"DO you have the time, to listen to me whine," sang insular cartoon punks Green Day in 1994. No, we didn't.
Fast forward ten years and the San Diego trio have hauled themselves off their sofas and woken to a world outside sun-drenched California. Joyful riffs still abound, but insipid lyrics have been angrily replaced by an acute awareness of where the US of A stands after four miserable years under Bush Jnr.
Jesus Of Suburbia and Homecoming boast ambitious five-part, nine-minute song cycles; the title track blisters with confused rage while Holiday takes Iggy's passenger for a confused 21st century tour of town. It's an hour-long concept album so some sections slump into Green Day's old rock quagmire, but the self-confessed American Idiots are finally using their brains... slowly heading to the top of the class.
Updated: 08:39 Thursday, October 07, 2004
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article