Saviors | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | January 19, 2024 | |||
Recorded | 2021–2023 [1] | |||
Studio | RAK (London) [2] United Recordings (Los Angeles) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 46:02 | |||
Label | Reprise | |||
Producer |
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Green Day chronology | ||||
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Singles from Saviors | ||||
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Saviors is the fourteenth studio album by the American rock band Green Day, released on January 19, 2024, through Reprise Records. It received generally positive reviews from critics.
In an interview with KROQ, Billie Joe Armstrong stated that seven[ citation needed ] songs had not made it to their last album, Father of All Motherfuckers (2020), which was met with mixed reviews. Butch Walker, who early reports indicated would also produce the band's next project, had been heavily criticized for his work on the last album.[ citation needed ] Eventually, long time friend of the band, Rob Cavallo, stepped up for the job. [11] Cavallo had worked with them on previous albums, including Dookie (1994), and American Idiot (2004), although they had not worked together for almost 10 years, by 2022, since the release of ¡Tré! (2012).
In February 2021, one year after the previous album's release, "Here Comes the Shock", produced by Walker, debuted as part of the band's two-year deal with the NHL. [12] Another standalone song, "Pollyanna", self-produced by the band, was released in May 2021, to celebrate the Hella Mega Tour, which had been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [13] In November 2021, the band released another song, titled "Holy Toledo!", which was also produced by Walker, and was used in the soundtrack of the 2021 film Mark, Mary & Some Other People .
Saviors was recorded in London, England, and Los Angeles, California. [14] Early reports claimed that their forthcoming record would be titled 1972, signifying the year all three members were born. [15] The band would post teasers in social media, pointing that the album's name would in fact be that. The first of them dates back to December 2021, more than two years before the album was eventually released, now named Saviors.
Prior to the album's release, the band played "1981" during their live performance at Festival d'été de Québec on July 16, 2023. [16] The band announced the album on October 24, 2023, and released its lead single "The American Dream Is Killing Me" alongside its music video. [11] While it was the first track written for the album, it was kept in a box for a while, according to Billie Joe Armstrong, who revealed that once they recorded it, they immediately decided to release the song as the lead single. [14] The track constitutes "a look at the way the traditional American Dream doesn't work for a lot of people" but hurts them instead. Until its release the band would post clips of the music video and snippets of the lyrics in the single's promo website (www.theamericandreamiskillingme.com). [13] [16] The song was played live for the first time, along with another song from the album titled "Look Ma, No Brains!" [12] at the When We Were Young festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. [17] On November 4, 2023, the band played "1981" again during a live show at the Bataclan in Paris, France.
On the same day, the track list was leaked on Banquet Records, a UK record store, [18] before later being confirmed by Warner Music's site. [19] The length of the songs on the tracklist was leaked by a French music store called Qobuz. [20] The second single, "Look Ma, No Brains!", was released on November 2, 2023. [21] Armstrong stated in an interview with Amazon Prime, that it was his favorite track off the album and one of the greatest punk songs he'd ever written. One month later, on December 4, 2023, the band announced "Dilemma" as the album's third single. It came out on December 7, 2023, along with a Christmas themed music video. [22] On New Year's Eve, Green Day performed the song live for the first time on the television special Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve. They also performed "American Idiot", where Armstrong replaced the line "I'm not a part of a redneck agenda" with "I'm not a part of the MAGA agenda", a reference to Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan, in criticism of the former US president.
