• Record Label: Reprise
  • Release Date: Sep 21, 2004
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 841 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 50 out of 841

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  1. Lt.Drebin
    Nov 10, 2005
    10
    Their best album...and that's saying a lot.
  2. glenng
    Nov 2, 2005
    10
    Sets the standard in the 00s!
  3. EmilyO.
    Jan 15, 2005
    10
    This is such an intelligent CD with real insights. The Greenday band has really grown up, which is quite visable in "American Idiot". It was well worth the $20 I paid for it!
  4. MiguelC
    Jan 18, 2005
    9
    awesome album
  5. kayliep
    Dec 12, 2005
    10
    I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! i can relate to it in so many ways. i fell in love with this album the moment i heard it. 10!!!
  6. OZyYoung
    Jan 20, 2005
    10
    Wow! THis CD is amazing.
  7. HelenB
    Oct 22, 2005
    10
    Fantastic work! The best rock album i've ever known.!
  8. douglasm
    Dec 2, 2005
    10
    An absolutely complete and stunning album, it doesnt get much better than this!
  9. RobF
    Jan 30, 2005
    10
    Great Album to listen from a different sound of Green Day. They did a great job doing this album about America and what has happen through the years in America. Alot of Green Day fans who are only into the punk of Green Day put Green Day had grown up a bit and change there sound and songwriting. Great Job Green Day.
  10. mattr
    Oct 9, 2005
    10
    One of the best rock abums i have er heard defintly greendays best
  11. Kristin
    Feb 13, 2005
    10
    This is the best album by greenday! I love this cd!
  12. Pj
    Feb 14, 2005
    10
    1 word-PERFECTION!
  13. JoshuaE
    Mar 12, 2005
    10
    holy crap this album is amazing. green days best
  14. BENL
    Mar 17, 2005
    10
    Green Day's best. The only album I can listen to from start to end. Bush Bashers include American Idiot and Holiday (Holiday is better than AI). Boulevard is an extremly good song and any one who buys this cd will not be dissappointed.
  15. dunnolostit
    Mar 25, 2005
    10
    a good album, compared to whats around today its fantastic. Greenday will definatly make an imprint in music history.
  16. DavidL
    Mar 28, 2005
    10
    Just for the record, IGN gave this a 10/10
  17. DanielN
    Mar 29, 2005
    10
    This album is their best yet. I loved Dookie and appreciate the far more mature lyrics and outstanding music from this album. I'm hooked!
  18. angelab
    Apr 10, 2005
    10
    One of if not the best CD i have ever listened to. Every song is amazing and i could listen to it over and over again w/o getting bored or tired. i love all of Green Day's previous albums but this is by far the best and the most fun. My favorite track is number 10-Letterbomb.
  19. anona
    Apr 13, 2005
    10
    After reading the blittering pontifications of the village voice review, who apparantly fancies him/herself (didn't bother to look) some sort of intellectual, I felt compelled to add my voice (pun intended) to the discussion. I work with and enjoy music very much, so I am always listening to what is new/old/obscure, etc. It is very difficult to be original these days and the mark of After reading the blittering pontifications of the village voice review, who apparantly fancies him/herself (didn't bother to look) some sort of intellectual, I felt compelled to add my voice (pun intended) to the discussion. I work with and enjoy music very much, so I am always listening to what is new/old/obscure, etc. It is very difficult to be original these days and the mark of creativity reaches beyond the realm of just making a new sound-any 'idiot' can do that. The ability to synthesize and extrapolate what one hears (the who, the beatles, even david bowie-listen carefully- and pink floyd, of course husker du) and still have a singular voice as GD does, is something that I find remarkable in this 'event'. The voice in the arc of the concept is one of alienation, fear, resignation but not total abandon to despair. The music rocks. The only people who should NOT touch this disc are the consevative (politically and musically) or vapid. Actually, maybe the vapid would learn something. Go put this in your pipe and smoke it...intellectual dick. Expand
  20. DavidP
    Apr 15, 2005
    10
    I don't dislike today's candy-punk because of silly teen lyrics that I've long outgrown. It's because of the stunning lack of musical variety- just how many sounds can you generate with a bass, lead, & drums, anyway? Green Day answers the question in an amazing fashion on American Idiot. I doesn't matter whether or not you agree with the decidedly Anti-Bush I don't dislike today's candy-punk because of silly teen lyrics that I've long outgrown. It's because of the stunning lack of musical variety- just how many sounds can you generate with a bass, lead, & drums, anyway? Green Day answers the question in an amazing fashion on American Idiot. I doesn't matter whether or not you agree with the decidedly Anti-Bush sentiments. Each song is incredibly different and unique. Even "Jesus of Surburbia" contains 5 songs that could stand on their own. Songs range from the driving rock of "American Idiot" and "Holiday", to the catchy hooks of "Novacaine" and ""Whatshername". Sure it is sappy, but "Wake Me Up When September Ends" is an excellent song. Thanks Green Day for providing a CD that I can listen to in its ENTIRETY and one of the 5 best albums I have ever purchased. Expand
  21. SamM
    Apr 18, 2005
    10
    They manage to link together musically diverse songs with surprising cohesion. And here I thought they were washed up years ago.
