"American Idiot" is one of the leading rock operas of our time. The epic starts off with the title track. One of the album's highlights is "Jesus of Suburbia", which is, like every song, a serious one, telling about the economy, although the most politics-headed song is the song that follows, "Holiday", which will have people singing along as the classic blasts through the speakers, with strong lines. Billie Joe Armstrong says the topic sentence in just one line, "I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies". The guitar feedback transitions into "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", a song we all knew from the radio. Songs 5-10 are good, but not the strong points. 11 is "Wake Me Up When September Ends" confused as a song for 9/11, although it was to honor his father. Another nine minute epic follows after "Jesus of Suburbia", which was song 2, called "Homecoming". The last song is "Whatsername", originally to be released as a single, although Green Day thought the video was terrible. Overall, "American Idiot" is a classic, and hopefully, it will also be re-mastered.… Expand

A deep,and just flat out incredible album!

This album has made itself a special spot in my heart and I have been waiting for it for four years. For those who are looking for another masterpiece like "Dookie" might be a little disappointed, but I believe this is the most thought provoking Green Day album yet, you should go pick it up, I don't care who you are. I walk a lonely road!

It's official: green day are back.

i love this album its brilliant ... i cant get enough of it

kicks ass

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

I don't know much about songs, but it doesn't take an American to realize how rocking out this music is, as well as the lyrics too.

Don't they grow up so fast? No? well never mind American Idiot shows that Billiejo and co might have actually learned to read a newspaper or watched the news since releasing Dookie. This album shows that they realise life is not so one-dimensional as some of their earlier songs would have us believe. And don't get me wrong I liked those songs but there is something to be said for music that people can relate to. I must admit when I first heard about this album I was worried. Greenday going political was either going to be really good or really naff. Fortunately I feel, this is a really good. I imagine many people will disagree with me about this because it doesn?t sound like everything else ever written by Greenday. But frankly if it did, people would complain that Greenday were just too scared to try something new. The two 9min marathons 'Jesus of Suburbia' and 'Homecoming' show a different style of music, something kept out of mainstream ears for years. While 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' is dark and grunge-like while not becoming a cliché. As for the Greenday 'puritans', there is still plenty of more classic punk on offer. 'Holiday' is a fantastic song, while keeping to a similar (if not darker) sound to that of previous Greenday albums. There are other obvious tracks such as 'St. Jimmy' and of course 'American Idiot' that strike a similar tone and stick in the mind over certain other tracks. Many people have criticised American Idiot for being similar to music by The Who or Clash. I pondered this and figured that I had never listened too much by those artists so could not possibly comment on that front. However I do think that Greenday's target audience for the album is 17+, How many 17yr olds (such as myself) do you know who listen to The Who? Infact, how many 28yr olds do you know who listen to The Who? So to sum up, this album has come from a mature, older Greenday but is no doubt of high a quality to be enjoyed by anyone with the patience to sit and really listen, for Greenday fans it will be the case of doing what they did and 'trying something new'. … Expand

This album is a huge artistic leap for Green Day, in terms of lyrics, concept, and musical ambition. Their best album - yes, better than Dookie.

A big messy sprawl of power, melancholic sentiment, anger, confusion, love, rebellion. Fantastic stuff. Green Day's best album yet. Stunning.

Very good album, one of the best I ever listened. Buy it right now.

awesome, the best album i ever heard!!!!!!!!!

Meatcritic is full of BS. American Idiot deserves a 90 or higher.