The album's fourth single, "One Eyed Bastard", was released on January 5, 2024, alongside a music video. [23] On the evening of January 16, 2024, the band appeared in a surprise performance in the 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center station of the New York subway system, with late-night host Jimmy Fallon joining them on tambourine to help draw attention to the upcoming album and tour, and played several songs including the recent single "Look Ma, No Brains!", "Basket Case", and "American Idiot"—this time, Armstrong leaving space to let the subway crowd sing out the song's revised line "I'm not a part of the MAGA agenda". The album, along with a music video for "Bobby Sox", came out on January 19, 2024. [24] A music video for "Corvette Summer" was released on July 23, 2024. [25]
On January 13, 2024, six days before the album released, the band held listening parties for the album in various indie record stores across the world. [26]
Green Day are currently between legs of the Saviors Tour through North America and Europe. Nothing but Thieves, The Hives, The Interrupters, Donots and Maid of Ace were announced as openers on the European leg starting in May 2024, while the Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid, and The Linda Lindas will serve the same role on the North American leg of the tour which began in July 2024. [27] The band will perform their albums Dookie and American Idiot in their entirety, celebrating their 30th and 20th anniversaries, respectively. [28]
The album cover is an edited version of a photo taken in 1978 by Chris Steele-Perkins at a riot during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. It depicts a youth named Paul Kennedy, holding a stone and shrugging, on the Falls Road, Belfast in front of a moving car with a burning garbage pile in the background. In the final version, the young man's face was changed to that of a boy named Ivan Fraser, and altered to have a more smiling look. [29] [30]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 73/100 [31] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [32] |
Clash | 7/10 [33] |
DIY | [34] |
Kerrang! | 4/5 [35] |
LouderSound | [3] |
NME | [36] |
Pitchfork | 5.1/10 [37] |
The Skinny | [38] |
Uncut | 7/10 [39] |
Wall of Sound | 7.5/10 [40] |
Saviors received a score of 73 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on 21 critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception. [31] DIY 's Emma Swann called the album "an outstanding record that showcases that same still unrivalled ability to incorporate biting social commentary within perfect, three-minute pop (punk) songs." [34] NME 's Andrew Trendell called it Green Day's best album since American Idiot as well as "an act of defiance met with a shrug; a band saying, 'We're still here and we're still fucked'". [36] Uncut wrote that the band "unleash 15 compact, primarily pro forma bangers". [39] Reviewing the album for AllMusic, senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine noted that "Green Day sound exactly like what they are: rock & roll lifers settling into middle age, irritated by some shifts in culture but still finding sustenance in the music they've loved for decades." and concluded that, "Age may dampen Green Day's roar, but it has also heightened their songcraft, and that's reason enough to give Saviors time to let its hooks sink in. " [32]
Saviors debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 with 49,000 album-equivalent units including 39,000 pure album sales, 9,500 streaming equivalent units and 500 track equivalent albums. [41] An additional 7,000 traditional albums (CD, vinyl, cassette and digital downloads) were sold in the second week, 6,000 copies were sold in the third week. [42] [43] In its first week, 10,390 copies of the album were sold through independent record stores. [44] These sales were not included in the Billboard 200. [45] As of April 2024, the album has sold 108,000 album-equivalent units in the United States. [46]
The album debuted at number one in the UK with 31,361 album-equivalent units, including 1,493 units from digital downloads, 3,369 from sales-equivalent streams. [47]
All lyrics are written by Billie Joe Armstrong; all music is composed by Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "The American Dream Is Killing Me" | 3:06 |
2. | "Look Ma, No Brains!" | 2:03 |
3. | "Bobby Sox" | 3:44 |
4. | "One Eyed Bastard" | 2:52 |
5. | "Dilemma" | 3:18 |
6. | "1981" | 2:09 |
7. | "Goodnight Adeline" | 2:56 |
8. | "Coma City" | 3:28 |
9. | "Corvette Summer" | 3:02 |
10. | "Suzie Chapstick" | 3:16 |
11. | "Strange Days Are Here to Stay" | 3:05 |
12. | "Living in the '20s" | 2:06 |
13. | "Father to a Son" | 3:54 |
14. | "Saviors" | 2:55 |
15. | "Fancy Sauce" | 4:01 |
Total length: | 45:55 |
No. | Title | Length |
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16. | "Fever" | 2:23 |
Total length: | 48:26 |
Green Day
Additional musicians
Production
Artwork
Chart (2024) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA) [49] | 2 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [50] | 2 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [51] | 6 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [52] | 5 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [53] | 4 |
Croatian International Albums (HDU) [54] | 1 |
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI) [55] | 44 |
Danish Vinyl Albums (Hitlisten) [56] | 1 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [57] | 6 |
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista) [58] | 26 |
French Albums (SNEP) [59] | 7 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [60] | 2 |
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ) [61] | 1 |
Irish Albums (OCC) [62] | 2 |
Italian Albums (FIMI) [63] | 5 |
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [64] | 14 |
Japanese Combined Albums (Oricon) [65] | 17 |
Japanese Hot Albums ( Billboard Japan ) [66] | 10 |
Japanese Rock Albums (Oricon) [67] | 3 |
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) [68] | 6 |
Polish Albums (ZPAV) [69] | 27 |
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [70] | 7 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [71] | 1 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [72] | 8 |
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) [73] | 46 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [74] | 3 |
Swiss Albums (Romandie) [75] | 1 |
UK Albums (OCC) [76] | 1 |
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [77] | 1 |
US Billboard 200 [78] | 4 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [79] | 1 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [80] | 1 |
Green Day is an American rock band formed in Rodeo, California, in 1987 by lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong and bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, with drummer Tré Cool joining in 1990. In 1994, their major-label debut Dookie, released through Reprise Records, became a breakout success and eventually shipped over 20 million copies in the U.S. Alongside fellow California punk bands Bad Religion, the Offspring, Rancid, NOFX, Pennywise and Social Distortion, Green Day is credited with popularizing mainstream interest in punk rock in the U.S.