  22. sophied
    Apr 2, 2005
    10
    i think that american idot is the best album released so far by green day.
  23. meghanc
    Apr 26, 2005
    10
    this cd was amazing, one of the best i've heard in a long time, its not the usually whiny pop-punk u get today. and like all the other green day albums i can sit through the whole thing with out wanting to skip songs or just plain turn it off
  24. JamesH.
    Apr 3, 2005
    10
    Holy crap...i got this cd after reading ign's review (perfect 10) and i listen to the whole album on a regular basis. Green Day is one of those bands who just consistantly get better and more mature. One of my favorite albums of all time
  25. jayb
    Apr 4, 2005
    10
    this is great! and the best songs arent even the singles... whatsername is the best!
  26. DanielB
    Apr 6, 2005
    9
    It isn't that often that an album comes along where I like ALL of the songs. I was never a fan of Green Day, but after hearing a few songs from the album and the rave reviews, I gave it a listen, but I didn't expect it to be THAT good!! Every time a new song came on, I was blown away with its creativity and great melodies. Although I rarely listen to lyrics on albums, it's It isn't that often that an album comes along where I like ALL of the songs. I was never a fan of Green Day, but after hearing a few songs from the album and the rave reviews, I gave it a listen, but I didn't expect it to be THAT good!! Every time a new song came on, I was blown away with its creativity and great melodies. Although I rarely listen to lyrics on albums, it's pretty hard to ignore the multiple F-words (hence the explicit language warning), which is why I give American Idiot a 9 instead of a 10. Expand
  27. CherelleA
    May 11, 2005
    10
    Greenday are da bomb n i dont care wat ne1 says they were named On eof the Best Rock Band still performing and most successful punk rock bands of all time so they deserve all the credit they are getting, and if I had my way I would make them President of the United States!! Most of my fave albums consist of all the Greenday albums and I believe it was worth the four year wait for their Greenday are da bomb n i dont care wat ne1 says they were named On eof the Best Rock Band still performing and most successful punk rock bands of all time so they deserve all the credit they are getting, and if I had my way I would make them President of the United States!! Most of my fave albums consist of all the Greenday albums and I believe it was worth the four year wait for their newest album American Idiot. I luv Greenday and I always will, Billie-Joe Armstrong is da hottest babe eva n all my m8s can think orlando bloom and chad michael murray are da hottest but I know better. A big 10 outta 10 not just for American Idiot, but for the whole band and the 16 years they've been together!! Lurve you guys soooooooo much ur da best band in da world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Cherelle xxx Expand
  28. RandyE
    May 14, 2005
    10
    This CD will rank with Seargent Peppers.
  29. christianeo
    May 27, 2005
    10
    this album is such a really good one of them .. I love Green day!!!
  30. AlexP
    May 4, 2005
    10
    undoubtedly the best band ever as far as music goes for me. i gave it a ten because it really appealed to my soul... it is for those with those of broken souls and have romantic passion... it is everything i ever wanted from a cd. I walk a lonely road...
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 26
  2. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. It is exactly what the band needs to boost itself to the next level of pop-punk prowess.
  2. There's still plenty of spunk in to be found in this Sgt. Pepper-lite.
  3. Not only does it contain Green Day’s finest songs (and choruses) to date... but it also scratches at the surface of political dissatisfaction with nails sharp enough to leave a nasty scar.