After seeing
Neil 's in depth review of After Laughter, I decided to do the same, but with Revolution Radio. The album is more than half a year old now, but better late than never, am I right? 😝
It isn't going to be
super detailed, but here we go!
1. Somewhere NowI put the "riot" in patriotThe introductory track of Revolution Radio, this song is centered around going to somewhere you don't really wanna go. This track introduces the political themes of the album as well as the more personal themes. I also really like the lyric, "I put the 'riot' in patriot." You've probably heard the statement, "The highest form of patriotism is dissent." This lyric references that.
I think its a really good introductory song to the album, but it isn't one of my favorites because it's a bit too slow.
7/10
2. Bang BangI want to be a celebrity martyrThe first single revealed and released, this song is centered around the perspective and mindset of a mass shooter. This song takes the best of Dookie and American Idiot and combines them into one explosive comeback track. I'd say this song also takes elements from East Jesus Nowhere, especially with the intro. Of the three singles, this one is my least favorite, but it's still a really great track.
Ever since Green Day chanted
"No Trump! No KKK! No fascist USA!" during their awesome Bang Bang performance in the 2016 AMAs, I've grown a new found respect for the song.
8/103. Revolution RadioGive me cherry bombs and gasoline
Debutantes in surgery
And the headline: Legalize the truth!The eponymous track of the album, this song is the sequel to Bang Bang. It's fast paced and pretty catchy. The lyrics are very similar to the political themes present in both American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown. It focuses on the (social) media and the revolution that occurs within. Radio is a form of media, hence Revolution Radio. It has a sense of anthemic "crowd energy" in it, similar to Holiday.
I would also consider this track one of my favorites from the album.
9/104. Say GoodbyeViolence on the rise, like a bullet in the skyA darker song that relates to the violence and whatnot in America. It is about saying goodbye to the peace and tranquility and saying hello to the darker and violent future. I'm not a big fan of the song because the lyrics are a bit repetitive, but the instruments are pretty amazing.
6/105. OutlawsI found a knife by the railroad track
You took a train and you can't go back
Forever now, forever now you'll roamA slower, remorseful song about the band's teenage days, this track is surprisingly unpopular among Green Day fans. Despite this, it's still one of my favorites from the album. Although the song is a bit slow between choruses, it makes that up with an epic guitar solo and bridge. Gives me the chills every time. I would say this song is a combination of 21 Guns and Whatsername. This song is Green Day's version of 17, and is superior to 17 in every single way.
The ending lyrics foreshadow the closing track to the album, Forever Now. They're great played back to back, by the way.
9/106. Bouncing Off the WallConcrete dream, I'm gonna make a sceneAn incredibly catchy and faster paced track, this song is the polar opposite to the next track in the album. I really like the percussion on this track, and the instrumental is really good as well. I often find myself listening to this song several times in a row on repeat due to how catchy it is.
8/107. Still BreathingAs I walked out on the ledge
Are you scared to death to live?
I've been running all my life
Just to find a home that's for the restless
And the truth that's in the message
Making my way, away, away...When I first heard this song back in September of last year, I immediately fell in love. A powerful and heavier song with meaningful lyrics, it's no surprise why this song topped the charts. This track, although heavier than the others, has a sense of hope in the lyrics. Even through all the hell, you're still alive, and it's an amazing feeling to know that you're still breathing.
The fact that this song sounds more "pop" than the other tracks caused the fan base to at first question it, but we all eventually grew to love this song. Once you recognize the lyrics and see how they relate to not only Billie Joe himself but maybe also your own experiences, you immediately grow to love the track.
This song easily became a top 5 song for me and is my top favorite from the entire album. I would argue that it is one of the best Green Day songs ever, up there with Jesus of Suburbia.
I made sure to play this song after my last day of high school, cause even through all the hell, tests, and stress, I'm still breathing. I'm still breathing on my own. I've listened to this song over 1,800 times, so you know I really love this song 😉
10/108. YoungbloodFuck you, I'm from Oakland!A faster paced track reminiscent of She's A Rebel and Last Of The American Girls. I'm not really a fan of this song since it's pretty repetitive. However, I do like the fact that the second verse are very similar to the verses in She's A Rebel and of course the lyric, "Fuck you, I'm from Oakland!"
4/109. Too Dumb to DieLooking for a cause, but all I got was camouflageA song that starts out slow, but then picks up the pace. While this song seems to be a fan favorite, I'm unfortunately not a really big fan of it... I really don't have anything much to say about this track 😕
6/1010. Troubled TimesWe run for cover, like a skyscraper's falling downThis darker song is centered around the darkness and trouble in the world. I like this song as it relates to the world that we live in now, with Trump and wars and whatnot. The song is pretty much the aftermath to American Idiot. The lyric video is pretty good, as well.
8/1011. Forever NowI want a new conspiracy
And the silence of a thousand cries
So hurry up, I want a better way to dieGreen Day is well known for making legendary 5+ minute tracks. This song is no exception to that. This is the second coming of Jesus (of Suburbia). A multi-part epic of a song that concludes the entire album, it fulfills a similar role to Homecoming in American Idiot. As soon as I saw that fact that this song was nearly 7 minutes long, I knew it was good. And I was not disappointed. The Somewhere Now reprise is awesome, especially when he changes "dull" to "full" This is one of my favorites from the album.
I would also argue that it is one of the best Green Day songs ever, up there with Jesus of Suburbia.
10/1012. Ordinary WorldIt's where I live until I dieWhile Forever Now was originally supposed to be the closing track to Revolution Radio, Ordinary World made the cut instead. Originally written for the movie Ordinary World, the song ended up in Revolution Radio.
Compared to the other songs in the album, it is a lighter acoustic track, reminiscent of Macy's Day Parade and Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life).
I'm not really a fan of this song, as it is a bit too slow and light for the album in my opinion and the lyrics are a little simple. As for acoustic Green Day songs, I still prefer Macy's Day Parade.
4/10Conclusion
Revolution Radio is truly the comeback that all us Green Day fans were waiting for. It combines the political themes of American Idiot, instruments of both Dookie and American Idiot, and the darker themes of 21st Century Breakdown into one epic album. Revolution Radio is the modernized version of American Idiot and 21CB, relating to the violence and protests of today alongside the internet, social media, and drone strikes.
While it isn't stated to be a concept album like American Idiot, there are still some elements of one in it. In Somewhere Now, the soldier (who's freaking out) is introduced. In Still Breathing, the soldier returns home for the first time, having dodged death. Finally, Forever Now starts with, "My name is Billie and I'm freaking out." The soldier is not only military, but also metaphorical. We're all soldiers, fighting through life and trying to survive. Eventually, we see the light at the end of the tunnel and break through. Still Breathing references that.
All in all, Revolution Radio is an awesome comeback album. While it may not be as legendary as American Idiot or Dookie, it's definitely up there and it's definitely better than the Trilogy.
Basically, it's a rock album with meaning.
Overall score: 9/10