Billie Joe Armstrong is an American musician and actor. He is best known for being the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Green Day, which he co-founded with Mike Dirnt in 1987. He is also a guitarist and vocalist for the punk rock band Pinhead Gunpowder, and provides lead vocals for Green Day's side projects Foxboro Hot Tubs, the Network, the Longshot and the Coverups. Armstrong has been considered by critics as one of the greatest punk rock guitarists of all time.
American Idiot is the seventh studio album by the American rock band Green Day, released on September 21, 2004, by Reprise Records. As with their previous four albums, it was produced by Rob Cavallo in collaboration with the group. Recording sessions for American Idiot took place at Studio 880 in Oakland and Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood, both in California, between 2003 and 2004. A concept album, dubbed a "punk rock opera" by the band members, American Idiot follows the story of Jesus of Suburbia, a lower-middle-class American adolescent anti-hero. The album expresses the disillusionment and dissent of a generation that came of age in a period shaped by tumultuous events such as 9/11 and the Iraq War. In order to accomplish this, the band used unconventional techniques for themselves, including transitions between connected songs and some long, chaptered, creative compositions presenting the album themes.
"American Idiot" is a protest song by the American rock band Green Day. The first single released from the album American Idiot, the song received positive reviews by critics and was nominated for four 2005 Grammy Awards: Record of the Year, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Best Rock Song, and Best Music Video.
"Wake Me Up When September Ends" is a song by the American rock band Green Day and the fourth single from their seventh studio album, American Idiot (2004). Written by the band's front man Billie Joe Armstrong, the song is about the death of Armstrong's father in September 1982 and his life since. The song's lyrics have also been interpreted in other ways, including as a song about the victims and survivors of the September 11 attacks. The song is a rock ballad, starting with an acoustic guitar and later introducing an electric guitar and bells. It was recorded at Ocean Way Recording.
"Boulevard of Broken Dreams" is a song by American rock band Green Day. The power ballad is the fourth track from their seventh studio album American Idiot (2004). Reprise Records released "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" as the second single from American Idiot on November 29, 2004. The song's lyrics were written by lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong, and the music was composed by the band. Production was handled by Rob Cavallo and Green Day.
"Holiday" is an anti-war protest song by American rock band Green Day. It was released as the third single from the group's seventh studio album American Idiot, and is also the third track. The song is in the key of F minor. Though the song is a prelude to "Boulevard of Broken Dreams", "Holiday" was released as a single later on, on March 14, 2005.
"Jesus of Suburbia" is a song by the American rock band Green Day. It was released as the fifth and final single from the group's seventh studio album, American Idiot, and the second song on the album. With the song running for 9 minutes and 8 seconds, it is Green Day's second longest song and the group's longest song to be released as a single. The studio version of the song was considered unfriendly for radio, so it was cut down to 6½ minutes for the radio edit. The single has sold 205,000 copies as of July 2010. Despite its commercial success, the song is the only hit single from the American Idiot album not to be included on the band's greatest hits album, God's Favorite Band.
The American rock band Green Day has released 14 studio albums, four live albums, four compilation albums, one soundtrack album, four video albums, 12 extended plays, 4 box sets, 48 singles, 10 promotional singles, 3 anniversaries, and 56 music videos. The band has sold over 75 million records worldwide, including more than 26.5 million in certified album sales in the United States. Green Day released their first two studio albums, 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours (1991) and Kerplunk (1991), through the independent label Lookout! Records before signing to major label Reprise Records. Dookie, the band's first album on the label and third studio album overall, was released in February 1994. It was a breakout success, selling over 10 million copies in the United States and 20 million copies worldwide. Dookie spawned five singles, including the international hits "Longview", "Basket Case" and "When I Come Around". The album placed Green Day at the forefront of the 1990s punk rock revival.
