Green Day: ¡Uno!

Green Day
¡Uno!
Reprise/Warner Bros. Records [2012]









Fire Note Says: Green Day goes back to the basics on ¡Uno! which makes for a fun pop punk ride.

Album Review:
Sometimes it is nice to hear an artist sound like what you think they should sound like. Over the last eight years Green Day have taken their driving power pop punk to the extremes for solid results on the themed American Idiot [2004] and 21st Century Breakdown [2009]. ¡Uno! takes a step back from the complexity of those records and just simply comes at fans with a carefree and catchy 42 minute pop punk ride.

This direction can immediately be heard on opening track "Nuclear Family" with its foot tapping rhythms, familiar quick guitar chords and Billie Joe's unmistakable delivery. It is a 3 minute nugget that really could fit into any of their 90's output. That same era of Green Day surfaces more than not here on ¡Uno! which for me was an instant draw. Historically, Green Day could always be counted on for having songs that never shied away from a cuss word or two (or ten), sounded great with maxed out volume, and instantly had a hook that anyone could sing along within seconds. When the speedy "Let Yourself Go" hits your speakers it will strike an instant chord as Armstrong plainly states "I don't give a fuck anyway!" and the song is the perfect example for what I am talking about.

Not all the tracks here on ¡Uno! keep to the format as the more dance rock found in "Kill The DJ" gives Green Day a new avenue here that just comes off OK and ultimately becomes somewhat forgettable while the closing over 5 minute single, "Oh Love", is definitely built for radio and fails to finish off a really good punk pop record properly.  I would even say compared to the other 10 tracks that comprise ¡Uno! the two singles are the outliers from the overall sound. This does not mean they are not catchy after repeat listens but they truly are not the dominate flavor on this album. ¡Uno! of course is part one of the trilogy as ¡Dos! hits retail next month and ¡Tré! lands in January, so it will be interesting how these records connect and who knows, the more unique sounding tracks here may become the norm moving forward. I will say that after this strong and fun performance - I can't wait to find out!

Key Tracks: "Let Yourself Go", "Loss Of Control", "Nuclear Family"

Bands With Similar Fire:
Riverdales
New Found Glory
Blink-182

Green Day: Awesome As F**k [Fire Note Review 4/11/11]
Green Day: 21st Century Breakdown [Fire Note Review 5/15/09]

Green Day Website
Green Day Facebook
Reprise/Warner Bros. Records

-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony