American Idiot
by Green Day
  • Record Label: Reprise
  • Release Date: Sep 21, 2004
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 841 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 769 out of 841
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 841
  3. Negative: 50 out of 841

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  1. maplejet
    May 25, 2007
    7
    Don't get me wrong. This isn't a bad album, but it ain't GD's greatest. Their previous albums are better and should be given a listen. As for GD haters, go listen to you generic Led Zeppelin and be a poser
  2. TomP.
    May 5, 2008
    7
    Honestly, I've barely even listened to this album, I just wanted to comment on how Jon C. may just be the most ignorant person to ever listen to a CD.
  3. zackz
    Oct 2, 2004
    7
    This album is good but they are trying to keep popular so they are changing their music to whats popular NOW not in the 90's when the music was good and not good charlette
  4. SebB.
    Jan 11, 2005
    7
    I found this album to get boring after a while. My favorite songs are American Idiot and holiday. Boulevard just got lame after hearing it a million times on t.v. and on the radio. And no matter how hard you try and convince yourself that they're not, the 2 10 milute songs are WAY to long!
  5. joel
    Mar 11, 2006
    7
    it's not their best album but its ok.
  6. SidS
    May 18, 2009
    7
    When you are an old Green Day fan and are just willing them to bring out another 'Dookie', a bit disappointing.
  7. Pillwan2
    Sep 28, 2010
    7
    Sure, it's an odd thing to review in 2010, but how can you not have your say on this album? My 7/10 is a simple one. I haven't yet, listened to an album that for me, has been over a 7. Such bands as Every Avenue, Asking Alexandria and such all seem to pump out amazing albums, but none over a 7. American Idiot, however, has had a HUGE impact on the way I saw music when it was released. ThisSure, it's an odd thing to review in 2010, but how can you not have your say on this album? My 7/10 is a simple one. I haven't yet, listened to an album that for me, has been over a 7. Such bands as Every Avenue, Asking Alexandria and such all seem to pump out amazing albums, but none over a 7. American Idiot, however, has had a HUGE impact on the way I saw music when it was released. This is why I don't really cringe when people say they used to, or even still, listen to Busted. I'd rather listen to Busted, which I did and sometimes still do, than say...50 Cent?

    American Idiot, however, changed my music style. As soon as i bought it and gave it a good beating, I knew that I was into this genre. At the time, the genre was 'guitars'. Then it branched into Korn, then Linkin Park and before you know it, I'm buying Whisteria Cottage CD's and trying to decide what else to buy.

