Wow, look back to their earlier albums. Compare it to Dookie, what a joke. Did NOT like this album... make overplaying of that first single on the radio did it to me. Anyone care to justify why this deserves to be so popular.

Dude, American Idiot is WAY better than their older stuff. It sounds almost exactly like their old stuff, except now they have purpose and a vision. Their crappy brat punk is old hat, no more man. They are pushing themselves to reach larger audiences and put themselves on a much more grand stage than little crap punk band. And at the same time, the music sounds the same. Like really, is Dookie any different than anything post Dookie (other than Warning)? Insomniac, Nimrod, exclude Warning and now American Idiot. The only track on this album that suffers is the title track. Overplayed and stupid. Besides that, it's fine.

Steve.... what happened?
This album is meant to be taken as a whole, almost a 'rock opera' if you will- it is a very grown-up focused relevant album with a lot of great commentary on the American way of life as Billie Joe sees it. EXACTLY like their older stuff, only different because time has passed (Over 12 years since Dookie) and the dudes have gotten older. The fact that they scrapped the album they were going to release when it was 90% complete and wrote this only shows how much these songs mean to them. They also roped in the same producer for this album (Rob Cavallho) who produced Dookie- the first time they have used him since then. This album kicks ass, and American Idiot- while I agree is overplayed, but the video still kicks ass!!

Exactly, im with u on that Peter, read over the lyrics of the songs on American Idiot then compare them to those from dookie

Yes, Green Day is showing how a snotty punk band can mature as an artist, while retaining the core of what they have always been.

I also think that American Idiot was overplayed on the radio but the album is very good, all the other songs are ace only a true green day fan can appreciate them and how much the band has grown!

To start off, it's Green Day. Totally separate words. And I agree, it's called growth. Isn't punk about "fuck the government" anyway? Yes, the songs are different from Dookie. But then look at Dookie and compare it to Insomniac. Then keep comparing the albums. They all don't have the same themes. The guys can write *and yes I said GUYS. there's probably people who don't know that Mike and Tre even write*, sing and play after 18 years and going.

and as for American Idiot, I will admit I like the old stuff a lot better. But I do like the fact that all 3 guys have their own vocal part *Homecoming* and display it on the album.

it's true, american idiot is definitely the least impressive of green day's albums... however, it's also far from being bad. the supposed politics of the album that caused such a buzz really aren't all that profound or thought-provoking, but the music's still perfectly good green day, albeit slightly poppier than normal. i just hope they don't try to make an american idiot II with their next album... personally, i want them to return to the days before warning

I liked this album. i don't see why people have a problem with it. Here's an interesting story that everyone has probably heard about how American Idiot came to be:

The band was going to not make a concept album and do straight up songs but someone stole all of their master tapes so they said let's start from scratch. Hence, American Idiot was born.

Well, to sum it up: Their record company wanted them to have a "new image" so they could make a ton of money. So they obeyed their record company. In short, they betrayed their old fans and gained a ton of new fans.