American Idiot is not hte defining protest album of the Bush Years

[kearn1tm]

I'll preface this by admitting that this starts out a little bloggy: I student teach at the local high school as part of my degree, and today, during seminar (a wasted twenty minutes in which nothing productive happens, but is required to fulfill the mandatory time a full class day is to take), a few students announce on the intercom their weekly "voice of the student" report, normally comprised of a "round table" (ha) of three students (that's a fucking triangle) debating a seemingly controversial topic that's relatively trivial and inane.

Today's topic: "Is American Idiot the defining protest album/political commentary album of the Bush years?" The answer between the three was unanimously "yes."

The correct answer is "no, no it is not the defining anything." It is, however, the most widespread and publicly absorbed. The correct answer, in my humble opinion of course, is Hail to the Thief. Discuss if you'd like...or don't. Really, it's your prerogative.

[andrewa5]

int their like a full album called "Rock Against Bush". That could be a defining album against him...lol

[Until The Bombs]

I can't even think of an album I find deserving of such a title. AI definitely wouldn't be it though. Fair or not, the polish of the album ruins any chance it had. Throw in the shallow lyrics and you've got a protest album only fit enough for a young teenager.

[chipdip18]

I can't even think of an album I find deserving of such a title. AI definitely wouldn't be it though. Fair or not, the polish of the album ruins any chance it had. Throw in the shallow lyrics and you've got a protest album only fit enough for a young teenager.


100% agree.

[Nevuk]

I'd go more for some rap.... Immortal Technique or even some of the Public Enemy albums from the last 8 years make way more sense than AI.

[AP_Punk]

potemkin city limits

[Burn That Shit]

Hail to the Thief is a really good album.

int their like a full album called "Rock Against Bush". That could be a defining album against him...lol

Fuck no.

[x togepi x]

shape of punk to come is and will be until things change substantially.

[andrewa5]

Hail to the Thief is a really good album.



Fuck no.
Yo is your avatar weed lol, sweet :P

[El_Jeffe]

whether people are fans of the album or not, i don't understand how it qualifies as a "protest album" in any respect? it's a rather weak objection to some rather poorly described "authority". if anything, & this is one big stretch of the imagination, it might have got some of the junior high school age kids thinking "america &/or bush sucks for reasons currently unknown to me"

as for which album i'd give the nod to... hmm i'll get back to you after i give it some thought

[new_arbiter]

shape of punk to come is and will be until things change substantially.

Definitely.

I'll preface this by admitting that this starts out a little bloggy: I student teach at the local high school as part of my degree, and today, during seminar (a wasted twenty minutes in which nothing productive happens, but is required to fulfill the mandatory time a full class day is to take), a few students announce on the intercom their weekly "voice of the student" report, normally comprised of a "round table" (ha) of three students (that's a fucking triangle) debating a seemingly controversial topic that's relatively trivial and inane.

Today's topic: "Is American Idiot the defining protest album/political commentary album of the Bush years?" The answer between the three was unanimously "yes."

The correct answer is "no, no it is not the defining anything." It is, however, the most widespread and publicly absorbed. The correct answer, in my humble opinion of course, is Hail to the Thief. Discuss if you'd like...or don't. Really, it's your prerogative.

Did they elaborate? I agree with you, I'm just curious as to how this album stuck with them. I can see how it would appeal to a kid in junior-high, but I would think that he or she would have moved on since then.

[Nourez]

whether people are fans of the album or not, i don't understand how it qualifies as a "protest album" in any respect? it's a rather weak objection to some rather poorly described "authority". if anything, & this is one big stretch of the imagination, it might have got some of the junior high school age kids thinking "america &/or bush sucks for reasons currently unknown to me"

as for which album i'd give the nod to... hmm i'll get back to you after i give it some thought

This. I like the album, but I don't think it's a great "protest album". It's got some political commentary, but I found that it worked better on the level of individual characters rather than political satire. What I'm kinda trying to say is that AI works as a concept album, but not as a protest album.

