A Green Day's Night

I heard Green Day's new album at Warner Music Office today.

21st Century Breakdown is an even further departure from their Berkeley pop-punk sound. The Kerrplunk/Dookie sound is no more.

Green Day is now full out stadium rock. Think Foo Fighters. Think U2. Think Queen.

I was disappointed initially. But you know...BIllie Joe hasn't completely turned his back. There's stil their side band the Foxboro Hot Tubs. That was some catchy Dookie style fun.

The first single, Know Your Enemy, doesn't do much for me. But the likely second single, 21 Guns, is one of them epic sounding slower-tempo singalong anthems. Think Everlong, Creep, Wonderwall, or GD's own Blvd of Broken Dreams (which is basically Wonderwall).

21 Guns is gonna be huge. It's begging to be used in movies.

And as someone who've seen Green Day live six times (one of the best live acts I've seen), this song will be stunning live. The chorus is built for Billie Joe's favorite concert move: the sing-halfway-then-stop-and-let-audience-finish-the-line.

I listened to this, along with a writer for Respect Magazine, in the Warner Asia Vice President's office. I sat there thinking "this man is Warners Music Asia's second in command!"

And at first, he was stern. But 10 minutes in, the three of us were nodding our head to Tre Cool's beats.

Looking out his window and staring at the HK Harbour, I told myself it was a good day.