REVIEW: GREEN DAY - SAVIORS

4/5

Save The Day. 

We've barely got by the last part of January where it's acceptable to wish people a Happy New Year (we see you Larry David and the last ever season of 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', right around the corner), and we're already facing a Green Day. The 'Saviors' are here for one of the first marquee albums of 2024 already following an 'Insano' Kid Cudi last week. And the legendary punk act who are about to go on tour with support from The Smashing Pumpkins and Rancid to celebrate their respective 30th and 20th anniversaries of their legendary and landmark albums 'Dookie' and 'American Idiot' (set to both be performed in their entirety), have been starting the year off right by performing in New York City Subway stations with Jimmy Fallon (and to think we were just there last week). But how many Septembers has it been after we asked to be woken up? Because now Green Day like the Pumpkins, Chilli's and Foo Fighters are considered "Dad rock" pushing 50?! That's crazy. We remember when they were just singing about being stoners and masturbating. Now with their fourteenth(!?) album and their first since 2020s 'Father Of All Motherf#####s' critics are calling 'Saviors' the best album since these Green guys were 'Idiots'.

Spearheaded by a terrific title track as a compelling album cut and four formidable singles, following their 'BBC Sessions' release, the band recorded this Reprise record in London (RAK) and at times even sound like they could have recorded it crossing the zebra to Abbey Road. There's a Sex Pistols feel to the pink and black and white, youthful artwork celebrating burning behind. One taken from the Troubles in Belfast by photographer Chris Steele-Perkins with an altered smile on a young boys face that kind of looks like Billie. 'The American Dream Is Killing Me' Billie Joe Armstrong says in the opening track and single which is their best statement since their last one about a green gunge and grunge American flag, draped in black and white. Hands up for the genius, 'Look Ma, No Brains' follow-up, and the best 'Dilemma' since Kelly Rowland got mad that Nelly wouldn't respond to her Microsoft Excel message. Then there's the 'One Eyed B#####' that really looks into more, promising, "I'm making an offer that you cannot deny/You won't be laughing when I'm making you cry/'Cause, ayy-oh! I hear the pleas get louder/You son of a b####, you're gonna beg and cower/Vendetta is a friend of mine/Revenge is sweeter than wine." Dial V for a Vendetta that's never been better, save Portman and a Guy Fawkes mask. The 'Bobby Sox' of this big-hitting retrain to form knocks it out the park. This album was originally meant to be called '1972' after the year Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tré Cool we're born, but the 'Savior' track '1981' reveals even more. Just like 'Living In The' 20s', old sport.

'Goodnight Adeline' and the Cat Stevens rivalling 'Father To A Son' are among the most beautiful work Billie Joe is done since her paid tribute to The Everly Brothers forever ('Foreverly') with the iconic Norah Jones (who is 'Running' with some new 'Visions' coming soon after dominating the last few Christmases). But it's 'Coma City' that will really wake you up in this cold and dry January. Much like the born to run, warm engines that we are revving, already looking forward to a 'Corvette Summer' with the top down. A broken heart of "Will I ever see your face again?/Not just photos from an Instagram/Will you say hello from across the street?/From a place and time we used to meet/Sometimes everything just grows apart/Broken pieces from a busted heart," is applied to 'Suzie Chapsick', before we all admit singing along that 'Strange Days Are Here To Stay' since the pandemic. "Strange days are here to stay/Ever since Bowie died/It hasn't been the same/All the madmen going mental/Grandma's on the fentanyl now/Strange days are here to stay", open the doors to so much more on the same New Music Friday where we get the volume one release of a classic David Bowie live album from the 'Montreux Jazz Festival'. Before the 'Fever' of a bonus track, we also get some 'Fancy Sauce' to drizzle in closing. "Everybody's crazy/Getting stoned and lazy/As we all die young someday/We all die young someday." It's the s### like 'Dookie'. An anthem in these strange days, to save our day and way. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Playlist Picks: 'The American Dream Is Killing Me', '1981', 'Father To A Son'.