Green Day
Warning

(Reprise)

First Appeared in The Music Box, January 2001, Volume 8, #1

Written by John Metzger

With the release of its sixth album Warning, the members of Green Day have left their youth behind them and entered middle age. Lyricist Billie Joe Armstrong does continue to rail against authority, but rather than reveling in teenage ennui, his songs have taken a more introspective turn. Fashion Victim attacks American consumerism, Minority confidently cries for individuality, and the title track examines the excuses for conformity.

Musically, however, Green Day makes less of a statement. With the exception of the subtly orchestrated and more experimental Macy's Day Parade, the band falls back upon the simple melodies that have embodied most of its songs. This time around, its tackles them at a slower pace, allowing the infectious strains to bloom rather than bludgeon. There's no question that Warning leans more towards power pop than punk, gleaning riffs from The Beatles (Hold On), The Kinks (Jackass), Elvis Costello (Church on Sunday), and even Petula Clark (Waiting) instead of The Ramones and The Clash. The problem, however, lies in the fact that although Green Day's latest effort is an enjoyable listen, in the end it fails to leave much of a lasting impression.

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Ratings

1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 2006 The Music Box