ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
Green Day has been a favorite band of mine since high school when I came across their “American Idiot” album. I was so obsessed with the album, I ultimately asked for it as a birthday present and it remains in regular rotation in my car’s stereo even today.
Since then, I’ve dabbled in listening to some of their other albums and when I heard a little while ago they were releasing a new album, “Saviors,” I knew I’d have to give it a listen on Spotify on its release date. I did just that and ultimately ended up pretty happy with what I listened to.
The album starts off with “The American Dream Is Killing Me” and it’s a solid start right out of the gate being a commentary on how “the American Dream” hasn’t exactly been all it’s cracked up to be the past several years and how nothing truly substantial has been done to help the people who most believe in it. After listening to this song, one of my immediate thoughts was how it’s basically a sequel to their ‘American Idiot’ single, but definitely updated. The album then continues with “Look Ma, No Brains,” which I felt could be a good representation of a person’s mind if they happen to be an addict or dealing with some other mental health issues, not entirely unlike Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” in that respect. It’s wild and chaotic and while it sounds like it’s supposed to be fun, it could actually be considered kind of serious – if you listen to the lyrics, you’ll hear what I’m talking about.
The album then continues with “Bobby Sox,” which is a rather simple song about a couple and everything they want to do together while they’re dating. It’s got a good, catchy beat I caught myself tapping my feet along to and it’s really fun. However, I did find the lyrics a little repetitive and after listening to it, I was wondering how the song would sound if it was a legitimate duet with another artist. Up next on the album is “One-Eyed Bastard, which I thought was a neat revenge fantasy song – I found it not necessarily about taking revenge itself, but more of a “If I WAS going to take revenge on this person, THIS is what I’d do...” and how that fantasy would play out in that person’s head. Like its predecessors on the album, it’s got a good, driving beat and I ended up really liking it.
Up next on the album is “Dilemma,” which I felt was a really good portrayal of the struggles faced with addiction/rehab, and I thought the song was more from the point of view of someone newly trying to get clean, since that’s the absolute toughest time in their lives. This song definitely feels like it’s got a more personal feel to it, and I ended up really liking it.
Later on in the album comes “Goodnight Adeline,” which pretty well portrays that longing for the past and when things were easier/simpler, which is actually rather relatable for me especially lately. It’s also a good song about life in general and how life gives you good and bad days and you just have to push through. After “Goodnight Adeline” comes “Coma City,” which I would consider the most politically charged song on the album, and the lyrics definitely show that. There are mad drum skills used in this song, and I felt “Coma City” could be a sequel to the group’s song “Holiday,” which happens to be one of my overall favorite songs of the group’s.
“Corvette Summer” is the most fun song on the album and it’s all about wanting to spend the days being a rockstar and being around music all the time, which is a sentiment shared by music nerds like myself. It’s a great summer song to just blast, and I feel like this will be one of the favorites of everyone who listens to this album. Next comes what I feel will be the most slept-on song of the album, “Suzie Chapstick.” This song is less harsh than the other songs on the album, which is a nice change of pace, and I felt this could be a sequel song to “Whatsername” from the “American Idiot” album.
One of my other particularly favorite songs from the album is “Father to a Son.” It’s very, very sweet, and in some ways, I can kind of picture this as a lullaby – in fact, after listening to it, my first thought was wondering what a straight acoustic version would sound like. It’s a great song that could apply to newer parents, and I also thought it was a great song about wanting to break some toxic generational cycles. I also particularly enjoyed the album’s title track, “Saviors,” which is an anthem all about wanting someone to swoop in and fix the world and put it back to normal. It’s another solid song with a great beat and I’m sure I’ll listen to it many, many times.
Overall, Green Day’s newest album, “Saviors” is really solid and energetic, and I would give it an “A” grade. The album’s got highs and lows and is comprised of punk anthems and acoustic ballads and everything in between, making for a solid listening experience. The vocals and instrumentals are solid throughout the entire album (which I have found to be VERY rare), and it definitely sounds like the band had a lot of fun putting the album together. If you’re a Green Day fan, “Saviors” is definitely one to cue up.
