21st Century Breakdown
by Green Day
  • Record Label: Reprise
  • Release Date: May 15, 2009
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 391 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 323 out of 391
  2. Mixed: 31 out of 391
  3. Negative: 37 out of 391

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  1. BryanM
    Jun 11, 2009
    3
    There are no new ideas here. Everything has been rehashed from old albums, and their lyrics are more vague and directionless than before. American Idiot was overrated, but still worth listening to. This is essentially a B-sides compilation of American Idiot, presented as the anthem collection of the century. There are a few tracks worth listening to, but I cannot recommend this album to There are no new ideas here. Everything has been rehashed from old albums, and their lyrics are more vague and directionless than before. American Idiot was overrated, but still worth listening to. This is essentially a B-sides compilation of American Idiot, presented as the anthem collection of the century. There are a few tracks worth listening to, but I cannot recommend this album to anybody but the Top 40 worshiping masses.… Expand
  2. QuayT
    Jun 17, 2009
    7
    Green Day's bast days are well-behind them, as I think the pre-breakthrough youthful energy of Dookie cannot be recaptured. That being said, this album is much better than American Idiot, a fact which much surprised me, given the banality of the lead single, "Know Your Enemy." I only wonder why they would choose such a blatantly repetitive song to lead a much more creative album.
  3. Cedric
    Jun 27, 2009
    10
    It's a good with album with excellent instrumentation. My only concern is all the word crammed into one line on some of the songs.
  4. mikec
    Jul 14, 2009
    10
    awesome
  5. JoshH
    Jul 18, 2009
    10
    This is an amaZing album with some amazing riffs and lots of catchy songs " know your enemy " maby not as good as American idiot but still very good also the album style has changed has more piano sections all in all 10/10
  6. MirthM
    Aug 31, 2009
    10
    Seriously. This is one for the ages. Great album.
  7. MikeB
    Nov 27, 2009
    10
    A modern-day masterpiece.
  8. Daphne
    Aug 11, 2010
    10
    Another excellent album that has a lot to say while intertwined with great music!! Green Day still has what it takes to make you lose yourself in the lyrics and rock out to the beat! Thank you Green Day.
  9. Solyarka
    Mar 26, 2013
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. If you don't like Green Day or preffered they're 90's songs, Keep reading, If you love Green Day, also keep reading. Much like the Epic American Idiot, 21st Century Breakdown is an album in the style of an rock opera, so expect this album to become a musical in the near future. While the narrative isn't as gripping as the tale of St Jimmy, The story is still strong, half the songs are Awesome while the other half are boring as other than that it's a solid album, go buy it… Expand
  10. Chase_P
    Nov 25, 2019
    10
    This is, in my opinion, Green Day's best effort to date. Narrowly behind are American idiot and Dookie. Billie Joe Armstrong has taken the Rock opera he perfected with American Idiot and perfecting it again on a higher level. The storytelling is crisp and deeply entwined throughout this record. The production quality is exquisite. The melodies and lyricism hearken back to American Idiot.This is, in my opinion, Green Day's best effort to date. Narrowly behind are American idiot and Dookie. Billie Joe Armstrong has taken the Rock opera he perfected with American Idiot and perfecting it again on a higher level. The storytelling is crisp and deeply entwined throughout this record. The production quality is exquisite. The melodies and lyricism hearken back to American Idiot. The perfect blend of the already great three piece now has strings, pianos, and other accompanying instruments that were much more rare on their previous releases. They also stay true to themselves while delving into something new. This is a great album all around and deserves nothing less than a 10.… Expand
  11. flocko
    Jul 8, 2023
    10
    one of my favourite green day albums, its a bit long but I loved it enough for a 10
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Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Most Discussed Album of 2009
23
#23 Most Shared Album of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 30
  3. Negative: 1 out of 30
  1. Pitchfork
    48
    The performances are blandly professional, because any major-label rock band of Green Day's abilities could shit this stuff out in their sleep, and emotionally inert. This is the crafting of a modern epic as a dreary day-job routine.
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  2. Delusions of Adequacy
    70
    21st Century Breakdown is far from a bad album, and, like Idiot, will likely be the best release this year from such a popular band.
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  3. The Boston Phoenix
    88
    It could have easily gone any of several wrong ways, but Green Day's punk has long since been tempered with pop's most attractive attributes, and 21stCentury Breakdown, like its predecessor, is unapologetically accessible and relentlessly exhilarating.
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