Green Day - Saviors

by Nick Dent-Robinson

published: 8 / 3 / 2024

Label: Warner Bros
Format: CD

Accomplished and energetic latest album from San Francisco punks Green Day

Review

After over three decades, the three punks of Green Day can still pack quite a loud punch! The band's new album ‘Saviors’ has benefitted from the return of producer Rob Cavallo after a gap of twelve years - and Cavello was behind Green Day's breakthrough album ‘Dookie’ back in 1994 as well as the band's 2004 landmark release ‘American Idiot’. The new record has 15 new songs – all tuneful and powerful. Singer and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong is ably backed by bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tre Cool. The songs on ‘Saviors’ mix bubblegum pop with surging guitar sounds reminiscent of the ‘work of the Pixies' Joey Santiago (on ‘Bobby Sox’) or Sex Pistol Steve Jones (on ‘Look Ma, No Brains’). The band - now all aged 51 - originally emerged from California's Bay Area punk scene of the 1980s and just occasionally their loyalty to their roots verges into parody..... “Hit me with power chords” yells Armstrong on ‘Corvette Summer’. The lyrics of ‘The American Dream Is Killing Me’ recycle the sentiments of 2004's ‘American Idiot’, an album which the band cleverly turned into a successful Broadway musical. ‘Dilemma’ is about alcohol addiction and features many minor chords and doo-wop hooks whilst ‘Goodnight Adeline’ is a nice, softly-strummed break-up ballad. ‘Suzie Chapstick’ brings more heartache and features producer Cavello on piano and ‘Father To A Son’ is notable for David Campbell's fine orchestrations. Overall, ‘Saviors’ is an accomplished album and has a strong sense of purpose. It should help Green Day sell out tickets to their forthcoming UK tour which starts on 21 June at Emirates Old Trafford, the cricket ground in Manchester.

Track Listing:-

1 The American Dream Is Killing Me
2 Look Ma, No Brains!
3 Bobby Sox
4 One Eyed Bastard
5 Dilemma
6 1981
7 Goodnight Adeline
8 Coma City
9 Corvette Summer
10 Suzie Chapstick
11 Strange Days Are Here to Stay
12 Living in the '20s
13 Father to a Son
14 Saviors
15 Fancy Sauce