Its been four long years since Green Day?s last effort and lot of things changed since then: Four punk icons died, Bush as President, Gulf War Part 2 and what some may argue as the most distressing event ? the rise of kiddy punk which is been played to great success by the likes of Simple Plan, Good Charlotte, Avril Lavigne and those twats from Busted. If we ever need an album that re-affirms our faith in punk music surely this Berkley trio can deliver it and with American Idiot, Green Day?s seventh record, not only have they fashioned a punk-rock opera but a punk-rock masterpiece. Concepts albums is a swear word in this currently pop oriented market but in Green Day?s hands they have delivered the friendliest concept album ever recorded. There is no fat ladies singing, nor is there a choir or pretentious ten minute guitar solos. What you have here frankly is thirteen songs that are all laced with great hooks and delivered with indignant passion. And oh yeah?.two of the songs are nine minutes suites that frenziedly careens from straight up punk ravers to 60?s bubblegum pop to a flamenco styled power ballad. All from the guys who made their name by writing songs about sniffing glue and masturbation! The tale been spun here is about disaffected youth and the death of American Idealism. That?s only the overview for if you decide to take the lyrics literally it becomes a mess with characters such as Jesus of Suburbia and St. Jimmy morphing into each other and by the story?s end you don?t know who is alive or who?s dead. Thankfully, the band decides to pay more attention to the music rather than the words and the album benefits in spades. Green Day packs more hooks in this album than other bands can muster in their whole career. Title track and killer lead single ?American Idiot? proves that Green Day can still fashion pop nuggets by only using 3 chords and the thrashy fun of ?St. Jimmy? shows that these thirty something punks haven?t lost their chops just yet. Like their last album, the folk-infused Warning, the real surprises lie in the different musical elements and styles the trio incorporates into their work. Unlike The Offspring who continually and sometimes embarrassingly copy the same formula (Pretty Fly/Original Prankster), Green Day?s music continues to evolve to often stunning results. ?Extraordinary Girl? with its chiming guitars and backing vocals evoke the Shangri La?s and ?Boulevard of Broken Dreams? is the type of power ballad that Noel Gallagher would kill for. But the most outrageous efforts lay in ?Jesus of Suburbia? and ?Home Coming?, both nine minutes monoliths that boast several musical movements. At first listen these two tracks (that roughly form a third of the album) seem scattered at best but once absorbed the listener gets a kick out of the time changes and the sheer urgency of the lyrics. To call ?American Idiot? a protest record is an understatement. Billie Joe?s lyrics does a great job in describing the characters inhabiting this ?land of make believe?. From ?Jesus of Suburbia? who is raised ?on a steady diet of Soda Pop and Ritalin? to ?St. Jimmy? who is ?here to represent the needle in the vein of the establishment?. Billie Joe is also not scared to vent his anger especially on tracks such as the anti-Bush anthem ?American Idiot? and the Clash sounding ?Holiday? where he labels Bush as ?the President Gasman!?. American Idiot is not the first rock opera ever made despite claims from some sections of the media. Husker Du?s ?Zen Arcade? still remains a landmark punk concept album and there is off-course The Who?s ?Tommy? which sold squillions of records. But American Idiot is equally impressive and over time will stand in the same pantheon as the aforementioned classics. In a time where the whole world seems to go pear shaped and death robbed us of our punk idols (RIP Joe Strummer, Joey, Dee Dee, and Johnny Ramone) Green Day?s existence is now more vital than ever. With ?American Idiot?, Green Day has not only released their greatest and grandest musical statement. But an album that returns the social and political relevance back to punk. For that, there is no rating high enough. … Expand

As a Green Day fan for over ten years, I have to say this is almost certainly their best album to date, FANTASTIC!

The Best Green Day Album to date, Billy Joe and the gang prove that it is possible to take multiple influences from other bands and still create a unique and catchy album. While some may dismiss this album as "messy," this couldn't be farther from the truth, as American Idiot smoothly tells its provocative story through addictively complex songs.

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

Just buy it... now! Sublime stuff. The perfect punk headtrip. Wildly original and one of the most timely albums to come out in a long time!

WOW!!!! is I all I have to say... This is one of Green Day's best, if not best, CD's ever made!!! I've already got my tickets to see these guys live... amazing CD! Good work Green Day!

i love this album it rocks. anyone who rates less than ten is mad.

Best album in years by a band that sounds like a band "drums, bass, guitar". Billie Joe has always had a knack of writing catchy punk-a-rock songs and here is no exception yet they add a storyline and politics to the groove. Sheryl Crow said immediately after Dookie hit "only 19-20 year olds could write songs like that"... maybe so but only Billie Joe and Green Day could have wrote these songs and they rock !!… Expand

Best Green Day album, the band finally reaching a level plateau of pop-punk prowess.

