Brutal Love. Brutal Love elevates everything around it because it's a damn masterpiece.

It's weird, because I think the most listened to songs from the Trilogy for me are mostly off of Dos, actually. Maybe IDK what I'm talking about. 

Honestly, Brutal Love and Drama Queen are my absolute favourites off the entire Trilogy, so even if I happen to enjoy more songs off Uno and Dos, that factor alone pushes Tre above the others. Because as much as I might enjoy those other songs, I can take them or leave them, but you're prying Brutal Love/Drama Queen out of my cold dead hands.

[Beerjeezus]

31 minutes ago, stories and songs said:

The most unpopular opinion I probably have is that being honest, I'm not jazzed about the Trilogy in general and don't really care which one is the best. I have my little playlist from it and beyond that I can't be bothered with it. When I consider what Green Day album to listen to, the Trilogy doesn't really enter the equation. 

Same. I'm actually like "whatever" about most of their albums. I don't remember when I last heard any of them in full except for revrad. I still listen to Insomniac and 21CB occasionally but I don't remember listening to AI, Kerplunk or 1,039SOSH in years. 

[Shahd]

56 minutes ago, stories and songs said:

The most unpopular opinion I probably have is that being honest, I'm not jazzed about the Trilogy in general and don't really care which one is the best. I have my little playlist from it and beyond that I can't be bothered with it. When I consider what Green Day album to listen to, the Trilogy doesn't really enter the equation. 

I thought that was the popular opinion, it's not?!

[stories and songs]

@Shahd I guess it's a mixed opinion. I have a lot of negative feelings toward the Trilogy, but a lot of people are fine with it/really love it. 

[AmyxLongview]

Uno is the worst album Green Day has made.

[Shahd]

3 minutes ago, stories and songs said:

@Shahd I guess it's a mixed opinion. I have a lot of negative feelings toward the Trilogy, but a lot of people are fine with it/really love it. 

I think I'm neutral towards it, I don't hate it and I don't love it. But this is interesting, I thought the majority hate it

 

3 minutes ago, AmyxLongview said:

Uno is the worst album Green Day has made.

Isn't that Dos?!  Excluding Lazy Bones

[Hermione]

I think a majority think it's not that great and just a very vocal minority hate it . When it came out most people said they liked it, I think most people like at least some of it but just don't think it's their best work.

I still love it (in case anyone was wondering ), Rev Rad only makes me like it more because it really falls into place being this crazy mid life crisis journey before the (literally ) more sober album. 

[AmyxLongview]

8 minutes ago, Shahd said:

I think I'm neutral towards it, I don't hate it and I don't love it. But this is interesting, I thought the majority hate it

 

Isn't that Dos?!  Excluding Lazy Bones

I used to think it was Dos but then I switched over to Uno!  Dos at least has variety and some more interesting songs, whereas Uno is bland and most songs have the same sound. And Uno doesn't have an outstanding song like Lazy Bones!

[DeJennsitized]

I listened to Bang Bang right before Lazy Bones (one of my favourites from the trilogy) and it was a stark contrast in sound - I dunno if it was my earphones but the guitars in Lazy Bones sounded like they were being played inside a tin can  

i really liked the trilogy when it came out but hearing RevRad made it more obvious to me that the Trilogy wasn't their best work.

[21guns&novacaine]

I've come back to my roots during this past week, feeling all nostalgic, doing the same thing I did three years ago: listening to the trilogy nonstop the week prior to my birthday, and I was reminded how much I really did love those albums, especially Uno  Dos I played a few times and moved on from, though I think if I had been a little older when I listened to it, the mature themes of that record might not have scarred me haha. I do like the album more now, and while the trilogy may not be their best work, it was fairly solid with having some good songs.  

