Revolution Radio

[stories and songs]

Yesterday I was watching the Periscope of the Green Day signing and they had RevRad playing in the background. Hearing it in that context–watching them interact with fans and bang their pens on the table along to it occasionally while it was playing, made me love it even more. Because it wasn't the focus of my attention, and yet for every new song I was  like "god, I love this song!"

[Hero_Of_The_Hour]

Billie said his favourite song that he wrote on Revrad is Too Dumb To Die 

[Wretched & Divine]

On 10/16/2016 at 6:55 AM, straighttohell said:

But I mean, he probably just came in for one day to do whatever he did (I can't hear the horns either lol). But in regards to 99.99% of the album, it sounds to me like they did it all alone with Dugan, which is pretty fucking remarkable for a band of their size. I can't think of a single rock band of today who would ever do anything like that. Every stadium sized rock band of now are recording in big million dollar studios with probably multiple producers, tons of techs, tons of engineers... and heres Green Day, THEE biggest punk band of the last 25 years, sold millions and millions of albums, multiple grammys, r&r hall of fame, etc etc, and they are in this tiny little hole in the wall studio that BJ put together himself, basically making a record totally DIY style with one of their oldest friends, Chris Dugan... thats pretty fucking rad to me. That aspect of the album is definitely back to basics. Musically the album is not at all, but the way they made it totally is.

You putting this into words only makes me even prouder of them for this record and the success its already enjoying 

[House Of Wolves]

On 10/15/2016 at 4:17 PM, Second favourite son said:

It seems that a lot of people don't like the 'lack' of bass on the album, and the absence of a 'bass led' song.  But I don't think there's anything wrong with it.  Sure, I would have loved Longview 2.0, but to say the bass on this album is weak or absent is just plain wrong.  The bass lines are simple, but that suits the music and actually adds a massive amount to the album.  Bass doesn't have to be complicated to be good, but we've been so spoiled in the past that it seems that we've forgotten this when it comes to Green Day.  There are, in fact, bass-led songs on the album (outlaws, for example), and it also pops up occasionally at other points (e.g. Parts of Still breathing).  IMO there are 2 kinds of excellent bass: bass that stands right out cos it's complex, well played, song-leading and tonally beautiful, and bass that's so tight with the rest of the music that you don't even notice it's there unless you're listening out for it especially, but then pops its head up occasionally to say hi.  Neither is better than the other, they're just different, and I think the latter has really worked here.

I agree. A tasteful musician serves the song. Some of the most tasteful bass playing is on American Idiot. 

[Z J]

Yet another number 1 album for these guys. This CD is the most vital they've sounded since American Idiot (save for maybe promo singles on 21cb). Very few weak spots, and a successful immersion into pop-rock that they failed to pull off on the trilogy. Excited to watch these songs grow as they hit the mainstream

[straighttohell]

9 hours ago, Wretched & Divine said:

You putting this into words only makes me even prouder of them for this record and the success its already enjoying 

Fuck yeah dude, same here!

On 10/15/2016 at 2:17 PM, Second favourite son said:

It seems that a lot of people don't like the 'lack' of bass on the album, and the absence of a 'bass led' song.  But I don't think there's anything wrong with it.  Sure, I would have loved Longview 2.0, but to say the bass on this album is weak or absent is just plain wrong.  The bass lines are simple, but that suits the music and actually adds a massive amount to the album.  Bass doesn't have to be complicated to be good, but we've been so spoiled in the past that it seems that we've forgotten this when it comes to Green Day.  There are, in fact, bass-led songs on the album (outlaws, for example), and it also pops up occasionally at other points (e.g. Parts of Still breathing).  IMO there are 2 kinds of excellent bass: bass that stands right out cos it's complex, well played, song-leading and tonally beautiful, and bass that's so tight with the rest of the music that you don't even notice it's there unless you're listening out for it especially, but then pops its head up occasionally to say hi.  Neither is better than the other, they're just different, and I think the latter has really worked here.

Fucking spot on dude. Totally agree. I'm not into musicians who just play unnecessary riffs all over a song. Comes off kind of cocky and braggy in my opinion. Dirnt doesn't need to do any of that, we all know he fucking rips at bass, and so does he, he has nothing to prove. He comes off way cooler the fact that he shows restraint and plays tasteful parts that compliment the melody and structure of the songs. So much fucking cooler imo.

[Dakke]

I know I've made this point way too often before, but I think the true extraordinary quality in this album is the fact that deceptively simple and superficially nonsensical lyrics are so general and yet so personal at the same time. This album feels as though it was written for me in 2016, not just for the sake of it like the Trilogy or to achieve a greater artistic purpose like 21st Century Breakdown. I can pinpoint almost every song to one moment in the past year where I think "Yeah, these are my thoughts and emotions at that moment". Somewhere Now, Say Goodbye, Still Breathing, Troubled Times and Forever Now just exemplify my very state of mind. In my opinion this sentiment transcends all the quibbles I might have with some lyrics, mastering etc on this record.

