Green

First off Observer, these songs weren't penned since Obama showed up in January - settle the fuck down.

My relationship with these guys is odd but probably quite typical. I have everything since Dookie... except Warning. I don't know where I got Insomniac from and I generally ignore the songs on it. You couldn't call me a true fan, although you'd probably overlook these oversights and go straight for the lack of Kerplunk if you wanted to make a point of it.

I don't think these last two albums sound anything like the others, but I love them both in the same way.. as each other, which is in a different way to the rest.

New albums rarely make an immediate impression. I normally have to try hard to get into an album. I slid into 21st Century Breakdown without even trying. I am however not a music reviewer, so i'll just point out what I like and move on.

The introduction to the title track eventually being revealed to be the introduction to the final track, See The Light, is just the kind of thing I love for reasons I can't explain. That song is a little Kiss-like, although I can't see anyone else saying this anywhere.

Two part songs like American Eulogy are great. One of my favourite Less Than Jake songs is The Brightest Bulb (no shit!) Has Burned Out/Screws Fall Out, and this song has a very similar structure, coming in together at the end.

Peacemaker reminds me of Hang 'em High on My Chemical Romance's Three Cheers album, although a little less over the top. East Jesus is punky goodness that five years ago might have become a single but now probably won't. What might? Last of the American Girls maybe. Seems to be the only place they're able to top the charts any more. Last Night on Earth is also fairly ballad-tastic and likely to be a candidate, although it does sound a little Greatest Love of All, undeniably.

Is it more "over-produced" than American Idiot. Only a little. Was American Idiot more so than the earlier albums? Yeah. I think though people are mistaking an improved singing voice and the use of more instruments with over-production though. I seem to be one of the few people that likes my music produced, and really, everyone uses compression - even the bands that produce the raw garage sound.

Also to reiterate the point many make but everyone should just accept - this band has evolved, they're not punk kids any more, and if they were writing and playing "real" punk you'd be wondering what the fuck experience they were drawing on (in the last ten years).

My life is richer for this album, and if they want to make a third like this in another 5 years... all in!