21st Century Breakdown is the eighth studio album by the American rock band Green Day, released on May 15, 2009, through Reprise Records. Green Day commenced work on the record in January 2006 and forty-five songs were written by vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong by October 2007, but the band members did not enter studio work until January 2008.
"Know Your Enemy" is a protest song by American rock band Green Day. It is the third track on their eighth album, 21st Century Breakdown, and it was released as the lead single through Reprise Records on April 16, 2009, and the group's first single since "Jesus of Suburbia", released 4 years earlier. Billboard described the song as being lyrically "just as politically charged as last time ", having a "Modern Rock radio-ready chorus", whilst the song's producer Butch Vig "brings enough punk sheen for mass appeal." It was the first, and one of only three songs, to top the Rock Songs, Alternative Songs and Mainstream Rock Tracks Billboard charts at the same time. "Know Your Enemy" has been certified Gold by the RIAA and has sold 798,000 copies as of August 2010.
"Last of the American Girls" is a song by American rock band Green Day. The song is the tenth track from their eighth studio album 21st Century Breakdown (2009) Written by the band and produced by Butch Vig, the song was released as the album's fifth and final single on March 22, 2010.
¡Dos! is the tenth studio album by the American rock band Green Day. The album was released on November 9, 2012, in Australia, November 12 in the United Kingdom and on November 13 in the United States through Reprise Records. It is the second installment in the ¡Uno!¡Dos!¡Tré! trilogy. Following its predecessor's power pop style, ¡Dos! was billed as Green Day's take on garage rock.
"Oh Love" is a song by American rock band Green Day. It was released as the lead single from their ninth studio album, ¡Uno!, through Reprise Records on July 16, 2012, and is the album's closing track. It is also the first single overall from the ¡Uno!, ¡Dos! & ¡Tré! trilogy. An EP of the song was released on August 14, 2012, the same day Kill the DJ was released as a single. It was recorded at Jingletown Studios from February 14 to June 26, 2012; however, it was also played at a secret show held by the band in 2011.
"Bang Bang" is a song by American rock band Green Day, released as the lead single from their twelfth studio album, Revolution Radio (2016), on August 11, 2016. Regarded as combining elements of the band's early punk rock days with themes from their politically motivated later albums, the song was inspired by the events of mass shootings in the United States and is written from the viewpoint of a mass shooter.
"Still Breathing" is a song by American rock band Green Day from their twelfth studio album, Revolution Radio (2016). Written and produced by the band, the lyrics explore the idea of overcoming adversity in the face of hardship. "Still Breathing" is a pop-punk song with a pop-like production, which has been stylistically considered a return to form for the band.
"The American Dream Is Killing Me" is a song by American rock band Green Day from their fourteenth studio album, Saviors (2024). The opening track of the album, the song was originally written by the band during the sessions of their previous studio album as a protest song against the presidency of Donald Trump. The song was later recorded with encouragement from producer Rob Cavallo, with lyrics tweaked to reflect the "anxiety of being an American".
"Look Ma, No Brains!" is a song by American rock band Green Day, released as the second single of their fourteenth studio album Saviors (2024). Written by the band and produced by Rob Cavallo, the lyrics take the perspective of a "hapless rube" who "spirals into chaos". The song was premiered on October 22, 2023 during the When We Were Young festival, and was released for digital download and streaming on November 2, 2023 alongside an accompanying music video. "Look Ma, No Brains!" received generally positive reviews from critics, who called the song a return to the band's roots but criticized its lyrics.
"Bobby Sox" is a song by the American rock band Green Day from their fourteenth studio album, Saviors (2024). Released as the album's fifth single, the song was originally written by Billie Joe Armstrong as a love song to his wife, but its lyrics evolved to instead reflect his bisexuality. "Bobby Sox" has received a generally positive reception from music critics, who praised its catchiness and declared it a "bisexual anthem". An accompanying music video for the song, directed by Brendan Walker and Ryan Baxley, was released on January 19, 2024. The song is included in the setlist of The Saviors Tour, the ongoing concert tour in support of Saviors.
Dilemma is a song by the American rock band Green Day, released as a third single from the band's fourteenth studio album Saviors (2024). A music video was released alongside the single on December 7, 2023.