[Leni.]

14 hours ago, Dakke said:

I know I've made this point way too often before, but I think the true extraordinary quality in this album is the fact that deceptively simple and superficially nonsensical lyrics are so general and yet so personal at the same time. This album feels as though it was written for me in 2016, not just for the sake of it like the Trilogy or to achieve a greater artistic purpose like 21st Century Breakdown. I can pinpoint almost every song to one moment in the past year where I think "Yeah, these are my thoughts and emotions at that moment". Somewhere Now, Say Goodbye, Still Breathing, Troubled Times and Forever Now just exemplify my very state of mind. In my opinion this sentiment transcends all the quibbles I might have with some lyrics, mastering etc on this record.

I wouldn't say these lyrics are nosencical or superficial. I would say that for me personally the line I feel like a cello lost somewhere over the rainbow isn't worse than You feel washed up like piss gone down the drain from Nice Guys Finish Last. But yeah, I agree with you that those lyrics, even if they might sound dumb a little bit to somebody, are or could be really personal at the same time. 

[Leni.]

On 15. 10. 2016 at 9:55 PM, straighttohell said:

But I mean, he probably just came in for one day to do whatever he did (I can't hear the horns either lol). But in regards to 99.99% of the album, it sounds to me like they did it all alone with Dugan, which is pretty fucking remarkable for a band of their size. I can't think of a single rock band of today who would ever do anything like that. Every stadium sized rock band of now are recording in big million dollar studios with probably multiple producers, tons of techs, tons of engineers... and heres Green Day, THEE biggest punk band of the last 25 years, sold millions and millions of albums, multiple grammys, r&r hall of fame, etc etc, and they are in this tiny little hole in the wall studio that BJ put together himself, basically making a record totally DIY style with one of their oldest friends, Chris Dugan... thats pretty fucking rad to me. That aspect of the album is definitely back to basics. Musically the album is not at all, but the way they made it totally is.

Exactly. That's just another reason why I love it. It's not a perfect album, but it's just them doing it the right way - the way they felt it to be perfect. I mean there was no other person to tell them how to make things perfectly. I'm completely satisfied with the result btw. I love people doing things by themselves rather than asking for advice or instructions how to be successful. Then it feels more natural to born that way. It's like your baby haha. I'm a creative person myself so that's the reason I take it that way, I love doing things all by myself. At the end of the day I can say Look, I did this thing and it feels so good.  I would say after hearing RevRad I would be happy if they wouldn't work with a producer on the next album.  

[straighttohell]

3 minutes ago, Ellen Caulfield said:

Exactly. That's just another reason why I love it. It's not a perfect album, but it's just them doing it the right way - the way they felt it to be perfect. I mean there was no other person to tell them how to make things perfectly. I'm completely satisfied with the result btw. I love people doing things by themselves rather than asking for advice or instructions how to be successful. Then it feels more natural to born that way. It's like your baby haha. I'm a creative person myself so that's the reason I take it that way, I love doing things all by myself. At the end of the day I can say Look, I did this thing and it feels so good.  I would say after hearing RevRad I would be happy if they wouldn't work with a producer on the next album.  

Totally agree.

Proud that Green Day can keep things DIY after being a band for nearly 30 years. That's impressive. Most bands their size, can't. And I think Green Day nailed it. It's not "perfect" but fuck being "perfect", perfect is boring to me. Kerplunk wasn't "perfect", the Ramones weren't perfect, The White Album is a total mess, that's why it rules, because it's an inspired mess. I'd rather listen to an album like this that has beautiful imperfections and that has moments of true inspiration and other moments that are interesting and weird, and other moments that are just fun and stupid and catchy. And all the weird choices they made with mixing and mastering, how its super quiet some moments and loud the others, I know some people hate it, and to each their own, fair enough... but I dig it. I dig how it ebbs and flows, and how the dynamics are always shifting. It's weird and interesting to me, and I prefer weird and interesting to perfect and streamlined. Makes the album feel more lush. But to each they're own. Some people hate all that, thats cool.

[Leni.]

1 minute ago, straighttohell said:

Totally agree.