O Man I just got the CD and it blew my mind!!!!! I agree with everything they say that Bush is a dumbass

Tremendously solid both melodically and lyrically, it also puts forth a political message the young voters need to listen to.

I'm still debating how great it is, but it should easily be the equal of anything of theirs as far as "entertainment value", and it's obviously their most mature set of lyrics, even if it borrows from The Who's "Tommy" and Pink Floyd's "The Wall" to tell its story of a sheltered lad awakening to reality, becoming a "prophet", going insane, trying to commit suicide, etc. It is amazing how such a "heavy" story can be presented through a ton of hooks and riffs, whether they be inspired by pure Green Day, or their "mentors", the Ramones and the Clash, or even the further-removed Bruce Springsteen, Phil Spector/Motown and MeatLoaf. It might be a tad overlong, but that's usually the case when a band is audacious enough to try to pull off a rock opera. This should satisfy anyone who enjoys pop-punk of any variety and maybe some people who don't think they like "punk".… Expand

The best Green Day album since Nimrod, and in my opinion one of the best albums ever made. Green Day has always been one of my favourite bands, and American Idiot rose them to #1 in my books. Highlights were 'Jesus of Seburbia' and 'Holiday.'

Utter shite. do not listen to this crap. I love REM

yeah its good, i like it.

their Best since Dookie, which is saying something.its almost as perfect as that masterpiece. GO AND BUY IT NOW!!! GREN DAY!!!!!!!!

Green Day's greatest album! I listened to it once and fell in love right away!

Great album! The Green Day's "London Calling".

One of the best albums ever! Jesus of Suburbia rocks! Green Day ROCKS!

I was blown away by this album, it covers the whole range of moods from heavy punk to soft and slow relaxing music. They've hit the big one with American Idiot.

Great album,cant take it off the player. winona k REM ha ha there new album is so shite its awfull.

Easily the best album of the year - I cant' stop listening to it. You can really hear the emotion in Billie Joe's voice, the desperation of the characters.

Songs 1-7 are the best seven songs in a row off of any album in the last ten years. The opening strains of guitar and first verse of "We are the Waiting" blow away anything else out there right now.

I liked this one, it's got some good slow songs and good faster, catchy songs. "We are the Waiting" sucks shite, though.

Billie Joe and the Crew Have done it again, The album Is great.

The best album of 2004 beyond doubt. Only Morrsieey, The Libertines and The Ordinary Boys come close. Every song is magnificent.

BEST YET

phenomonoal

Great cd Green day has defenatly hit the big time

this album rocks

excellent

Just as good as Dookie if not better, A true Masterpiece from Green Day

i adore this album. it's just fucking super. it's important for long time green day fans to let go of dookie, i mean christ, listen to this! they're so much more than dookie. what sets this album apart is what holds the album together: the songs can be listened to holistically which creates a definitive atmosphere of something america (and the world) has lost. but an individual song can also be upheld alone by its own merits. billie joe, i think, has proved himself through and through.… Expand

Lyrical Genius! Catchy Tunes! And it all makes sense! Absolutely, hands down, the best album ive heard all year!

the american idiot album is definetly only second best to dookie, which isnt a bad thing, surprisingly, the worst song is american idiot, which is still a great song, the best by far is boulevard of broken dreams, the second solo probably the greatest solo they have ever done, properair guitar stuff. Wake me up when september ends shows how great they are, taking a slow song and making it heavy, the 9 minute song homecoming providing a geat conclusion to a great album and the final song whatsername creating somewhat of an epilogue and the other stories in the songs giving you a reason, if any to listen to this, greenday fans will get it anyway but this album will be remembered as one of rocks greats, as a greenday album it is 2nd best, as a music album it is the best stuff they have ever done… Expand

Absolutely the best cd that green day has come up with in a very long time. The tracks are much more mature, have depth, but still manage to be catchy and fun to listen to. Awesome, Awesome CD, it's on repeat in my stereo...

holy shit it's good

THIS IS THE BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR HANDS DOWN. The music took me to places that i had never been before this Byfar is the ultimate album of the year.I think that for the content of the album they should make a rock opera

This album is amazing, literary, schizophrenic, depressing, and a musical amalgamation of just about every style, but with the clear distinction of being Green Day. A masterpiece.

