After two years off following the release of the genre-expanding Nimrod, the usually insouciant trio Green Day are open to some weighty self-analysis. Gone are the raging rants, cartoonish antics, and anthropological musin... more »gs about the punk scene, replaced by an introspection that brings to mind Michael Stipe and Bono. Like the U2 frontman, Billie Joe Armstrong still hasn't found what he's looking for, but he knows where he's been and is eager to move past the days when Green Day were considered the clown princes of rock. Witness "Jackass," which cautions, "Everybody loves a joke, but no one likes a fool." Proving that they aren't fools, Green Day take a substantial step forward, exploring new rhythms, sonics, and subjects. While many of the tracks are still cheeky and infectious, the deceptively simple melodies belie a quest for meaning, faith, and fulfillment. There's a tentative optimism here that's tempered by irony and flashes of self-loathing. Still, Warning transcends the darkness that clouded 1995's Insomniac. No longer so under the sway of the Buzzcocks and the Ramones, this time Armstrong and company dip into the early rock canon--the Beatles and Bob Dylan, among them. As a result, their first self-produced album is more "Nowhere Man" than "Blitzkrieg Bop." --Jaan Uhelszki« less
After two years off following the release of the genre-expanding Nimrod, the usually insouciant trio Green Day are open to some weighty self-analysis. Gone are the raging rants, cartoonish antics, and anthropological musings about the punk scene, replaced by an introspection that brings to mind Michael Stipe and Bono. Like the U2 frontman, Billie Joe Armstrong still hasn't found what he's looking for, but he knows where he's been and is eager to move past the days when Green Day were considered the clown princes of rock. Witness "Jackass," which cautions, "Everybody loves a joke, but no one likes a fool." Proving that they aren't fools, Green Day take a substantial step forward, exploring new rhythms, sonics, and subjects. While many of the tracks are still cheeky and infectious, the deceptively simple melodies belie a quest for meaning, faith, and fulfillment. There's a tentative optimism here that's tempered by irony and flashes of self-loathing. Still, Warning transcends the darkness that clouded 1995's Insomniac. No longer so under the sway of the Buzzcocks and the Ramones, this time Armstrong and company dip into the early rock canon--the Beatles and Bob Dylan, among them. As a result, their first self-produced album is more "Nowhere Man" than "Blitzkrieg Bop." --Jaan Uhelszki
CD Reviews
Warning! Green Day has grown up.
Jayson Vester | Wilmington, NC | 10/03/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With the release of their fourth major label album "Warning" Green Day shows once again that they aren't your average "punk-rock" band. Gone are the three power chord angst filled songs, but the catchy harmonies that made "Dookie" a commercial success are back. However, this is "Warning" and not "Dookie." The title track in itself asks "Is the cop or am I the one that's really dangerous?" That's pure Green Day...defiance, questioning everything and so on. "Blood, Sex, And Booze" is a good track that has a catchy beat and you just can't help but to tap your toes to. "Church on Sunday" explores the new direction of Green Day, asking the question "If I promise to go to church on Sunday, will you go with me on Friday night? If you live with me I'll die for you and this compromise." "Fashion Victim" explores the pop culture of brand name clothes, asking "what's in the name?" "Castaway" is one of the best tracks on the album, telling the story of a loner trying to find his way. Then, the album gets incredible.."Misery" is a Russian-Spanish style song with acordians used very nicely, and with Bille Joe's vocals telling different stories of troubled people. "Deadbeat Holiday" is a decent song, with a message that attacks all losers who do nothing about themselves. "Hold On" is a song written by BJ for a friend who had three loved ones die in the same year. He says "When there's nothing left to hold on to, you gotta hold on to yourself." "Jackass" is a song about just that...idiots. The main line says "Everybody loves a joke, but no one likes a fool." How true. "Waiting" is another of the breakthrough, non angst songs that inspires hope in the listener. "I've been waiting a lifetime for this moment to come, I'm destined for anything at all." If you're reading this, then odds are you've already heard "Minority" the song that wants to be the underprivilaged and have their attitudes toward authority (for the most part). And finally, perhaps the greatest song on the album, "Macy Day Parade" is a wonderful ballad, similar to "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" but in a whole other direction. This beautiful song conveys the message that "I'm thinking about a brand new hope, the one I've never known, 'cause now I know it's all that I've wanted." Overall, this album is a pure gem, although it will be marred by critics because it isn't "Dookie" and the standards have been set so high. But who cares? They are happy, and the album is wonderful. I recommend this to the die-hard Green Day fan, and to those who have never liked them as well. The guys should be proud of this effort!"
