Good Riddance
Ballads From The Revolution

THE REVIEW

Wait, I don't understand. Are there really people who think Californian punk is defined by Green Day and Blink 182? I mean, near me, in my city, probably even in my school, there's a boy/girl passionate about "Californian pancake" to whom I could ask who the Black Flag are (not exactly similar to the bands I mention here, but still punk and Californian) or Bad Religion to hear them say: -what the hell do I know?- but I don't want to talk about Black Flag or Bad Religion, I want to move forward in time, beyond that "Suffer" that started the genre which on one side got degenerated but on the other got exalted.

-What's the masterpiece of Californian Melodic Punk of the 90s?

-"Dookie", for sure, uh also "Enema Of The State"

-Uh, the fact that they're famous doesn't mean they're the best and I hate the blink one eighty two...Never heard Ballads From Revolution by Good Riddance?

-Good what? I mean nothing could ever be better than Green Day and Blink, they're the best, the ones you mentioned no one's heard of! (shoe sole well imprinted on the face)

Well, this album isn't long, isn't elaborate, it's not a "record of the year," not fictitious, not brain-teasing, this is a masterpiece.

The characteristic of "Ballads From Revolution" that stands out immediately is the brevity of its tracks, 15 songs that rarely exceed 2 minutes, 15 tracks without any drop in level or standstill moment, no repetitions, revealing lyrics in the standard sociopolitical way of Good Riddance, truth, melody, and above all, a cohesion that's downright astonishing. It's impossible to lose focus while listening to it. Total exaltation of the listener. That's enough, talking more about this album isn't possible, I don't think I can perfectly convey the idea that one can only get from listening.