When I come around (Green Day) (LP 2653 - 2655)

Green Day  Dookie (CD, Reprise Records, 1994) *** 

Green Day  American Idiot (CD, Reprise Records, 2004) *****  

Green Day  21st Century Breakdown (CD, Reprise Records, 2009) ****  

Genre: Punk rock, alt-rock 

Places I remember: Real Groovy Records; Virgin Megastore; Al Ain mall music shop.

Fab, and all the other pimply hyperboles: Holiday/Boulevard (American Idiot); Know Your Enemy (21st...)

Gear costume: When I Come Around (Dookie)

Active compensatory factors: The nineties as a decade is a bit of a forgotten highway for me as it encompassed learning how to be a dad to a family of four in Wakefield and then living in Auckland while teaching and taking on new leadership roles. Music was often relegated to listening to albums I owned rather than buying new stuff.

I did have a couple of new compilations that Sam Sivak, my neighbour in Wakefield, loaned out. Loads of good stuff from Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Pearl Jam...and a great song by Green Day - When I Come Around. 

I love the energy of Dookie - it's melodic, inventive music with a punk attitude and pace. What's not to love!

Fast forward to when Jacky and I moved to live and work in the UAE. For some reason I bought both American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown from the Virgin Megastore in Dubai.

Both are excellent albums. 

The punk energy is still there but the songs have grown in sophistication. Billie Joe Armstrong has grown in confidence and ability as a vocalist and the rhythm section of Mike Dirnt (bass), Tre Cool (drums) are locked in and tight as...

Both of these albums are kind of concept albums - in that they have uniting themes looking at American life, corruption and abandonment.

American Idiot is chock full of hits: Holiday; American Idiot; Boulevard Of broken Dreams; Wake Me Up When September Ends.

Same deal with 21st Century Breakdown. Hits aplenty and energy to burn! It's a long album but it feels right to be a long along.

I used to listen to these albums a lot as I made my way from Yellow Jimi to the school in Al Foah. They are great to listen to in the car!

Where do they all belong? While I love these albums I haven't thought to buy any others. The band is still going and Saviors - their latest sounds good so I may grab that if I see it. Meanwhile I'll stick to these three winners.