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CDs
Over time it is obvious Green Day has matured tremendously. Not only have
they matured in profanity, the clothes, and overall performance, they have
matured their CDs as well. Back in the days of, “1,039 Smoothed Out Slappy
Hours” and “Kerplunk,” Green Day was extremely sloppy. Not because of the
quality of the music, but because of the recording. If you listen closely it
sounds like there have been no adjustments in the studio. I like that sound, it
makes it sound like a live CD. You feel like you are there when you are
listening to it. The CD was obviously low-budget, which makes it sound even
better. Green Day just went to the studio and an hour later they had a CD.
When “Dookie” was released all the unprofessional sounding CDs went
away. Even the CD looked professional. Even though Green Day sounds like a CD
when they are playing live, “Dookie” took that a notch down. Instead of
being identical to the CD except for speed of the song, now Green Day sounded a
little different compared to the CD.
This change was caused by the switch from Lookout Records to Reprise.
Even though I would not be writing this if it was not for “Dookie,” I really
feel like Dookie brought Green Day down a notch. I would much rather listen to
“Dookie” live than on the CD. But, “Kerplunk” and “1,039 Smoothed Out
Slappy Hours” are no different from the live versions.
“Insomiac” and “Nimrod” just matured Green Day even more. There
music was still amazing and Green Day was still absolutely amazing, but you can
tell with these CDs there is something missing. Me, myself, couldn’t even tell
you what it is that these CDs need, but when I finish the CD I feel like they
just started. I guess what is missing is the feeling that you are there
listening to Green Day live. But honestly I could not tell you.
After touring, Green Day went back into the studio. This time they were
aiming for a different approach. Instead of just the three rag-tag musicians,
now they wanted harmonicas, accordions, second guitars, and some really weird
songs. But, even this CD was extraordinary. Green Day had pulled it off. The
music was great but not for Green Day. I admit I will listen to Minority,
Misery, and Warning, but what happened to songs like
Longview
and At the Library? What happened to that punk adrenaline?
If I could remove Green Day’s worst CD, I would remove, “Warning.”
It fell far short from its expectations. Not only that, but it was not punk,
rather the most pop CD Green Day ever made. Along the road of CDs came,
“International Superhits.” A collection of Green Day’s singles as well as
two brand-new songs was sure to do the trick. But, the new songs were, were,
well to put it this way songs Blink 182 would sing. Maria and Poprocks and Coke
were the most pop songs Green Day could have made. But, now with a record of
B-sides being released this summer Green Day seems like it will never release a
new album. “Warning” came out in ’99, and Green Day will not make a
“real” new album probably until 2003. That means four years without a full
new CD. It is kind of leaving the fans on a leash, because everyone wanted a
Green Day comeback. I say, “Get out of the “Warning” stage and go back to
just Tre, Mike, and Billie Joe making one hell of a record.”
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