[stories and songs]

The thing about the Trilogy, for me, was that my opinion on the music itself was never really that important to me. I liked some of it and disliked some of it, much like how I still feel about it. But it was that whole era that really turned me off. I was turned off before Uno even came out, and things only spiraled downward from there. Things felt off and weird and I just wasn't jiving with the band anymore, for reasons that are now obvious but I didn't fully understand at the time, because I had no way of knowing exactly what was so off. It was a generally sucky time in Green Day world, and my feelings on the albums reflect that. You attach music to memories, and I'll never forget how absolutely heartbroken I felt listening to Uno for the first time because of everything that was transpiring. 

I know a lot of people's opinions of the Trilogy have changed over time, but I think I've pretty much remained the same with my feelings toward it. But in a weird way now, looking back on it, it's like it needed to happen for so many reasons. It helped them straighten themselves out, and eventually led me to become a stronger fan—but only after that era prompted me to go off on my own without Green Day for a couple years. It was a really good thing. Now I look back and think, "Hey, that was hell and we got through it." 

[Shahd]

13 minutes ago, AmyxLongview said:

I used to think it was Dos but then I switched over to Uno!  Dos at least has variety and some more interesting songs, whereas Uno is bland and most songs have the same sound. And Uno doesn't have an outstanding song like Lazy Bones!

Yeah Dos is different, which is great to some people, but not my type of music. Uno is playing it safe, same sound but it's the sound that I like

 

7 minutes ago, 21guns&novacaine said:

I've come back to my roots during this past week, feeling all nostalgic, doing the same thing I did three years ago: listening to the trilogy nonstop the week prior to my birthday, and I was reminded how much I really did love those albums, especially Uno  Dos I played a few times and moved on from, though I think if I had been a little older when I listened to it, the mature themes of that record might not have scarred me haha. I do like the album more now, and while the trilogy may not be their best work, it was fairly solid with having some good songs.  

I wonder how listening to the trilogy none stop would feel like, I don't think I can do that! But it's nice to give it another chance and appreciate it now

[Nova-Caine]

I think Billie was having problems before the Trilogy, I think his time in New York from the Musical probably contributed, this might have been said before, I maybe totally wrong but it seemed to me he was letting out so many demons back then, he seemed to be partying pretty hard with the Cast, people around, I remember he said he finally found friends but with this also comes lots of destruction and hangers on because of who he is, It must be hard for him to not trust people and let them into his life, for any famous person it can be very isolating. I do wonder if he has an addictive personality so whatever it is he gets hooked on it eventually drags him down. I think the Trilogy (and I also have mixed feelings about it) got him through from whatever it was to now, I am glad it happened, he's lucky he has his talent and has this avenue to explore every single part of who he is and he can get things out of him, I am glad he is not afraid to share it with us, one of his most endearing qualities is his obvious vulnerability. he's human he shares it with us warts and all and for that I will always be thankful he went through the Trilogy.

 

Probably just put this in the wrong thread haha x

[Nowhere Man]

I don't know if it's unpopular opinion but I miss Mike Dirnt's pre-American Idiot bass lines so much right now (I don't count Trilogy, where Mike showed his true level, because it was really a mess). We all know how damn good can he be, but now he is a) overshadowed completely by guitars b) making some really basic lines without too much creativity. Although I love RevRad as an album, I couldn't find any outstanding bass line in it, just same note repeating over and over, and it's depressing. After all these interviews with Mike talking about him taking lessons I was expecting a lot more than this permorfance. Maybe I'm missing something?

[Libertine Angel]

8 hours ago, Nowhere Man said:

I don't know if it's unpopular opinion but I miss Mike Dirnt's pre-American Idiot bass lines so much right now (I don't count Trilogy, where Mike showed his true level, because it was really a mess). We all know how damn good can he be, but now he is a) overshadowed completely by guitars b) making some really basic lines without too much creativity. Although I love RevRad as an album, I couldn't find any outstanding bass line in it, just same note repeating over and over, and it's depressing. After all these interviews with Mike talking about him taking lessons I was expecting a lot more than this permorfance. Maybe I'm missing something?

Totally agree, there were a few moments in AI and 21CB where he did some great stuff but he's been underwhelming for years.