Review: Green Day Deliver The Goods On ‘Savior’ – A Wonderful Return To Their Trademark Sound

We are not even out of January and it already feels like we’ve gotten more new music from B&V artists this year than we did in all of 2023. I’ve spent the last few weeks writing about all the new singles that have come out: Liam Gallagher with former Stone Roses guitarist John Squire’s new song “Just Another Rainbow,” the Black Crowes “Wanting And Waiting,” and the Black Keys new song, co-written by Beck, “Beautiful People (Stay High).” And so you know, yes, we do stay high… While we’ve seen a plethora of new singles this year we finally have our first great album of 2024 as well. Like last year, when Iggy Pop’s punk fueled gem Every Loser was our first great LP of 2023, this year sees punk/pop-punk stalwarts Green Day dropping our first gem of the year with ‘Saviors’…Oh yes, I’m quite enamored with this album.

Although, I must admit, I fear – a little bit – that maybe no one out there is still listening to Green Day. They’ve had quite a career. They burst onto the scene in the midst of grunge with their punk/pop-punk masterpiece Dookie in 1994. I remember buying that CD and playing it incessantly. After that I was sort of only “aware” of Green Day. Both Insomniac and Nimrod came out so quickly I thought the songs on those albums were all from the same album. “Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)” was so ubiquitous that it put me off Green Day almost completely. It was the Rock Chick who got me back into them with 2000’s Warning, which came out when we were first dating. That is a great album.

From there, they climbed back to the top of the rock n roll world with American Idiot, a political-fueled rock opera of all things… who’d have thought? We do like rock operas and concept albums around here… After that it’s been up and down. I think they put some folks off when they released not two LPs at the same time, but three, creatively named Uno!, Dos!, and Tre! I have to give them credit for naming the third record after drummer Tre Cool, although it was a long way to go for a joke. I think I’m the only one who liked those albums but it was a lot of music to sort through. It wasn’t helped by lead singer/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong’s drug fueled breakdown prior to the tour in support of the albums.

I was still on the bandwagon and said so quite loudly when 2016’s Revolution Radio came out. I liked the increase in focus releasing just one album gave Green Day. I’m not sure many people joined me on that bandwagon as the record only went Gold. But then Green Day, looking to “mix it up” released 2020’s Father Of All Mother Fuckers, and even I lept from the bandwagon with alacrity. I don’t want to be so unkind as to call that album “unlistenable,” but when I went back and tried to listen to it as “research” for this post… I couldn’t get through it. Even the great ones miss the mark every now and then.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I saw ‘Saviors’ was coming out. I am always happy to see stability in a band and with Green Day, it’s still the same three guys who started this thing, the aforementioned Billie Joe Armstrong (guitar/vocals/songwriter), Mike Dirnt (bass), and Tre Cool (drummer extraordinaire). I saw that Green Day was putting out singles in anticipation of ‘Saviors’ release but I purposely shied away from listening to them. I wanted to hear the whole album. When it came out, and I saw that it was 15 songs covering only 46 minutes, I knew we might have a great, punk album on our hands. It also helped that they’ve reunited with producer Rob Cavallo, who produced Dookie.

As I’ve already revealed, I love this record. It is an absolute return to form. I don’t know how Armstrong does it but he can wrap the personal and especially the political into a nice tight three minute package. I know people complain about all of Green Day’s tunes “sounding alike.” AC/DC has basically done the same thing for 50 years and no one complains. 80% of the Stones music could also be described as basically doing the same thing. This is guitars/bass/drums and vocals and that is a very very good thing in 2024. These guys may not be strictly punk any more but this music is highly informed by punk and again, that’s a good thing. This is an old school, kick ass Green Day record. They have so many hooks in these songs. I always wake up with a song in my head and the last week it’s been all Green Day. These melodies are ear worms that are highly addictive.

The album launches with the first single, the great “The American Dream Is Killing Me,” a rocking political broadside. It’s got a great marching rock n roll feel. Clearly the political fire still burns bright with this band… at least you can tap your foot along. It’s like it’s torn from the headlines… “Look Ma No Brains” is clearly aimed at a certain voting block. It’s breakneck, meet-me-at-the-finish line rock fueled by Tre Cool’s galloping drums. There is an urgency in this music that appeals to me. “Bobby Sox” has a strummy chorus and then a hard rocking chorus. I love when Armstrong shouts “Do you wanna be my girlfriend, do you wanna be my boyfriend…” “One Eyed Bastard” is a crunchy rocker with a Sopranos “ba-da-bing, ba-da-doom” chorus. “Dilemma” starts slow but builds to a nice midtempo and is a nice change of pace. “I was sober now I’m drunk again…” Indeed.

“1981” may be my favorite on this album. It’s a great rock song about a woman who used to be a punk rocker… “she’s gonna bang her head like it’s 1981.” Ah, those were great days. “Goodnight Adeline” is a great power ballad fueled by acoustic guitars. “Coma City” is another candidate for my favorite song, it’s a twitchy rocker with a great guitar riff. That’s followed up by another fav, “Corvette Summer.” Who wouldn’t want to cruise around in a Corvette all summer blasting that song? Don’t worry, I’ve already added it to our Summer/Sun Playlist. All these rock songs have big, arena sized choruses that I defy you to not sing along to… especially in the car.

“Suzie Chapstick” is another ballad that for some reason makes me think of Frank Zappa… didn’t he have song, “Suzie Cream Cheese”? “Strange Days Are Here To Say” is a rocking State of the Union song… “They promised us forever, but we got less.” “Living In The 20s” continues the scathing political commentary, but it’s in a rocking format that makes the medicine go down easier and boasts a tasty guitar solo from Armstrong. “Ain’t that a kick in the head…” indeed. “Father To A Son” is a beautiful acoustic ballad with big strings, no less. The title track is a showcase for Tre Cool’s drumming. It’s a great punk anthem. I thought it would be a great album ender, but then I heard “Fancy Sauce” which is the perfect ending for these times and this album… “I’m not crazy, you’re crazy, we’re all crazy.” Oh, God yes.

This is great, thoughtful, rocking music. It’s really nice to see this band, once again, find a solid direction and follow it through with a great album. It may a bit of a step back to their roots for the snobby, rock n roll press, but this listener is cranking this album every chance I get. If you’ve gotten off the Green Day bandwagon, or haven’t ever gotten on it, I urge you all to check out ‘Saviors’ as soon as possible.

I think the cover art, which I rarely comment on, sums up the world right now… A wrecked car, burning garbage in the street and a smiling miscreant taken during The Troubles in Ireland. At least the kid is smiling… (Although, I think they altered the original pic on that smile…Oh, well).

Cheers!