[versus_god]

potemkin city limits
Meow.

[Jumpoff]

potemkin city limits

Came in here just to say Propagandhi. Was leaning more towards Today's Empire though because it completely relates to the Bush years to me, though I know that it came out beforfe Bush took office.

[AP_Punk]

Came in here just to say Propagandhi. Was leaning more towards Today's Empire though because it completely relates to the Bush years to me, though I know that it came out beforfe Bush took office.

yeaa, i know what you mean. i almost said today's empires, but went with potemkin since it's more recent.

the last song about donald rumsfield = bad ass

[GuitarR0cker1]

As an album fuck no but I am sure as a cultural thing to most people in America it probably is the defining protest album of the Bush Years. Even if it is not a protest album and some Rap could go up there instead. But then again most Americans are idiots so of course no good political music would be a defining protest album to the average person.

[viva la cymche!]

Green Day hasn't been relevant since the 90's. I didn't listen to older Green Day until recently, and now I realize how much of a letdown American Idiot was. Though I do remember Green Day being cool when I was in 5th grade.

[Burning Star IV]

The only answer is Bad Religion's The Empire Strikes First.

[joss d.]

who cares this album was bad.

[saofan_315]

American Idiot isn't even the best punk protest album of the last eight years. I'd have to say that The Terror State does a much better job being more direct with the issues going on at the time IMO

[x togepi x]

The only answer is Bad Religion's The Empire Strikes First.

refused >this.

[TheOtherAndrew]

this thread has no shortage of and is defined by fail

[Yes. And?]

Oh shit, Wake Me Up When September Ends just came up on shuffle.

[SockMonkeyRiot]

Green Day hasn't been relevant since the 90's. I didn't listen to older Green Day until recently, and now I realize how much of a letdown American Idiot was. Though I do remember Green Day being cool when I was in 5th grade.

I think it is ridiculous to say that Green Day hasn't been relevant. American Idiot did incredibly well and I'm sure had a great impact on many, especially younger people. The album had five singles, whether you liked it or not, it had a substantial impact. And in regards to whether or not it is politically relevant, it absolutely is. The songs "American Idiot" and "Holiday" are enough to give it political relevance, even if the rest of the album wasn't. The truth is that this album has probably been very influential among young people and I don't think it is right to call the album irrelevant.

[x togepi x]

I think it is ridiculous to say that Green Day hasn't been relevant. American Idiot did incredibly well and I'm sure had a great impact on many, especially younger people. The album had five singles, whether you liked it or not, it had a substantial impact. And in regards to whether or not it is politically relevant, it absolutely is. The songs "American Idiot" and "Holiday" are enough to give it political relevance, even if the rest of the album wasn't. The truth is that this album has probably been very influential among young people and I don't think it is right to call the album irrelevant.

those songs didn't say anything that wasn't already being said in punk music, only they wrote it in a more watered down fashion.

[TheOtherAndrew]

I think it is ridiculous to say that Green Day hasn't been relevant. American Idiot did incredibly well and I'm sure had a great impact on many, especially younger people. The album had five singles, whether you liked it or not, it had a substantial impact. And in regards to whether or not it is politically relevant, it absolutely is. The songs "American Idiot" and "Holiday" are enough to give it political relevance, even if the rest of the album wasn't. The truth is that this album has probably been very influential among young people and I don't think it is right to call the album irrelevant.
If anyone was persuaded by a Green Day song to vote one way or the other, they were probably too young to vote anyway.

[stupid__kid]

all i know is entertainers who's material consists of mocking the bush administration better find new jobs if obama gets in [heres hoping].

[absolutecrunk]

Does that album even say anything specifically political? I only ever listened to like half of it but I don't remember it having anything to do with politics. They had like a 10 minute song that didn't say anything.

[Graf Orlock]

album sucks

[x togepi x]

Does that album even say anything specifically political? I only ever listened to like half of it but I don't remember it having anything to do with politics. They had like a 10 minute song that didn't say anything.

there are two vaguely political songs that could really apply to anyone in politics.

[absolutecrunk]

Haha it's not like I've never heard of the record. It's just that I have only had the time to listen to a few songs and, from what I've heard, the only political references are more vague than John Mellencamp's.

You can't take up such a strong stance when all you are is a glorified 'punk' band who has a "fuck authority!" mindset but is too old to be that dumb. Things like war and injustice and civil unrest can't just be casually mentioned without specifics if you ever want to think your album has any sort of meaning in this or any generation. Go back to songs about whacking off.

Edit: nevermind, you deleted your post.

[Nevuk]

I can understand the argument for non-specific political statements as well though. They tend to become dated extremely quickly to refer to them, and it is better to use them as a ground board for larger statements and to illustrate and use them as examples than just to say "end the iraq war because of x statistic"
And you can have non-specific political statements as well like the public enemy line "We've got to make the people see/in order to fight the powers that be", which illustrates a much clearer mindset and goal than Green Day had.

[lew_1987]

Fuck Bush! Listen to Green Day!

'Subliminal mind fuck America', shit... you really told them Billie Joe.

[EchoPark]

for once I agree with kearn1tm.

Maybe not so much about Hail To The Thief but about American Idiot being a big pile of shit

[drewziph]

Don't care. It's still a wank album.

[theguy77]

trying to make a political statement is fucking worthless if your lyrics are not descriptive because then it just makes you look ignorant and like you're trying to be anarchist just because it's cool.

[theguy77]

Fuck Bush! Listen to Green Day!

'Subliminal mind fuck America', shit... you really told them Billie Joe.

haha, ive always found it quite hypocritical that they whine about propaganda in that song, they ARE propaganda hahaha

[Miss Heartcore]

this thread has no shortage of and is defined by fail
hahahah amazing.


I wasn't even aware that people still thought about this album...oh wait, they're still playing all the singles on Lite FM.

[lew_1987]

trying to make a political statement is fucking worthless if your lyrics are not descriptive because then it just makes you look ignorant and like you're trying to be anarchist just because it's cool.

That's exactly what they're going for.

[mattmatumbo]

i think that the ampere/das oath split was a better anti-bush album, considering ampere wrote a song called money stinks haha (it was just a punk album though)

[drewziph]

ahh Green day bashing. This is my kind of thread.

:popcorn:

[Paulb-182]

American Idiot is hte worst green day album ever.. fact

[mattmatumbo]

American Idiot is hte worst green day album ever.. fact

i personally put it in the general overall worst album ever catagory

[Tony Pascarella]

those songs didn't say anything that wasn't already being said in punk music, only they wrote it in a more watered down fashion.This is true, but for a mainstream audience, this is a protest of the Bush years. I don't agree with that, but there really aren't many albums that hit the mainstream that take much of a stand on anything, so suburban teenagers of course latched onto this by the millions.

So I'm not surprised one bit by the OP saying three teenagers all agreed on this topic. More likely than not, pick three HS teenagers (considering that American Idiot came out four years ago, and even current seniors in HS would have been in 8th or 9th grade at the time; freshmen would have been in 5th or 6th grade), and you have a disjointed connection between political, social, and musical maturity and understanding. Then consider the fact that so many people in this (my) generation don't have a fucking clue about politics and what goes on on a daily basis. They don't read, they don't keep up on current events, and they are just generally clueless. It's becoming more and more apparent when I hear people talk about the upcoming election. Hell, here's a blog (http://www.absolutepunk.net/journal.php?do=showentry&e=77362) I did about one of my classes when we were discussing politics. This is college freshmen and sophomores we're talking about.

