ALBUM REVIEW: Saviors - Green Day

Saviors, the latest Green Day album has been out for a few months now and I still love it. 

“Coma City,” “Strange Days Are Here To Stay,” and the title track “Saviors” are favorites that aren’t “Bobby Sox” or “Dilemma.” 

It’s a very strong Post-Idiot record from the Rock n Roll Hall of Famers. 

That’s important to remember - Green Day, the DIY Bay Area punks who started from humble beginnings in Rodeo, CA  and grew out of and then outgrew the Berkeley punk mainstay 924 Gilman Street to make the mega-influential multi-platinum classic album, Dookie have earned their place in the annals of Rock n Roll history. 

You can’t just dismiss or discount that. 

Only fellow Hall of Famers, Foo Fighters have an equal or rivaled status in American music and cultural relevancy – and are still touring and (arguably) still making amazing music. 

If my number of front-to-back repeat listens of Saviors indicate anything, it’s that this album is filled to the brim with songs that are easy hits, singles, bangers and TikTok-able tracks. 

I firmly believe it’s THE BEST Green Day album produced by Rob Cavallo since the last Green Day album produced by Rob Cavallo. 

After all, Rob Cavallo is the man. 

He doesn’t cook the main dish, but he does bring out the best and most universally loved flavors. Just as The Beatles had George Martin, Radiohead has Nigel Godrich, and Billie Eillish has Finneas, Green Day has Rob Cavallo.

I suspect The Hella Mega Tour had a little bit of influence on Saviors, too. 

It’s hard not to hear Bobby Sox or even Convertible Summer without thinking just maybe the guys were watching Weezer from the side of the stage and realizing that they could have fun or be goofy and still write a crowd pleasing song or two that totally rocks.

And that’s exactly what Green Day does on Saviors.

There are 1-2-3-4 power chord blasts, 16-piece orchestral arrangements, smart and poignant lyrics, and smart ass ones, too. Lyrical themes of American dumbassery are lifted from memes and headlines and beautifully punctuated by iconic-sounding guitar riffs, bass grooves, and drum fills. Iconic is appropriate at this juncture and earned at this level, because like it or not, haters - Green Day are icons. From the social media teasers, viral videos with late night talk show hosts, interviews with old media icons and podcasters du jour, the hype of this record has been huge and the excitement surrounding the band and its world tour is enormous. It’s understandable. 

The 2024 Saviors Tour will see Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, Tre Cool, and Jason White play both Dookie AND American Idiot in their entirety, along with Saviors standouts and over 30 years of hits, b-sides, deep cuts, and fan favorites just as loved and celebrated.

Listeners both old school and next gen will find things to love or groan about on Saviors, (Is there any recording accoutrement as divisive as the cowbell?) while the mainstream music press and the cool table alike will only focus on the negative bits. After all, ragging on a Gen X band as politically vocal as Lizzo or T Swift is even more en vogue than fawning over the younger egg punk and bubble grunge bands inspired and influenced by Green Day.

Still recovering from your 2020 PTSD or nostalgic for the Pandemic lockdowns? Try Saviors track “Coma City.” Dumbfounded by the decline of intelligence and the rise of American fascism? Look to “Look Ma, No Brains!” How about dissociating altogether, going for a drive and rocking out with the top down? “Corvette Summer” it is.

Seriously, there’s at least one song on here for everyone who enjoys rock/pop music.

Decide for yourself though and give Saviors a listen - before the big Summer tour.