American Idiot: 20 Years Later

Well, it happened. On the 21st day of September of 2024, Green Day's classic rock opera masterpiece American Idiot turned 20 years old. As a huge fan of both Green Day and the album itself, I thought it fitting to make a formal review of the project, especially because it's my favorite album of all time. So without any further ado, let's get into it.

Picture from wallpapercave.com/green-day-american-idiot-wallpapers

American Idiot is not just a normal pop-punk rock album; it actually tells a story. That story follows the adventures of Jimmy, the "Jesus of Suburbia." Jimmy is a kid from the suburbs who feels ensnared within the confines of his home and family, so he sets out to live on his own in the city as an act of rebellion. His initial moments in the city are filled with revelry and excitement, but it is quickly shut down when the reality of the situation dawns on him. He is alone and has no support in a completely foreign environment. After mulling this over and starting to deal with what he is experiencing, he decides to fully put on and accept the character of Saint Jimmy, a so-called martyr who has been victimized by society. Shortly thereafter, Jimmy meets Whatsername, a girl who is described as everything Jimmy dreamed of. A rebel, a saint, "...she's the salt of the Earth, and she's dangerous.". Eventually, as you can expect, things go wrong between Jimmy and Whatsername, reality starts to loom over him, and he finally realizes around the third to last song on the album that he needs to stop being delusional and that he isn't cut out for this life of rebellion. His return home and subsequent lamentation of the life he almost had culminated in "Homecoming" and "Whatsername," finally ending the story as Jimmy settles back into normal life.

Besides the overall story of the album, it also has an external agenda as well. Throughout multiple tracks, there are very clear shots thrown by Green Day at former President George W. Bush, as well as shots taken at the American media, all of it with the very true-to-origin punk message of "Don't believe everything you see or read, the government doesn't actually care about you.".

Admittedly, most of my enjoyment of this album comes from strictly enjoying how the album sounds rather than the politics behind it, but it is integral nonetheless. I love the overarching story that is told, I love the iconic use of power chords and rapid drums that define Green Day's sound, and I love how the vocals and everything are balanced throughout the entire thing. This album will always hold a special place in my heart, and I think everyone should listen to this album. My top 3 songs off of the album are the title/introductory track, "American Idiot," "Saint Jimmy," and the closing track, "Whatsername."

My official rating is a solid 10 out of 10. No further questions, your Honor.

Follow me @press.play.radio on Instagram!

(Side note: Watch the documentary about the making of the album, Heart Like A Hand Grenade, it's a really good watch.)