1994 marked a turning point in music. It was the year in which Kurt Cobain would commit suicide, the east and west coast declared lyrical war on each other, and the British were invading (again). Yet with all of this going on, sounds from all over started to focus not on the dark and murky tones grunge was made famous for, but started to become more colorful. 1994 will also be remembered as the year Green Day broke out with their third record, Dookie. An international critical and commercial success. They not only brought something new to the table, but created Pop-Punk, a genre that would later influence everyone from Blink 182 to Fall Out Boy. Mixing their radio friendly anthems with songs about being high, getting laid and most of all having fun. For Green Day, following up Dookie would not only prove the bands longevity and creativity but would also push the band to out due themselves time and time again. 1995's Insomniac, maybe the most overlooked in the band's post Dookie catalogue, but is the album that would shape the band and declare what would come of them years later. It's far darker tone and more abrasive old school punk sound may have turned fair weather fans away, but had the rest of us listening for more. Unlike its predecessor, Insomniac only marked three singles in the U.S.; "Geek Stink Breath," "Brainstew / Jaded," and "Walking Contradiction." Insomniac was the only Green Day record of its kind as far as a traditional punk sound goes, yet that all changed with 2004's American Idiot. I like to think this was the platform for the band to create American Idiot, one of this decades best records and an album this generation can boast about for being their own. However, without Insomniac and its traditional punk style combined with the angst against George W Bush, the inspiration for the bands biggest success may never have come.Sunday, January 6, 2008
Underrated Classic - Green Day "Insomniac"
1994 marked a turning point in music. It was the year in which Kurt Cobain would commit suicide, the east and west coast declared lyrical war on each other, and the British were invading (again). Yet with all of this going on, sounds from all over started to focus not on the dark and murky tones grunge was made famous for, but started to become more colorful. 1994 will also be remembered as the year Green Day broke out with their third record, Dookie. An international critical and commercial success. They not only brought something new to the table, but created Pop-Punk, a genre that would later influence everyone from Blink 182 to Fall Out Boy. Mixing their radio friendly anthems with songs about being high, getting laid and most of all having fun. For Green Day, following up Dookie would not only prove the bands longevity and creativity but would also push the band to out due themselves time and time again. 1995's Insomniac, maybe the most overlooked in the band's post Dookie catalogue, but is the album that would shape the band and declare what would come of them years later. It's far darker tone and more abrasive old school punk sound may have turned fair weather fans away, but had the rest of us listening for more. Unlike its predecessor, Insomniac only marked three singles in the U.S.; "Geek Stink Breath," "Brainstew / Jaded," and "Walking Contradiction." Insomniac was the only Green Day record of its kind as far as a traditional punk sound goes, yet that all changed with 2004's American Idiot. I like to think this was the platform for the band to create American Idiot, one of this decades best records and an album this generation can boast about for being their own. However, without Insomniac and its traditional punk style combined with the angst against George W Bush, the inspiration for the bands biggest success may never have come.