Proud that Green Day can keep things DIY after being a band for nearly 30 years. That's impressive. Most bands their size, can't. And I think Green Day nailed it. It's not "perfect" but fuck being "perfect", perfect is boring to me. Kerplunk wasn't "perfect", the Ramones weren't perfect, The White Album is a total mess, that's why it rules, because it's an inspired mess. I'd rather listen to an album like this that has beautiful imperfections and that has moments of true inspiration and other moments that are interesting and weird, and other moments that are just fun and stupid and catchy. And all the weird choices they made with mixing and mastering, how its super quiet some moments and loud the others, I know some people hate it, and to each their own, fair enough... but I dig it. I dig how it ebbs and flows, and how the dynamics are always shifting. It's weird and interesting to me, and I prefer weird and interesting to perfect and streamlined. Makes the album feel more lush. But to each they're own. Some people hate all that, thats cool.

Yeah, a thing that is not perfect feels like it has it's own life. It can evolve, in the case of this album, the first impression of imperfection can take you way further when you give it a second chance and if you are patient enough the album will sound even more "perfect".

The question of loud and quiet: It's like another dimension  You hear something not too clearly, but it attracts your attention more, because you want to hear it  It's like listening to music when you sleep but your brain doesn't, and when you wake up the music is all coming up and you feel like you just had the most beautiful and charming dream ever. I love to listen to AI while I'm sleeping, that album sounds fucking epic in this particular state of mind  Like the Alpha state of mind, it's magical  

[Beerjeezus]

Re-listened to it on a different sound system - had no issues with loudness or maybe I just got used to it because holy shit. I LOVE IT. I'm starting to think this is going to become one of my Green Day favorites. The vocals and guitars are spectacular.

[Chin for a Day]

I just want to say that I put in a concert request.  I've asked for Minority to be replaced by Forever Now.  I have 5 months to work on this. 

[Beerjeezus]

1 minute ago, Scattered Wreck said:

I just want to say that I put in a concert request.  I've asked for Minority to be replaced by Forever Now.  I have 5 months to work on this. 

Yes, please. 

[Christian's Inferno!]

1 hour ago, Jane Lannister said:

Re-listened to it on a different sound system - had no issues with loudness or maybe I just got used to it because holy shit. I LOVE IT. I'm starting to think this is going to become one of my Green Day favorites. The vocals and guitars are spectacular.

I've said already that it sounds better on certain sound systems

[End Of The World]

I don't understand the logic behind singles. I know for sure that Bang Bang was released as a single (with both official lyric and music video). But what about Revolution Radio, Still Breathing, Youngblood and Ordinary World? They are on Youtube but just with their lyric video. Honestly, I'd like to see Still Breathing and Ordinary World released as a proper single. Do you know anything about it?

[Christian's Inferno!]

18 minutes ago, Ale7113 said:

I don't understand the logic behind singles. I know for sure that Bang Bang was released as a single (with both official lyric and music video). But what about Revolution Radio, Still Breathing, Youngblood and Ordinary World? They are on Youtube but just with their lyric video. Honestly, I'd like to see Still Breathing and Ordinary World released as a proper single. Do you know anything about it?

I think they're going to release lyric videos for every song on the album. Bang Bang is the only confirmed single, but I've seen Still Breathing be referred to as a single

[Marki.]

I tell myself stuff like 'oh I'll just listen to Outlaws', and then end up listening to the album twice the whole way through. I'm hopeless.  

[straighttohell]

1 hour ago, Marki. said:

I tell myself stuff like 'oh I'll just listen to Outlaws', and then end up listening to the album twice the whole way through. I'm hopeless.  

Haha same! A good problem to have.

[Sixtrix]

My problem with Revolution Radio is that when I listen to a song I think to myself "this is my favorite song on the album". Until the next song starts playing and my thoughts go "no, this is my favorite one". Which keeps repeating with every song every time I listen to the album.

[Christian's Inferno!]

12 minutes ago, Sixtrix said:

My problem with Revolution Radio is that when I listen to a song I think to myself "this is my favorite song on the album". Until the next song starts playing and my thoughts go "no, this is my favorite one". Which keeps repeating with every song every time I listen to the album.

That's the best "problem" an album can have

[Wretched & Divine]

It took a little while, but I'm now in full swing of just listening to the album on repeat  I usually can't jump straight into a new album or artist and listen to nothing else because I need to give myself time to let the songs grow on me. I genuinely love every track (yes, even Too Dumb To Die ).

[stories and songs]

I was on 6-hour plane ride yesterday and the poor person next to me could probably hear RevRad playing through my earbuds every moment we were in the air. "Seriously, is she listening to that song again?" 

[Leni.]

3 minutes ago, stories and songs said:

I was on 6-hour plane ride yesterday and the poor person next to me could probably hear RevRad playing through my earbuds every moment we were in the air. "Seriously, is she listening to that song again?" 

Haha I have similar experience. I travel every week by train for almost 3 hours so I often feel like you described  But if you love the music nothing else matters  

[Wretched & Divine]

Forever Now is the most cohesive multi-part song they've ever written, and I say that as a do or die Jesus of Suburbia fan with biiiiig American Eulogy love.