And I continue with my review of classic punk albums of the 90s. Suprisingly no one has reviewed the biggest punk album in history, Dookie. Well, there's not much reason too, other than nostalgia. So lets pull out the tissue's and reminisce. When you review Dookie, you have to review that time, and what a time it was.
It's 1994. Alternative and indy rule the world. The Gods of that era, Nirvana, have just broken up. Kurt Cobain is dead, why I don't really know. Who will carry on the torch of rock and roll for the rest of the 90s? Well, not Pearl Jam or any other "grunge" band. While the bands that broke rock back into the mainstream were busy retreating to the undergound, the mainsteam was vicously destorying what was left of the alternative scene.
Big budget companies were making Cheesy movies starring slacker type characters, the extras and background people of every lame sitcome and teen drama was filled with flannel and torn jeans. College radio was hailed the next big thing as so called alternative-indy bands that had just hopped on the scene to make a few bucks were hailed as the new big trend to get big soon.
One-hit wonders ruled the airwaves, radio friendly songs played over and over again were the talk of the town. Again the media had ruined something great. What would save us now? Would rock be lost forever? Would the mainstream finally destroy rock after years of trying so hard?
Not a chance. Out of nowhere punk struck back hard, real hard. A fresh sound amid a field of sourness. Dookie was the album that led this attack. Green Day's major label debut. The first single "Longview" with it's catchy hooks, buzzing riffs, and praise for slacker life was the bullet that ended an era and rekindled an old one to start anew.
Though I myself don't view Dookie as that that great of a masterpiece, it's the signifigance of that album was that mattered. Soon the Offspring, Nofx, and Bad Relgion, and Rancid were on the scene further proving punk was back. And if it wasn't for Dookie that may not have been possible and a hell of a lot of people would have never even began listening to punk whether for the first time or for millionth time revisting past memories.
When Dookie hit It was the right time for something fresh. And the world ate it up. Green Day were the new Nirvana. All of a sudden, millions of copies of the album were being sold, singles like "Welcome to Paradise" "When I come Around" and "Basket case" were punk anthems, takign in part from legends like the Ramones and Buzzcocks, but adding a new edge to the sound. Songs like "Burnout" and "FOD" showed off the wise-ass yet melodic and appealing sound that Green Day would boast.
Tales of boredom, love, love lost, desperation, anger, angst-riddled hooks, and chainsaw guitars that Dookie was full of proved a model for many late 90's bands to replicate, it was Green Day that used all those to a maximum and did it best.
Though the album was never too serious, it had it's moments of angst, anger, and deepness to it, Green Day wasn't created by a major label, they paid their dues for years before hitting it big and were mainstays at Gilman street for years. Maybe thats why this wave of punk had a bit more creditbility than, the current wave we hear now, but Dookie and that mid 90's era remain a landmark year just like 1977, it made people remember, and get a small taste of punks glory days.
Of course sooner or later the shouts of "sell-out" billowed in, whether out of spite, or just to look cool, there was always some one to utters those words. And after 1994 Green Day never acheived full respect or creditbility from their peers like they had before in the days of Gillman street. The fact remains that if it wasn't for "Dookie" more than half of you wouldn't even be on this board much less even call yourselves a "Punk" or know what it is and was.