Green Day - 'Saviors' [album review]
Green Day doesn’t need much of an introduction, but if you were unsure if they are still as big as they used to be, the answer is a resounding yes they are. Formed in 1987, Green Day remains one of the biggest bands in the world. With nearly 31 million monthly listeners on Spotify, they currently sit at #139 in the world.
The California trio released their fourteenth studio album today. In case you need a reminder, here is their studio album discography:
39/Smooth (1990)
Kerplunk (1991)
Dookie (1994)
Insomniac (1995)
Nimrod (1997)
Warning (2000)
American Idiot (2004)
21st Century Breakdown (2009)
¡Uno! (2012)
¡Dos! (2012)
¡Tré! (2012)
Revolution Radio (2016)
Father of All… (2020)
Saviors (2024)
I’ve been listening to Green Day for many years now and think it’s important to note what type of Green Day fan I am before I reveal my thoughts on the album.
In a ranking of my favorite bands, they probably land somewhere between #20-30
In the blink-182 vs. Green Day debate, I’m 100% team blink-182
American Idiot is my favorite of their albums followed by Dookie. Other than those two albums, there’s not another album where I’ve truly listened to every song front to back
I did fall off the bandwagon a bit in the 2010s
I saw them in 2021 and thought it was one of the best concerts I’ve been to
So I’m definitely a fan, but probably not a “true” fan. I’m not as biased as I would be with a band like blink-182. With that in mind, here are my thoughts on Saviors.
I think it’s an exceptional Green Day album. Some fans and critics have said it’s their best since American Idiot. As someone who hasn’t fully listened to some of their more recent albums, I don’t think I’m entitled to make that judgement. But I do think it’s the most I’ve enjoyed new Green Day music in a long time.
The band sticks to their typical songwriting formula throughout the album: plenty of power chords and guitar riffs to underpin Billie Joe Armstrong’s distinctive vocals. I have never found them to be the most creative or talented band, but it’s their energy and ability to communicate emotion through music that stand out. They are more about songwriting than technical proficiency and complexity. Said differently, they stir up emotions and get people moving. They are fun.
I’ve always admired Green Day’s boldness and like that Saviors doesn’t beat around the bush with the album opener, “The American Dream Is Killing Me”. Released as a single in October, the band is direct about their disillusionment with the current state of American society and politics (check out my deep dive on the song from last fall here).
The album’s energy hits a high on the second song, “Look Ma, No Brains!”. It’s catchy, self-deprecating, and entertaining (Taco Bell agrees).
One of the biggest standouts on the album is the head-banging singalong, “Bobby Sox”. Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong said in a press release, “It’s the '90s song we never wrote. It started out being a song I wrote for my wife but as it materialized, I wanted to switch it up and added, ‘Do you wanna be my boyfriend?’ on top of ‘Do you wanna be girlfriend’… So the song becomes a kind of universal anthem.” The band also released a cool music video to go along with the song - check it out below!
“One Eyed Bastard” sounds very Green Day-esque. Big guitars. Big bass. Big drums. Sprinkle in a little piano and pugnacious lyrics and “bada bing, bada boom” you’ve got a rock anthem hit.
I can already hear songs like “Dilemma” and “1981” rocking entire stadiums of people. As the title suggests, the latter song is reflective of older times. The outro guitar chord progression gives me Nirvana vibes.
The album’s tone changes a bit halfway through the album as things get deeper with “Goodnight Adeline”. The song explores pain, sorrow, and the process of letting go of hard times. The guitar solo adds a soulful touch.
The band makes subtle (and sometimes not so subtle) jabs at societal issues throughout the album. The dystopian track “Coma City” features a few of those with lyrics like “Don't call the cops / Word on the street is they all quit their jobs” and “Mask on your face / Bankrupt the planet for assholes in space”.
Songs like “Strange Times Are Here to Stay” and “Living in the '20s” are further critiques, commenting on things like mass shootings, the opioid crisis, and the media.
At 15 songs, it’s definitely not a short album and tracks like the rebellious “Corvette Summer” and nostalgic “Suzy Chapstick” round out the album.
“Father to a Son” is a reflective and endearing message of guidance and support from a father to his son. Musically, it reminds me a little bit of “Wake Me up When September Ends”.
The album’s penultimate and title track, “Saviors”, juxtaposes hope and gloom. In a world brokenness and struggle, the song maintains a sense of optimism and hope for positive change.
“Fancy Sauce” is a quirky, yet fitting final song for the album. Essentially, it’s about going insane as the world trudges on and “we all die young someday.” It’s bleak but feels authentically Green Day. They are an angsty, punk band after all ;)
Overall, I give the album 8.5/10. It’s not quite the masterpiece that is American Idiot, but I think Saviors is a fantastic album. It’s slightly top heavy (i.e., the best songs are early on the album) in my opinion but all 15 songs are necessary.
Green Day will begin a massive stadium tour across Europe and North America in May in support of the album. They will also be performing Dookie and American Idiot in full each night of the tour. Sure to be some epic shows!
