The return of Green Day has found them at something of a
cross roads in their career. No longer the pop punk whirlwind of fresh air from
the 90’s and early 2000’s but bona fide arena filling rock superstars. The all-conquering
success of American Idiot in 2004 created something of a problem for Billy-Joe
and co as to what direction they really wanted their group to head in.
Thankfully, on Uno!, (the first of three LP’s planned in coming months) they have
achieved something of a balance between past and present, though this is by no
means their finest hour.
Opening track Nuclear
Family starts promisingly but is something of a false start, lacking a truly
massive chorus. This is something that is amended on second song Stay the Night and its follow up Carpe Diem as the album steps up a gear,
with trademark chord heavy hooks and catchy melodies announcing that this
record is unmistakably Green Day.
Let Yourself Go is
perhaps the punkiest, and best, song on Uno!, charging through three minutes of
energetic delirium complete with a screamed refrain that is the highlight of a
superbly produced record. Unfortunately this is shadowed by the weakest song of
the album, and perhaps Green Day’s career, Kill
the DJ. Though the danceable riff should perhaps be celebrated for its experimentalism,
it’s just a plodding, lazy mess of a tune.
Fell For You and Loss of Control are solid enough songs,
however they don’t do anything special enough to save the middle of Uno! from
feeling somewhat half-arsed and comfortable. Such filler suggests that Green
Day may well have made a mistake releasing three albums in such a short space
of time with Dos! and Tres! soon to be upon us in coming months.
One thing that is clear here however is that Green Day are
oozing with a swagger and carefree attitude that was missing on 2009’s 21st
Century Breakdown. Whilst this no doubt comes with the financial security and
knowledge that this record and tour will of course sell, it’s refreshing that
they clearly feel under no obligation to make American Idiot part II,
exemplified by Troublemaker, as
Billy-Joe snarls and coos his way through 2:45 of breeze pop heaven.
The classic Green Day power chords charge back in on Angel Blue (the most American Idiot esque- track), presenting a strong finish to the LP along with the delicate Sweet 16 and the Warning era pop punk perfect Rusty James, which in quoting St. Joe Strummer suggests that such a sound and heritage was very much on the bands minds during this recording. Comeback single and album closer Oh Love polarised opinion on release, but as an album closer it actually works quite well, feeling more like a bonus track or encored curtain closer then part of this collection of songs.
The classic Green Day power chords charge back in on Angel Blue (the most American Idiot esque- track), presenting a strong finish to the LP along with the delicate Sweet 16 and the Warning era pop punk perfect Rusty James, which in quoting St. Joe Strummer suggests that such a sound and heritage was very much on the bands minds during this recording. Comeback single and album closer Oh Love polarised opinion on release, but as an album closer it actually works quite well, feeling more like a bonus track or encored curtain closer then part of this collection of songs.
Only time will tell as to whether Green Day would’ve been
better suited to putting all their golden eggs into one basket, rather than
such a trilogy and Uno! unfortunately suggests that this may well be the case.
However, it does provide a solid return, encompassing what we love and loved
about Green Day. It’s a pity that any experimentation falls somewhat flat, but
hey, I’d much rather see a stadium filling band take a few risks (*cough*
Mumford *cough*) rather than playing it safe. After all, as Billy Joe so
eloquently put it, ‘‘he’s not Justin Fucking Bieber’’.
7.5/10
