Album Review: Green Day, Revolution Radio

Even the most ardent Green Day fan would have to admit that this decade hasn’t been kind to Green Day. Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong had an unforgettable public meltdown in 2012, which was followed by a stint in rehab. Meanwhile, the band’s trilogy of albums (the overblown and underwhelming Uno!, Dos! and Tre!) was a creative misfire, which even they themselves wrote off as being “prolific for the sake of it.” With their stock currently resembling their post-Dookie period, they’ve decided to give themselves a “make-under” for Revolution Radio. The back to basics approach has yielded Green Day’s most consistently enjoyable album since ‘97’s Nimrod.

Dispensing with high concepts and needless fluff, the 12 tracks are stripped back and focused on power, precision and melody. While the ghosts of their arena rock phase aren’t completely exorcised (love song ‘Youngblood’ is rather twee, and the seven minute rock opera ‘Forever Now’ fails to dazzle), there are plenty of high points. Indeed, the likes of the pulverising ‘Bang Bang’, the Adam and the Ants-ish ‘Say Goodbye’ and the power-pop of the tellingly titled ‘Too Dumb To Die’ find the trio in the form of their lives – and are sure to be live staples for years to come. Welcome back.