Green Day
Awesome As F**k

Green Day are by now a world-class band: the numbers speak for themselves, and the hordes of fans who flock punctually to their concerts are increasingly amazed at the show this group manages to put on. This work, composed of a CD and a DVD recorded in Tokyo, is the final stamp that seals the tour in support of the album "21st Century Breakdown," which touched practically every corner of the globe.

It was clear that after the success of the "concert/documentary" "Bullet in a Bible," Green Day would want to propose something that, more than its predecessor, was able to convey the energy that only live performances can give. Everything seems perfect, starting with the selected tracks (slightly different between the CD and the DVD), which manages to embrace the latest hits (Know Your Enemy and 21 Guns), recent past hits (American Idiot and Boulevard of Broken Dreams), and the milestones that made the Californian group famous (Burnout, Going To Pasalaqua, When I Come Around, She, Geek Stink Breath). In addition to these tracks, to pique the curiosity of fans even more, there are a rather well-done cover of My Generation by The Who, and a new song called Cigarettes and Valentines. Everything seems to be programmed to perfection: eighteen-track supports each, a nice ride through the history of Green Day and a new track. However, the two supports need to be analyzed separately to understand the nature of Green Day's latest effort.

DVD: The choice of location is interesting, and the Japanese audience seems to be in great shape for this live performance. The set design is what was possible to admire throughout the tour, and the musicians are almost impeccable: Billie Joe has now gained enormous experience with the audience and always knows how to stir up the crowd, which follows him blindly; Mike is precise and flawless, Tré Cool beats time with power and precision; on stage alongside the three are The Big Three, who perfectly accompany the sounds of the Californians. The shots are spectacular and well done, with cameras in every corner of the stage. After this series of positive notes, there is one negative, which unfortunately lowers the overall judgment of the work: the sound. We are light years away from the power with which every single note of Bullet in a Bible vibrated, and everything seems quite cold and calculated; the drums and voice dominate, while the guitars and especially the bass are put quite in the background. This makes me think of a production not up to the situation. A pity.

CD: Here the video part that so excites on the DVD is clearly missing, and it is quite interesting to note how some tracks have a satisfactory sound, while others have the same problems found on the DVD. The individual tracks were recorded from different stops of the tour, and the choice to include songs like J.A.R. or Who Wrote Holden Caulfield is absolutely welcomed. Even here, it could have been done better, especially since there are no images to provide a counterpoint.

CIGARETTES AND VALENTINES: In the final analysis, it is worth savoring the unreleased Cigarettes and Valentines. Once listened to in one go, it is easy to see how this is closer to songs from albums like Nimrod or Insomniac rather than those from 21st Century Breakdown, so for many, it will be a welcome return to the past: speed and melody, catchiness, and lots of adrenaline.

In short, the work has only been partially well done, and certainly, the effort could have been better overall, but we are not talking about an album to be thrown away or completely rejected. The idea one might have after savoring the entire product is that Green Day wanted to create something that served only to attract the attention (and thus the wallets) of the fans, even though it is difficult to remain indifferent to all the energy that this group manages to convey live. For the most enamored of the Oakland group, it could become a must, for everyone else just a tasty piece of a nice puzzle, that certainly won't change anyone's life.