    The reason I am wittering on about this is because had Green Day released American Idiot this week, in the music position that I am in, I would have given it a straight 9. But because I was 12, and I didn't understand the political subtext, 7 will have to do.    … Expand
  8. CRL
    Jul 26, 2011
    7
    No one saw this coming. Green Day makes a rock opera, and then that rock opera becomes one of the greatest of the decade. This album never lets up from the scorching prelude that is the title track, to the emotionally charged ending.
  9. danielcardoso
    Apr 14, 2013
    7
    American Idiot is a cool rock opera. I usually don't like rock operas, but American Idiot is cool. The title track is epic and it is the best song of the album, along with Holiday and Boulevard of Broken Dreams. The album is consistent. Talking about the rest of the album, I ,like St. Jimmy, Wake Me Up When September Ends and Are We The Waiting. I don't like Whatshername, as it is for meAmerican Idiot is a cool rock opera. I usually don't like rock operas, but American Idiot is cool. The title track is epic and it is the best song of the album, along with Holiday and Boulevard of Broken Dreams. The album is consistent. Talking about the rest of the album, I ,like St. Jimmy, Wake Me Up When September Ends and Are We The Waiting. I don't like Whatshername, as it is for me the worst of the album. To be honest I am not a huge Green Day fan. I don't like Punk. The songs are so similar. But I was surprised. It is a good album.… Expand
  10. aadityamudhar
    Apr 17, 2016
    7
    No one saw this coming. Green Day makes a rock opera, and then that rock opera becomes one of the greatest of the decade. This album never lets up from the scorching prelude that is the title track, to the emotionally charged ending.
  11. ChiIIaoi
    Jul 19, 2023
    7
    Review só pra lembrar a nota que eu dei pro album:
    bom album, agora só escrever pra passar dos 75 caracteres.
  12. MusicLover
    Oct 21, 2007
    6
    This album was sort of just a plain rock album. Don't get me wrong: it had good songs on it. I loved how they had medleys like "Jesus Of Suburbia" & "Homecoming", but it didn't offer something totally new. It almost turned me off from Green Day, but I still love them.
  13. [Anonymous]]
    Jul 2, 2005
    5
    Disappointing. Period.
  14. BangoSkank
    May 21, 2005
    5
    I heard about this album from a lot of people so I decided to give it a go. Now ive never really been too much of a fan of greenday, but when i heard all the hype swarming this album I was excited. But...once again hype has let me down. The music in this album, claiming to be a "rock opera", is bland and repetitive. I have no idea how anyone could ever listen to this album more than I heard about this album from a lot of people so I decided to give it a go. Now ive never really been too much of a fan of greenday, but when i heard all the hype swarming this album I was excited. But...once again hype has let me down. The music in this album, claiming to be a "rock opera", is bland and repetitive. I have no idea how anyone could ever listen to this album more than twice, i got bored with the songs on the first go. Also I heard this album dealt with politics and other intriguing things, but again I was let down. This album has nothing to do with politics or anything important for that matter. It's just a bunch of nonsensical drivel piled together. The reason im giving this album a 5 and not a 0 is because although i was bored with the songs, some of the guitar is at least somewhat memorable but other than that this album has no substance. (Oh yeah, and anyone who says that Billy Joe, or whatever, is hot...hes in his 30s and the only reason he "looks" hot is because he uses a LOT of makeup)… Expand
  15. BouchetSmith
    Feb 25, 2018
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I used to adore this record when i was 14, but listening to it today, i realized it's actually very boring. Even though there's a lot going on, it just feels so bland. The sound is so commercially tweaked and is the opposite of what real ounk should be. Okay there are some memorable hooks, melodies, riffs but it's just bland, insipid, boring. I don't think i will ever listen to it again ever, because it just doesn't have anything substantial to offer.… Expand
  16. DominicS
    Sep 30, 2004
    4
    Don't get me wrong - it's a good, solid album. But there is no way that it lives up to the extensive hype it's being given. Especially given their political views - I just feel that this album is getting excess acclaim because it is _fashionable_ to be anti-imperialist these days. If you don't consider the political message, they just aren't making good music on Don't get me wrong - it's a good, solid album. But there is no way that it lives up to the extensive hype it's being given. Especially given their political views - I just feel that this album is getting excess acclaim because it is _fashionable_ to be anti-imperialist these days. If you don't consider the political message, they just aren't making good music on this album.… Expand
  17. Somebody
    Dec 9, 2005
    4
    Meh. Green Day redefines what is known as "generic punk-pop." I have been trying to hear a song on this CD with "mature lyrics," but all I manage to hear is Green Day.
  18. DaveyB
    Sep 15, 2006
    4
    Average at best. Greenday employ the oldest "reinvented" trick in the book and fool every freshman in the world. As a massive greenday fan since 2031/smoothed out/ slappy hours, I was bitterly dissapointed. Typical greenday, well have to wait 3 years for another album too. The promise of the title track squandered at the expense of selling a mythical rock opera!! One word to describe Average at best. Greenday employ the oldest "reinvented" trick in the book and fool every freshman in the world. As a massive greenday fan since 2031/smoothed out/ slappy hours, I was bitterly dissapointed. Typical greenday, well have to wait 3 years for another album too. The promise of the title track squandered at the expense of selling a mythical rock opera!! One word to describe it... Pants!!… Expand
  19. alexa
    Jun 18, 2008
    4
    Sub-sub-par Green Day at best. So much of it is forced and reachy, musically and lyrically. The well is tapped I'm sad sad sad to say; I'm the biggest GD fan there ever was...was.
  20. ChrisL
    Feb 13, 2005
    4
    This lot are solely responsible for so many shit bands like Good Charlotte.This is such a pointless predictable mainstream album.Nobody should bother making or listening to retro shit like this anymore,guitar music is dead.There is nothing new under the sun.Thank God for electronica.
  21. kman5473
    Nov 1, 2018
    4
    Retro album review! Going back to favs from middle school and seeing what I find and what I think about it now. American Idiot is a solid pop punk album, but the intended goal for it and what it was originally marketed as was a concept rock opera. For that reason, I have to critique it from this lens. On the surface, this is an album that is well-polished in terms of its production value.Retro album review! Going back to favs from middle school and seeing what I find and what I think about it now. American Idiot is a solid pop punk album, but the intended goal for it and what it was originally marketed as was a concept rock opera. For that reason, I have to critique it from this lens. On the surface, this is an album that is well-polished in terms of its production value. Nearly every song on this album is easy to get into and sounds good, I would guess, to nearly anyone with ears. The hooks are really well done, and the hits especially from this album still stand out with how polished they are.

    As we get more into the nitty-gritty, that's where this album begins to show its weaknesses. And trust me, there are several. As a storytelling medium, American Idiot really fails on all accounts. It establishes a character, but only in "Jesus of Suburbia". What happens to this character exactly? What conflicts and resolutions does he come to throughout the album? It's really not clearly laid out. Who are the other characters? There's the Rebel from, "She's a Rebel," sure; but she doesn't really say or do anything except win over the main character's affection. Period. That's it. She's a suicidal punk with regrets(?).

