Green Day: Father of All… Album Review

Father of All…:  It repeats a lot.  The hand claps make it very poppy.

Fire, Ready, Aim:  I guess if hand claps are paired with a harder style of guitar it goes from poppy just to catchy.  I really like the use of piano in this.  It’s also cool they made a palindrome out of the phrase, “ready aim fire” which just makes it more interesting.

Oh Yeah!:  A meh for me.

Meet Me on the Roof:  Upbeat and immediately makes me enthusiastic.  I like the syncopated beat (even if hand claps are involved).

I Was a Teenage Teenager:  The deeper guitar notes are nice.  And maybe the faux-shouted lyrics put it more in the punk category–but just barely.  It’s decidedly pop–which is fine, but I don’t think it was what the band was going for?

Stab You in the Heart:  I got a big 1950s vibe from the beat, the hand claps, the ‘ohh-woo-woos’ and these particular guitar chords.  It’s fun to listen to this one.

Sugar Youth:  This is the song on the album that most represents their past sound.  It has more edgy singing style and some rebellious topic.  The beat is harder, and so is the guitar.  I’d like a little less of the retro and more of *this.  The play with both tempo and volume, which makes the song more interesting, and also lends to rebelliousness.

Junkies on a High:  This too, is more like their catalog, which I like.  And the guitar and piano add to the flavor of the song quite nicely.  Also, I like the meaning of the song.

Take the Money and Crawl:  The whistling at the very beginning, made me think of cowboys.  Then it takes a sharp left turn into a poppy, upbeat, sound.  One of the catchier songs on this album.

Graffitia:  I certainly think artist need to realize hand claps aren’t the only means to make a song catchy.  Use them sparingly, only when necessary, and only a little.  Despite a heavy on the hand claps, problem, this song is very catchy.  It’s ok of a closer.  I would have liked a bit more drama to end the album.

I think this album utilized the piano better than some of their past works.  And that fast pounding on it, does a lot to increase excitement.  There is also a James Dean sort of 1950s enthusiastic rebel sound that’s still punk-pop, but a little retro.