Anyway, I digress. The point is that this was a packaged, pre-framed, pre-formed connect-the-dots "protest" album for mainstream audiences, and they ate it up. Those who had either a broader musical background or skepticism see it as that, and that's what leads to the whole old school-new school debates regarding American Idiot. Old school (for lack of a better term) fans and listeners see it one way while the younger/newer listeners see it as the band seems to have intended it, as an introduction to objecting to the status quo. How effective it was...I don't know. I still see just as many dumbasses out there. :shrug:

i personally put it in the general overall worst album ever catagoryAnd this is why we don't go to you for music opinions.

Worst album ever? Not a chance. Worst album Green Day has ever done? Possibly. I wouldn't personally agree with that, but many people share that sentiment.

[3eb23]

I'd go more for some rap.... Immortal Technique or even some of the Public Enemy albums from the last 8 years make way more sense than AI.

i'd say immortal techniques albums for sure. he actually knows about what goes on behind the curtain, whereas your typical american/artist doesn't know any of it.

[downtotheriver]

This band is awful on all accounts.

[Skank n go nutz]

While it is bad, it is only made worse by the fact that they're popular (not their fault). I'm not a Green Day fan and not going out of my way to defend them, but I think there are many Bush albums that were a swing and a miss. "Reclamation" from Bigwig didn't really go anywhere message-wise and "War Profiteering is Killing us all" was just a bunch of aimless yelling. If anything, I think War on Errorism was probably backed with a message the best.

[x togepi x]

This is true, but for a mainstream audience, this is a protest of the Bush years. I don't agree with that, but there really aren't many albums that hit the mainstream that take much of a stand on anything, so suburban teenagers of course latched onto this by the millions.

So I'm not surprised one bit by the OP saying three teenagers all agreed on this topic. More likely than not, pick three HS teenagers (considering that American Idiot came out four years ago, and even current seniors in HS would have been in 8th or 9th grade at the time; freshmen would have been in 5th or 6th grade), and you have a disjointed connection between political, social, and musical maturity and understanding. Then consider the fact that so many people in this (my) generation don't have a fucking clue about politics and what goes on on a daily basis. They don't read, they don't keep up on current events, and they are just generally clueless. It's becoming more and more apparent when I hear people talk about the upcoming election. Hell, here's a blog (http://www.absolutepunk.net/journal.php?do=showentry&e=77362) I did about one of my classes when we were discussing politics. This is college freshmen and sophomores we're talking about.

Anyway, I digress. The point is that this was a packaged, pre-framed, pre-formed connect-the-dots "protest" album for mainstream audiences, and they ate it up. Those who had either a broader musical background or skepticism see it as that, and that's what leads to the whole old school-new school debates regarding American Idiot. Old school (for lack of a better term) fans and listeners see it one way while the younger/newer listeners see it as the band seems to have intended it, as an introduction to objecting to the status quo. How effective it was...I don't know. I still see just as many dumbasses out there. :shrug:
.

I don't think any album that's come out in the mainstream should count as a protest album yet then. For one being that widespread disapproval of Bush in our system really doesn't come out until after Katrina. Yes, a lot of people disliked him before that because of the war, but it wasn't really a mainstream political position until after Katrina, which i think disqualifies this album as it came out in '04.

But probably the biggest problem with this album in this respect is that it's a concept album telling a specific story that isn't at all about protest. As much as the band may have tried to play up some elements in the album (hell, they made the video for Wake Me Up When September Ends anti-war), they didn't write it to be protest music. While the intention of the band doesn't necessarily matter, I think that people further away from the Bush administration will have a harder time relating to this album as a protest album than people who grew up in it. This is unlike a real protest song, like CCR's "Fortunate Son", where I didn't grow up in Vietnam but I can still relate to this as a protest work.

I think for it to count as a protest album/song, these would have to inspire or at least maybe instigate some sort of protest in the listener. Most people just listened to American Idiot, said hmm...Bush sucks I guess, and moved on. There was a recent study that came out that said mainstream music changes with social unrest, and that in times of social unrest, the pop songs get darker, and more meaningful. I simply don't think things have gotten bad enough for us to have mainstream protest music yet.

The main reason people would claim this as the definitive protest album is that it was so popular, but I think it was popular not because of its subject matter, but because it was a new album from a band that hadn't released anything in awhile, and one that revived a dying band's career.

[x togepi x]

It defines the tiniest fraction of political views. Good album but barely anyone in America relates to anything they preach and all most people in America ever did was distort and trivialise their views.

All protest music defines a specific fraction of political views. The Shape Of Punk To Come is one of the few albums/art works in the past few years that not only criticizes the government/economic system, but also criticizes the very ways in which its citizens interact with said system, as well as the way countercultures and political reformers act, and construct themselves as. it even criticizes the very notion of protest songs, kind of relating back to Marshal McLuhan's "the medium is the message" position. Not many musicians have ever written such a piece.

My position that its the definitive protest album is not based on the widespread appeal of its message, but rather the relative quality/expansiveness of its view. In post-modern times, protest songs that merely criticize one thing instead of many different perspectives of working within this system are kind of missing a big part of the point. it wasn't so much that this is what the people in our generation would pick as the protest album so much as it's one of the few albums that I think truly defines the period we live in.

Nobody in the US preaches these views here because hardly anyone understands them. That's one of the biggest problems with Situationist philosophy. You literally had to have read a million books on Marxism/post-modernism and Hegel just to get your foot in the door.

[x togepi x]

I disagree because I disagree with the politics they promote. Nothing more to say.

so should a conservative say that Bob Dylan's protest songs aren't definitive protest songs either?

[big mondo]

While it is bad, it is only made worse by the fact that they're popular (not their fault). I'm not a Green Day fan and not going out of my way to defend them, but I think there are many Bush albums that were a swing and a miss. "Reclamation" from Bigwig didn't really go anywhere message-wise and "War Profiteering is Killing us all" was just a bunch of aimless yelling. If anything, I think War on Errorism was probably backed with a message the best.

war profiteering is killing us all > war on errorism

[lenard27]

It defines the tiniest fraction of political views. Good album but barely anyone in America relates to anything they preach and all most people in America ever did was distort and trivialise their views.
I agree with you.
Also, The Shape of Punk to Come came out in 1998, when this is about the defining protest album from the Bush years. Also, Refused is from Sweden, I would argue that the most defining protest album would have to come from an American band.

I would also say that there really isn't one, IMO.

[downtotheriver]

Nope Dookie is a great record.
Haven't heard.

[Until The Bombs]

The defining protest album from the Bush years does not have to come from an American band.

[Until The Bombs]

Haven't heard.

Then why make a statement like this if you don't know what you're talking about.

This band is awful on all accounts.

[micahistheballs]

I think Deja Entendu is the album we're looking for here.

[AP_Punk]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e9/NOFX_War_On_Errorism.jpg

lulz

[Miss Heartcore]

Yess nice one Kirbie.

[Jumpoff]

The defining protest album from the Bush years does not have to come from an American band.

Proof : Propagandhi are Canadians.

I've always wondered why Canadians and Mexicans aren't considered Americans as they live in North America...

[Smash Adams]

if Obama wins it's because this album was released

[a speedo model]

trying to make a political statement is fucking worthless if your lyrics are not descriptive because then it just makes you look ignorant and like you're trying to be anarchist just because it's cool.
That pretty much sums up Green Day.

[Until The Bombs]

Proof : Propagandhi are Canadians.

I've always wondered why Canadians and Mexicans aren't considered Americans as they live in North America...

Well, I could tell you why they aren't considered Americans....but yeah, nationality plays no role in this discussion.

[a speedo model]

And it did not come from NOFX, I think that goes without saying.

[Regards]

if Obama wins it's because this album was released
Commies.

[theguy77]

Nope Dookie is a great record.

must say im quite surprised you think so. i thought you'd lost all interest for music with juvenile and/or energetic vibes.

