by David Levine
by David Levine
The easiest thing to do is to write a pan. That's why they call us critics not praisers (ew, I'm a critic). Now I hate writing a pan for some small band that is just trying to poke their head out of the mass grave of popular music. It's like kicking someone before they even get up for the first time. Well, o.k. It's kind of fun but the little guy needs all the help he can get. But what's really fun is writing a pan of a band that you know your puny words can't hurt. It's not like being the theater critic for the New York Times; then you can put hundreds of people out of work with one column. Although I'd sell my sister for that kind of power, no one is offering. Which brings me to Green Day's new record, Sominex uh.. I mean Insomniac. One word - Boring.First, I listen while doing something else. Do the sounds break me away from my activity (not sex, hey, I'm realistic)? Test one: Failed. Although there are a few forays away from the formulaic like Panic Song, most of the tunes sound like not-as-good renditions from Dookie.
This album is less hit oriented than Dookie, it's harder and faster. It's mosh pit heaven, and in concert it's probably a non-stop thrill. Sonically though many of the songs are so similar that it's hard to differentiate one from the other. The first major sonic change comes in Panic Song (#8 - 00:00) [121K .au|166K .wav]. The Who overtones are flying thick and fast. The guitar, bass onslaught intro is definitely inspired. The band builds a precision noise groove that breaks in the second line of the first verse, just when you're ready. The rhythm section, which is basically all this band is, is razor sharp. That's what impresses me most about Green Day and separates them from some other so-called punk bands.
86 (#7 - 00:00) [124K .au|171K .wav] sounds very familiar melodically, with hints of Greenday's huge hit When I Come Around. Songs that stand out from the general hum are Babs Uvula Who (#6 - 00:13) [123K .au|169K .wav] and Geek Stink Breath (#4 - 00:08) [121K .au|166K .wav], the first single off the album. It is about a meth addict and the lyrics are to the point .
I found a treasure
Filled with sick pleasure
And it sits on a thick white line.Armstrong's voice is in the back of the mix and it's harder to understand the lyrics than in Dookie, and trying to read the lyrics on the liner is even more difficult.
The thing is, it's amazing that this kind of sound comes from three guys from Berkeley - in their early twenties and married with kids. I'd play more excerpts from this but most of them sound the same. I think Green Day is a major talent . I think they will probably make a lot more good, maybe great, albums. I just don't think Insomniac will be a major work. The playing is great, the lyrics are okay, but the songs just don't have the transcendence of their last album. For Green Day fans it's a must, but if you haven't bought a Green Day album get the last one.
