Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, recently mocked Green Day for altering the lyrics of “American Idiot” to attack the MAGA brigade, stating that “Green Day goes from raging against the machine to milquetoastedly raging for it.” It has always been clear which side of history Green Day are on, whether through their anthems for the jilted generation or their explicitly political material. Their most recent album, “Saviors,” offers an election-year statement from the trio, firmly planting their flag in opener “The American Dream Is Killing Me” where Billie Joe Armstrong describes a land divided between Black Lives Matter and white picket fences.
While their previous album, “Father Of All Motherfuckers,” was a blast of young, dumb, jukebox pop-punk, “Saviors” is more considered. The record acknowledges the current state of things in America, citing the opioid crisis, unabashed racism, and a cross-generational divide. The album is a well-balanced mix of punk abandon and heartfelt moments.
There is also some serendipity in the fact that the band will celebrate 30 years of “Dookie” and 20 years of “American Idiot” later this summer. The album uses the palette of the best of the band to tell us something else. “Dookie” was a carpet-bombing of shit, “American Idiot” was a hand grenade, and “Saviors” is an act of defiance met with a shrug – a band saying that they are still here and are still struggling.
“Saviors” was released on January 19, 2024, under the record label Reprise. The album is a good romp that stays true to their punk rock sound while addressing the current state of the nation. It gives the listener an idea of where Green Day stands in the current political landscape while also acknowledging their more heartfelt moments
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