Punk is a statement of intent and fearsome reputations, and Green Day's 5th studio album proves that Punk/Rock can convert its style to fit into mainstream and public authority. Intention is prime in Green Day's humor riddan music, a strong fight for approvel is inevitable. Dookie was a past effort that received high flying acclaim and airwave notability, 3 years on Nimrod was ready to take the reins of Green Day's next chapter.
Nimrod is an album of catcy ultra-layered, ultra-proof, radio freindly contributions. But its not overly-produced or media scrutinised, its sweet and massively notalgic in music and purpose. A collection of mature songs that delivered a new Green Day route. Leaving behind the distraction of masterbation and teenage culture and entering into a more mature venture.
1997 revived Green Day's declining status as punk/rock innovators when Nimrod hit the shelves. Building the broken bridge in terms of album sales and public perception, it rekindled that misplaced fanbase to support the berkeley trio's catulpultation back in to major league of rock. Crossing off that mediocre option of insomniac, and offering a more diverse menu.
Nimrod has that versatility factor that makes the album trustworthy and blissful. It gives you time to settle back into sentimentality with songs like 'Good Riddance' Walking Alone' after the high-pitched offerings of 'Nice Guys Finish Last' 'Hitchin A Ride' 'The Grouch' Reject' Of course a Green Day album is nothing without a ferocious course of Conflict, thats what makes the band unique.
Good Riddance is a forcefully intriguing and highly emotional piece of music. It harbours a different story from Green Day, especially from Billie Joe Armstrong. Pushed away behind Dookie's phenomena. Fans had to wait a long time to indulge in the songs breathing plot of love and hate, aswell as becoming a benchmark for band and genre.
Green Day are nothing without there hi-pitched collection of Rock fueled songs. that's what the act are about, thier factor in music. Nimrod excels with its loud in your face jibes. The albums commence is bashful to say the least with 'Nice Guys Finish Last' a catchy start with wonderful work from the leading man. 'Nice Guys Finish Last, Your Running Out Of Gas'.
'Hitchin A Ride' sets the scene for the album. It takes you back to prior times, it has the Kerplunk feeling about it. A song that would fit perfectly into Green Day's second release. 'My Tongue Is Swelling Up, A Said One, Two, Three, Four'. 'The Grouch' comes to the forth front as a shout for approvel. It seems that the song is a saga of not reaching your potential and being stuck in a rut.
'Last Ride In' offers no vocals, but a relaxing mind calming vibe before a contrasting barrier sets in. That barrier is 'Jinx' a dramatic onslaught of screams and foul language, well if you didn't have swearing you wouldn't have Green Day. 'Walking Alone' is a song of laboured thoughts and rejection.
Reject tells its own story, one of the catchiest potrayals of self-realisation and following dreams. Time Of Your Life is a magically intact song that should enter the musical folklore without any hitches. It shows that Green Day can take themselves away from thier rattling pace and deliver a graceful harmonic triumph. 'So Take The Photographs And Still Frames In Your Mind' A melodic rise to fame that really made Green Day a force to be reckoned with, aswell as showing the World that the band finally grew up.
Nimrod is a harshly underrated Green Day album. Dookie was always going to overshadow its counterparts with its superior acclaim and sales. But Nimrod was a collection of mature, catchy, electrifying ear tingliers that shaped the paveway for Green Day to rise again.
Mark McConville