Green Day Still Rock!
music_dude | Canada | 12/03/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I am a huge Green Day fan and when I heard they had a new CD coming out I couldn't wait. I stared reading about it, and found that 'Warning' was suposed to be a slower album. After three years of waiting I was ready for something really rockin' But I still bought it even if it was just for the wicked first single 'Minority.' Right, it wasn't the usual Green Day, but it's awsome. All of the songs are great:Warning: All of the lyrics are suposivly from bumper stickers -7/10Blood, Sex and Booze: Great guitar work, and one of the best on the CD - 10/10 Church On Sunday: Great lyrics and sound - 10/10Fashion Victim: Another good rock song with great guitar work - 9/10Castaway: One of the plainer tracks with some punk added - 7/10Misery: Very weird. It sticks out from the rest and not your usual Green Day - 8/10Deadbeat Holiday: Just a good song reminds me of 'Burnout' just a tad - 9/10Hold On: A good deep song with acoustic added - 10/10 Jackass - Awsome punk rock! One of the best tracks - 10/10Waiting - A slower deeper track,but with a lot of guitars - 9/10Minority - Everyone's favorite. The best song on the CD! 10/10Macy's Day Parade - A slow acoustic song that you can't help but like - 10/10A must have!"
B.J Armstrong+Guitar=Awesome!
Jayson Vester | 10/08/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Green Day is the best alternative rock band on the face of the earth! While still retaining that same in your face, "I don't need your authority" style, they have expanded their horizons with great leaps and bounds. It sounds impossible, but they pulled it off. This is definintley their best album out of their other five albums. If you listen to one song off of every album up to Warning, you can hear their style maturing and expanding. This cd has nothing but good, catchy songs with great lyrics and awesome guitar riffs. Green Day has fine tuned their songwriting abilities so that no song is bad. From the haunting rhythm of "Warning", to the hard rock of "Blood, Sex, and Booze"&"Castaway". There's even "Misery", which has a Russian/Spanish beat, "Macy's Day Parade", an acoustic ballad, or the single "Minority", which has really funny lyrics if you listen. Green Day has come a long way from 1039 Slappy Hours, and they are still the best alternative band ever! If you're a green day fan, get this cd, if you like alternative music, get this cd. You won't regret it!"
Green Day evolves yet again
Rex Marksmanson | Long Island, New York | 02/20/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Who would of thought these three ex-punkers would not only shed the punk image, but mature and evolve into a whole new band. After the release of 1994's "Dookie" Green Day suffered many insults from their once loyal punk fans, claiming they had "sold out". In response to much slandering the boys put out "Insomniac", their hardest, fastest, and most intense record to date, lashing back at the insults with fierce vocals and lyrics. Then it happened...in 1997 "Nimrod" was released, which seemed to be the bands farewell speech to the punk community, with the album came a new alternative sound that not only gained them respect in the music community, but a new loyal base of fans. Don't worry folks this whole history lesson does have a point to it, and if your still reading I'm assuming you have figured that out already. "Warning" is not only the band's most mature album yet, it's also another evolution in their sound. Acoustic instead of electric (there still is electric do not worry), integrity not intensity. Yet through all this the signature sound of Green Day has not dissappeared, in fact it's stronger than ever, and the patient fan will reap the enjoyment of listening to this excellent release."
Green Day stayed true, their fans are the sell-outs
holden-caulfield | Colorado | 05/21/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"First off I'm SICK of hearing Greenday "fans" scream 'sell-out' b/c ONE album isnt exactly what they like. Any true GD fan should be ashamed of criticizing a group that stayed true to themselves, even if they (GD) themselves changed. I am like most ppl in saying their first CDs were awesome, even Insomniac. WARNING is a terrific album both lyrically and musically, and is easily the most listenable of any Greenday CD. Anyone who says the 3-chord power songs didnt get at least a TINY bit old is lying. That's why Nimrod was such a success, b/c they made it more interesting, just as they have here.BS&B, Castaway, Jackass and Minority are all awesome songs, and good old GD. COS is good also as is Deadbeat Holiday and MDP. Waiting and the title track are both weak and annoying, and overall just garbage songs. The rest is nothing fantastic, but it's good solid music nonetheless. And GD still has the funny lyrics and good baselines that we love.I think we can all agree that the main reason why we love or loved Greenday is because they were original and because they were real. COS, MDP and even Hold On are relative to BJ's life, and are REAL. I think Fashion Victim might've been a token song for us, but the rest IS Greenday, pure and true. Billie Joe once again, like in the beginning of his career, went against the crowd and came out w/ HIS music. He knew he'd ruffle some feathers w/ Warning, just as he did w/ Dookie and the Lookout! Records CDs, but he stayed true to himself. This isnt a group trying to be something it's not , and for that, I applaud them. Buy and enjoy this CD because it's terrific music, not because you're a punk-junkie living in the past."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1