[downtotheriver]

Then why make a statement like this if you don't know what you're talking about.


Revision: this band is currently horrible on all accounts.

American Idiot is some of the worst music to ever enter my ears.

[Regards]

Green Day of the 90's really put out some good tunes.

[Jumpoff]

Sometimes it almost seems like people hate Green Day just because it's cool to do so. Personally never cared for them but still haha.

[AP_Punk]

my ex girlfriend absolutely despised green day. it was kinda funny.

[Regards]

Opinions on Green Day is split into three camps by age.

Under 14 - Awesome, best band ever.

14-17 - Worst shit ever. MTV garbage. Because they associate Green Day with American Idiot and little kids.

18+ These guys remember when Green Day not only wrote great songs but actually meant something. Dookie actually does deal in real social issues without being cliche and fake. Brilliant album. Sure they suck now but Green Day wrote great albums once upon a time.
Hit the nail on the head.

[downtotheriver]

Opinions on Green Day is split into three camps by age.

Under 14 - Awesome, best band ever.

14-17 - Worst shit ever. MTV garbage. Because they associate Green Day with American Idiot and little kids.

18+ These guys remember when Green Day not only wrote great songs but actually meant something. Dookie actually does deal in real social issues without being cliche and fake. Brilliant album. Sure they suck now but Green Day wrote great albums once upon a time.

Fair enough.

[Until The Bombs]

American Idiot is some of the worst music to ever enter my ears.

I didn't like the album, but I'm sure this isn't correct either.

[absolutecrunk]

Thrice is travelling down the same path as Green Day, in that they had something they did well, but are now becoming too big for their britches.

[x togepi x]

I agree with you.
Also, The Shape of Punk to Come came out in 1998, when this is about the defining protest album from the Bush years. Also, Refused is from Sweden, I would argue that the most defining protest album would have to come from an American band.

I would also say that there really isn't one, IMO.

Yes, because the American political environment has radically changed since 1998....wait....

[Melkor]

Thrice is travelling down the same path as Green Day, in that they had something they did well, but are now becoming too big for their britches.

I think this point is really a matter of opinion for whether or not you like the new Thrice.

The musical direction they have taken has changed but it is Thrice changing for their own sake, making a different sounding music for themselves. It isn't like Vheissu/The Alchemy Index has garnered them a much bigger following or is more popular than Artist but has advanced them in artistic terms.

Lyrically speaking, I really don't see a massive shift in newer Thrice material than the older stuff other than Dustin improving. My favourite Thrice album is actually TAITA fwiw.

The difference from Green Day is that they, as has been mentioned, kick-started a faltering career and completely reversed their lyrical themes and their musical direction with American Idiot, maybe for quite cynical purposes.

So I would disagree with the Thrice comparision but agree with the consensus of American Idiot being a poor release.

[theguy77]

Thrice is travelling down the same path as Green Day, in that they had something they did well, but are now becoming too big for their britches.

absolutely disagree.

of course i do though, i dont know what it is but every time a popular scene band makes an attempt to transcend that scene and make something ambitious i tend to like it. i feel like thrice really accomplished what they were aiming for though, the music is pretty expressive and theyve learned to channel their talents effectively rather than just adding a lead here, fill there, chug-a-chug there simply because it sounds cool. i perceive the music to be a lot less shallow.

[x togepi x]

for an album that's pretty simple and straightforward as American Idiot, it's hilarious that almost everyone who's posting in this thread has no idea what the album is actually about. you kids probably don't listen to music though so whatever.

[TheOtherAndrew]

Fuck music.

[GuitarR0cker1]

Opinions on Green Day is split into three camps by age.

Under 14 - Awesome, best band ever.

14-17 - Worst shit ever. MTV garbage. Because they associate Green Day with American Idiot and little kids.

