A Little Bit Alcohol

American Idiot Review

'American Idiot' presents the main character 'Jesus of Suburbia' who is fed up with the media, politics, propaganda, and his stuck chaotic life in his hometown Jingletown and finds himself in alcohol and Ritalin. Eventually he moves to the city with hope to change his life to the better way 'Holiday' with more freedom.

Nevertheless, he feels solitude in a big busy city 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams', finds himself under a new name and his character as well St. Jimmy 'Are We the Waiting', and now he has 2 characters inside him Jesus and 'St. Jimmy', extremely rebellious, desperate, and stubborn. There is always struggle between 2 characters and he starts to use drug 'Give Me Novacaine'. Both characters illustrate the "rage (St. Jimmy) vs. love (Jesus)".

Afterward, he meets Whatsername, a girl, who really opposes the government truly not kind of one who "pretends" like him, and 'She's a Rebel'. He start to date with 'Extraordinary Girl' and eventually gets to love her when St. Jimmy character occupies him but he cannot give her what she deserves for. Whatsername sends him a 'Letterbomb' to express her disappointment about him and that she will leave him and the city. 'Wake Me up When September Ends' shows his broken heart and lonely feeling when she goes away.

Then he decides to get rid of his character St. Jimmy by using heroine, is arrested at East 12th (II), sees psychologist, receives a letter of one of his friends to tell Jesus that all Jesus' troubles is not his business (IV), is frustrated, and finally decides to return to his "Homecoming" Jingletown to escape from his desperation and impasse (V). He reminds of his loving memory and fantasy of 'Whatsername'.

Opera Rock combined with Punk and Alternative Rock to tell a storyline about the main character Jesus like the "Pink" from the Wall by Pink Floyd as main genre.

Tracklist:

1. American Idiot

2. Jesus of Suburbia

    I.Jesus of Suburbia

    II.City of the Damned

    III. I Don't Care

    IV. Dearly Beloved

    V. Tales of Another Broken Home

3. Holiday      

4. Boulevard of Broken Dreams

5. Are We the Waiting

6. St. Jimmy

7. Give Me Novacaine

8. She's a Rebel

9. Extraordinary Girl

10. Letterbomb

11. Wake Me Up When September Ends

12. Homecoming

      I. The Death of St. Jimmy

      II. East 12th St.

     III. Nobody Likes You

     IV. Rock and Roll Girlfriend

     V. We're Coming Home Again

13. Whatsername

Work Cited: An Interview with Green Day on HBO

Reviewed by C