Even if you’ve been hiding under a very large rock, you know that Green Day’s 21st Century Breakdown is one of the year’s most-acclaimed and talked-about albums. A full-blown rock opera with an up-to-date political theme, the disc finds the Berkeley trio at its most ambitious; reaching the heights of melodic brilliance that the last few discs hinted at.
While the album is all over the map musically, with more piano and harmonies than ever before, we have of course opted for three of its most rockin’ tracks. “East Jesus Nowhere” and “21 Guns” are both key to the album’s plot, marking the lead characters Christian and Gloria’s disillusion with church and government. “Know Your Enemy” marks a nod to classic punk, with hints of the Clash between the lines.
21st Century Breakdown is the kind of album that’s best experienced when you can pay attention and absorb all 18 songs at once, but these tracks are still full of good old Rock Band-style cheap thrills.
Two of the new songs, “21 Guns” and “East Jesus Nowhere,” will also be eligible for the Best Performance In a Pepsi Rock Band Video category at the MTV Video Music Awards, giving Green Day fans the opportunity to take home a Moonman at this year’s award show. To participate, fans in the United States need to purchase the Green Day tracks on DLC or choose another song from the official competition list and create an original, creative music video.
Music video submissions will be accepted through July 28 at www.PepsiRockBand.com. The winning band will travel to the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, walk the red carpet, receive their very-own Moonman statue and be featured in a spot produced by MTV to air nationally the night of the awards show.