18+ These guys remember when Green Day not only wrote great songs but actually meant something. Dookie actually does deal in real social issues without being cliche and fake. Brilliant album. Sure they suck now but Green Day wrote great albums once upon a time.
haha this is pretty true regardless of the extreme generalizations, probably one of the few bands you can do this with.

[Chris Fallon]

This is true, but for a mainstream audience, this is a protest of the Bush years. I don't agree with that, but there really aren't many albums that hit the mainstream that take much of a stand on anything, so suburban teenagers of course latched onto this by the millions.

Worst album ever? Not a chance. Worst album Green Day has ever done? Possibly. I wouldn't personally agree with that, but many people share that sentiment.
Key point is highlighted here.

I won't even go so far to say it's the worst Green Day album -- most mainstream, definitely. Their worst? No, not quite. It's simply their most popular release.

The band did something many rock bands have done in the past: they went big, epic and brushed the canvas with large strokes. They told a story in a formula that reached out to a wide audience.

[Paulb-182]

Opinions on Green Day is split into three camps by age.

Under 14 - Awesome, best band ever.

14-17 - Worst shit ever. MTV garbage. Because they associate Green Day with American Idiot and little kids.

18+ These guys remember when Green Day not only wrote great songs but actually meant something. Dookie actually does deal in real social issues without being cliche and fake. Brilliant album. Sure they suck now but Green Day wrote great albums once upon a time.

Insomniac is my favourite

so good, Nimrod got me into punk music in general

god knows what happened after that

[Chris Fallon]

Insomniac is my favourite

so good, Nimrod got me into punk music in general

god knows what happened after that
Really? Me too, man -- I don't meet many kids who agree with me on that, but that is my personal choice.

[Paulb-182]

Really? Me too, man -- I don't meet many kids who agree with me on that, but that is my personal choice.

its great, perfect follow up to dookie, after the immense success of it and billie joe being uncomforatble with its success, i love all the paranoia in it

Panic Song is awesome, the single Brain Stew/Jaded are the worst two tracks on it, Brat, Stuart and The Ave and 86 are my favourites on it.

[Chris Fallon]

its great, perfect follow up to dookie, after the immense success of it and billie joe being uncomforatble with its success, i love all the paranoia in it

Panic Song is awesome, the single Brain Stew/Jaded are the worst two tracks on it, Brat, Stuart and The Ave and 86 are my favourites on it.
Agreed -- much more of a "punk" release, it's faster overall. That bass line on "Panic Song" is wonderful.

"Stuart and the Ave." and "Bab's Uvula Who" are easily my top tracks on there. I love the vibe, the tone, the general sense of fear and panic it provides -- too many people have overlooked this album, and it's simply refreshing.

[Paulb-182]

Agreed -- much more of a "punk" release, it's faster overall. That bass line on "Panic Song" is wonderful.

"Stuart and the Ave." and "Bab's Uvula Who" are easily my top tracks on there. I love the vibe, the tone, the general sense of fear and panic it provides -- too many people have overlooked this album, and it's simply refreshing.

i understand why Dookie was so popular, when i come around is one of my favourite songs ever, but i just cant listen to the whole album in a row, i get bored, but Insomniac and Nimrod are good pretty much all the way through, id cut a couple of tracks from Nimrod though, a few weaker tracks

[lenard27]

Yes, because the American political environment has radically changed since 1998....wait....
You're saying it hasn't?

Look at the amount of corruption in our government today compared to 1998. I'm not saying that it wasn't there but it sure has hell wasn't as rampant as it has been over the past few years. Also, foreign opinion of us was a lot better, as well. We're no tied down in a war that almost no sane person wants to be involved in or spending money on. Not to mention we're at the beginning of another recession/depression, whatever term you want to use.
All of this effects the political environment because almost all of these things were caused by decisions that the politicians made.

[SanePsychotic]

Of course it's not the "defining protest album of the Bush years" because it's not a political album. Sure they have some political songs ("Holiday" and the title track) but the theme of the album isn't really political at all.