Green Day

Signing with a major label may have come as a let-down to Green Day's doting underground fanbase. But those screaming "Sellout!" were quickly drowned out by Dookie's unprecedented success, largely due to major exposure on MTV and radio. The recognition was every bit earned, though, and the album spawned such hits as "Longview," "Welcome to Paradise," "Basket Case" and "When I Come Around." At a time when grunge was ruling the roost, Green Day's playful pop-punk provided a hookier, droller outlet for any kid who's ever felt a tinge of boredom, disillusionment or lack of motivation.

Purists of the abyss, malcontent Sid Vicious nostalgics bitch that Green Day aren't orthodox
punks. All right, just label the Berkeley, Calif., trio brilliant punkoids and be done with it.
But it's useful to remember that before mythic Brits such as the Sex Pistols and the Clash
spewed distorted guitar and anarchic politics, punk essentially was the Ramones – that is,
basically just the Beach Boys ultraloud and pissed off. Employing the Jam and th... More >

For accuracy's sake, I should note that you haven't exactly heard it all before--the drums are punchier, the structures trickier. But insofar as you have, that's the point: punk lives, and these guys have the toons and sass to prove it to those who can live without. Before they start to wear down, they've done their bit for apathy, insanity, voluntary poverty, and the un-American way. (Grade - A-)