    The next weakness I see is the flow from one song to the next. As a standalone song, "American Idiot" is a solid pop punk song. But in terms of where it fits on this album? It doesn't really make any sense. It's a politically-charged song with no relation to this album's main character. Then to add, some of the songs that are put together--especially on the longer "Jesus" and "Homecoming,"--there doesn't seem to be any true logic or reasoning behind forcing these pieces together other than from a technical/logistical standpoint of, "We wrote this hook! I wrote 9 variations of the same hook in different tempos! Let's use all of them and abruptly cut from one to the next and call it an "operatic"."

    Having said that, I can't at all deny some of the best songs on this album: "Letterbomb," probably being the most standout track by far. However, I wish that some of the other tracks, especially, "Extraordinary Girl," and "Are we the Waiting," would have been pushed to the same tier as this song. The more I have listened to this album over the years and the more I have let myself be really objective with what this album does and the decisions that were made in it, it becomes undeniable that this is a pop punk album with 7 polished hits and 6 filler tracks that weren't fully flushed-out before it was released.    … Expand
  22. flabslab
    Jun 8, 2007
    3
    Gee, there sure must be a load of American Idiots out there. I can only assume that the moonbats who like this simplistic dross were no more rthan a gleam in their mummy's pantie's in the late 70's when true punk bands like the Pistols, Stranglers and Clash were reinventing rock, Listen young guys, when are you going to stop copying my generation and come up with some Gee, there sure must be a load of American Idiots out there. I can only assume that the moonbats who like this simplistic dross were no more rthan a gleam in their mummy's pantie's in the late 70's when true punk bands like the Pistols, Stranglers and Clash were reinventing rock, Listen young guys, when are you going to stop copying my generation and come up with some musical and political ideas of your own. Both the Jim's and John are dead, and so is the mass murdering concentration camp commander Che. Get over it and move on. If you like this you are indeed an American Idiot.… Expand
  23. ACDCritic
    Oct 27, 2006
    3
    I don't understand the great reviews this CD's gotten. Green Day have become political and boring. So many songs on this CD are so slow that they might as well be pop music. Very few intelligent lyrics, and, most importantly, very few catchy songs. The only bright spots on the CD include the epic 2nd song as well as Broken Dreams and Holiday, although even that latter is stopped I don't understand the great reviews this CD's gotten. Green Day have become political and boring. So many songs on this CD are so slow that they might as well be pop music. Very few intelligent lyrics, and, most importantly, very few catchy songs. The only bright spots on the CD include the epic 2nd song as well as Broken Dreams and Holiday, although even that latter is stopped in its tracks by a pace-killing political agenda in the middle of the song. Much of the CD is basically slow songs. Even in the fast ones, though, the lyrics just are not interesting. It's like Blink 182 (their excellent final CD aside,) but without any of that band's hooks or personality. Just...not a good CD. On another note, if anyone thought Green Day was punk, this CD should erase that thought. Songs like Extraordinary Girl, She's a Rebel, Wake me up when September Ends, Are We the Waiting, and Rock and Roll Girlfriend (among others) are practically written for the TRL countdown.… Expand
  24. BrianM
    Mar 2, 2006
    3
    Pretentious, overblown, and boring. You can hear all the chords and harmonies in the music from musicians that pioneered the sound in the 70's. Skip this record, it's nothing new.
  25. dano
    Apr 23, 2005
    3
    complete filth, green day at their worst. the songs are annoying and whiny. very dissapointing, check out any of their previous work, and you can't go wrong.
  26. dex
    May 7, 2006
    2
    This album has no inventiveness, its a typical sell-ot album. There old stuff was reasonable but they have got considerably worse with this album.
  27. TrudiJ
    Sep 21, 2004
    2
    Sorely disappointing. My friends made it out to be something it wasn't, that's the last time I take their word for it.
  28. JA.
    Nov 12, 2007
    2
    It's funny how the people who are praising this album, are the same people being criticised on it.
  29. marc
    Nov 17, 2005
    2
    Wow..... ............Yet another cardboard cut out punk album with Green Day getting 'all mature' by having a pop at George Bush and his cronies. Punk has all been done before (in the 70/80's and it was much better then too) its about as relevant now as last years lottery results!!!!
  30. balloonsnake
    Jul 10, 2021
    2
    nope nope nope nope nope nope boulevard of broken dreams: nope, pretty overrated. Jesus of suburbia is just meh. A song like that shouldn't be 9 minutes long. whenever I hear music from this album, it just makes me want to listen to the vastly superior Dookie, or the raw, aggressive punk style of Insomniac. Remember when green day were punk? (Pre-Warning)
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Awards & Rankings

98
#98 Best Album of 2004
2
#2 Most Discussed Album of 2004
4
#4 Most Shared Album of 2004

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Billboard
    80
    It is exactly what the band needs to boost itself to the next level of pop-punk prowess.
    Read full review
  2. E! Online
    83
    There's still plenty of spunk in to be found in this Sgt. Pepper-lite.
    Read full review
  3. Dot Music
    80
    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.
    Read full review
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