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Relaxed opening, strummed chords and steady beat. The middle section
includes some warning sound effects and processed vocals which add to
the warning idea (distorted tannoy) |
Harmonica and guitar open, and reappear before a complete repeat of
the entire lyrics, which bounce along cheerfully. There is a
subtantial instrumental break before the final repeated chorus and a
return of the opening harmonica, almost Dylan style! |
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(2) Blood, Sex and Booze (3.33) |
Complete break at the start, settling to a steady rhythmic style,
with quite agressive vocals in the choruses.A totally complete
surprise ending! |
Strumming acoustic guitar opens, there is also use of a tambourine
throughout and considerable rhythmic flexibility. The break this time
has an additional and very effective use of the saxophone. After a
partial reprise, a sudden totaly unexpected slowdown on."wasting
all your time." |
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(3) Church on Sunday (3.19) |
"The First day of the rest of our lives" Do I detect a
thought on the passing of time? is that a Hammond in there? Just the
right level in the mix. Interesting shifts towards the end! |
Vocal opening here, to a most impressive track, full of instrumental
shifts and solos with a marked dynamic change which is very unusual
and effective. the guitar carries the "vocal" line in the
break here. A sudden pause then back to acoustic, then full band
again. This is a most inventive track. |
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(4) Fashion Victim (2.48) |
Staccato guitar, and an equally savage drum line, digging hard it
seems in the lyrics at the designer labelled grossly overpriced
clothes perhaps? What's in a name? |
This track has a sneakily quiet acoustic guitar style start, over
which the band explodes into action most effectively! Its a real sing
along number this, right from the opening chorus! Interesting pace
shifts too! The harmonica is back again! Emphasises the idea of non conformity.
"down with the moral majority." |
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Cracking pace here! part of the drum pattern takes me back. "His
Latest flame" (Marie's the name) Elvis no less! I guess the
parallel is unintended - others must have used it too! A short
instrumental break with a guitar solo! |
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(12) Macy's Day Parade (4.05) |
Voice and guitar alone, reminds me of, I think a Blur track? Very
subtle strings enter on v2 and in the break also, The vocal line here
is perhaps the strongest on the whole album, "whats the
consolation prize?" with a relatively simple, more subdued
rhythm almost throughout. A serious, very thoughtful song this! |
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Anything but miserable in approach! Starts with a double keyboard
line and has a lot of subtle string and other effects, including what
sounds rather like a French style accordion! The vocals have a lot of
character here too, in line with the lyrics. There is a much more
complex instrumental break here. "we're gonna get high, high
high when I'm low low low, The Fire burns from better days."Wierd
last chord! |
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(13) 86 (Live in Prague) (3.00) |
A complete break is needed here, we get exactly that, into the band
in full flow onstage! "no return from 86!" (not too
sure about that though! Loud, aggressive and fully together! An
appropriate closer! Now hit that replay button! I suspect this
album may not please all Green Day's fans, but as a new
listener to the band, I'm very impressed. They have NOT produced a
string of samey tracks. Real effort has gone in here. |
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(7) Deadbeat Holiday (3.35) |
"Wake up the house is on fire, and the cat's caught in the drier"
I get the feeling that someone had a nightmare holiday! "Deadbeat
holiday - celebrate your own decay". Starts with a hornet
like whine, and settles into a simpler style than Misery. The song
seems to point towards the grave? |
Review compiled largely on first hearing or instant replay of all
tracks. For tabs etc. see Craigs site;
There's a newsgroup too.
Probably more than one!
P.K.Murphy.
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