SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GREEN DAY – SAVIOURS

GREEN DAY
SAVIORS
REPRISE/WARNER

We are long overdue for a great Green Day record. They have spent much of the last few years in the reissue game by celebrating milestone anniversaries with massive editions of Dookie, Nimrod, and Insomniac and with the live BBC Sessions. Unfortunately, their last studio record, Father Of All… dropped in 2020 largely to the disappointment of critics and fans alike. Almost sensing this themselves, Green Day has returned with their 14th album, Saviors, a record that harkens back to one of the greatest releases of the 2000s, American Idiot. 

Opening with the lead single, “The American Dream Is Killing Me”, Green Day strikes back on a political note that takes aim at present day, post-pandemic, and post-Trump America. The band sounds massive on the hard-hitting and swung rocker; however, the following track, “Look Ma, No Brains”, feels even bigger with its brisk tempo and its catchy chorus. A testament to the power of this chorus is that it is only one of two. There is a stellar bridge between them, but the song is over before you even know it, and it will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day. The remaining singles, “One Eyed Bastard” and “Dilemma”, are just as effective. The former is Green Day at their most scathing in years and, with just a hint of sludge, is led by an absolute ripper of a guitar riff, while the latter plays with dynamics as the song pushes and pulls between a softer verse and a huge, anthemic chorus. Of the four, “Dilemma” may be the most radio friendly, but it sure as hell is exciting nonetheless.

If anything, the four singles are a strong indicator of the quality of the rest of Saviors. The songwriting and production on the album feel incredibly refined while the band is performing at their most visceral in well over a decade. It’s a refreshing contrast that few other artists could do with an equal sense of integrity directed at both the songwriting and performance. From the poppy yet relentless “Bobby Sox”, the full throttle “1981”, and the heavy “Living In The ‘20s”, Green Day has delivered certified punk bangers alongside the groovy strut of “Corvette Summer”, the jangly “Suzie Chapstick”, and the momentous album closer “Fancy Sauce”.

Green Day remains, without a doubt, among the biggest bands in the world. Rather than ride their own coattails, they continue to challenge themselves as songwriters and performers. While Saviors may see them fall back on familiar territory, it is done so in a way that feels triumphant and celebratory. Without a song exceeding four minutes, Green Day have seemingly returned to the style of their roots, armed only with decades of songwriting experience. Every song on Saviors sounds as though it has the potential to be a massive hit for radio, all without sacrificing a reckless sense of danger. Without needing a comeback, Saviors marks a new and thrilling era for Green Day that can stand alongside their greatest albums.

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