Sorely disappointing. My friends made it out to be something it wasn't, that's the last time I take their word for it.

I have been a fan for years...and with this new album is a reason for me to love their music even more...Flawless work..A+

It is amazing it is the best song of Green Day I have ever heard. I can even play it on my electric guitar!

I was absolutely shocked and disgusted at how disappointing this album was, as this was recommended to me bya friend with normal good taste in music.

3 words- Green Day Rox!!!!! Truly the best cd i've heard in my life!

This album by Green Day sucks compared to their old shit

It's amazing. Normally I couldn't listen to an entire Green Day album from start to finish in one sitting. This one is different. They are on!

This album is in my opinion one of their best, if you don't own a copy get one now.

Awesomely deep album, must be listened to as a piece. The lyrics actaully mean something, telling a great, and whatsmore, relevent story.

This CD is tottaly awsome. I love the music. Green Day have done a super album. I love it.

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

this cd rockes so hard i luv it!!!!!!

Superb.

never reviewed an album before...probably won't do it again. an amazing record. that begs for repeated listening with big volume. The funny thing is I never reeally liked Green Day's music before.

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!

the best cd ever!!!!!!!!! Who gives about cussing when they have a frickin awesome story line. ALL YOU PARENTS WHO GIVE ABOUT SWEARS DONT LET THAT STOP UR KIDZ OR NE1 ELSE FROM GETTIN THIS CD.

Punk will never be the same. American Idiot changes everything. You will now have to say something and sound good doing it. A masterpiece!

GOD DAMN THIS MUSIC SUX. ALL THEY Do is play rock chords they do not work together. if you like to listen to good rock music listen to something b4 1985.

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!

Absolutely the best rock album of this decade bar none. I've always liked Green Day but I must admit I would never have guessed that they were capable of such an ambitious effort. They've packed an entire career worth of unbelieveably kick ass hooks into one album.

awesome album

Wow! THis CD is amazing.

Absolutely one of the best albums this year. This is nothing short of a masterpiece and shows how very talented this group is. If nothing else, their 6 grammy nominations proves that this album a great one.

Green Day rock and they prove that their new stuff is just as good as their older stuff with the American idiot album

The sort of album that a 30-something and a teenager can both rave about... What a wonderful album! I got chills listening to it - timeliness and urgency make it an album for the ages á la Pink Floyd's The Wall and The Beatle's St. Peppers.

It s a masterpiece especially the lyrics

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.

Cannot stop listening1 Politics aside, it's a melodic energy force that can't be resisted.

This is the best album by greenday! I love this cd!

Best CD I've heard in a long ass time. Highly recommend buying it. My parents even bought it!

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.

1 word-PERFECTION!

it was an awesome cd i think there best so far!!!

Is this a original work? Hardly. Sounds like the guys in Green Day have listened to their fair share of Cheap Trick, U2, the Who, the Clash, and Husker Du. Still, it's executed with a lot of passion, energy and vitrol -- and that's what comprises a great deal of very good rock and roll. The first LP in a long time to make me stay in my car and finish listening to it after my evening commute home -- in fact, I've NEVER done that before. Nice one!… Expand

A solid album, but not deserving of 10 or 9. Yes, the "Broken Dreams" does get old after a while but every other song is just as good.

American Idiot rocks!!! It is the best Cd ever. Can anybody disagree of that?! I love Green Day!

holy crap this album is amazing. green days best

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.

is this the greatest album of all time, it might just be. awesome

This album is an absolute joke. I guess you might like it if you're used to listening to any anything written in the last 35 years. Green Day knows nothing of the nature of music, they know nothing about text-setting, and they know nothing about lyric writing. If you love music, you will study it. Green Day obviously does not love music.

a good album, compared to whats around today its fantastic. Greenday will definatly make an imprint in music history.

Just for the record, IGN gave this a 10/10

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!

i think that american idot is the best album released so far by green day.

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