International Superhits!,
Green DayGreatest hits albums, don’t you just love them? No I don’t! Greatest hits albums are nothing more than an attempt by greedy record companies to exploit more cash from already successful artists. In this case the artists in question are Green Day, and there can be little doubt that they are one of the most successful punk bands of the last decade. ‘International Superhits!’ is a compilation of tracks taken from the bands four Warner releases, plus two new tracks and one rarity.
The two new tracks open up proceedings, and, if we’re blatantly honest, will be the only reason a lot of people will buy this album. So, are they any good? ‘Maria’ will be a welcome surprise for anyone who was disappointed with the tracks on ‘Warning’. It is a punky little number that would have sat well alongside anything on ‘Nimrod’. ‘Poprocks & Coke’, by complete contrast, is the more mature face of the bands songwriting. Some people will like it, others won’t. (For those that are interested, this reviewer does like it.)
The other bonus for long-term fans is the inclusion of a song that was only previously available on the soundtrack to the movie ‘Angus’. The track, ‘J.A.R.’ (Jason Andrew Relva) is a welcome addition to the album, and better than the two new tracks by some margin.
The rest of the album is a musical journey through the highlights of Green Day’s career, ignoring their first two albums of course! It features all of the memorable singles, from ‘When I Come Around’ to ‘Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life)’. We are also treated to some album favorites that were never released as singles, such as ‘She’ and the very underrated ‘Macy’s Day Parade’.
However, despite the obvious quality of the tracks on show, one harsh fact remains. If you have been with the band since the beginning you will already have 18 of the 21 tracks on the album. Do you really want to buy a full price album for the sake of three extra songs?
‘International Superhits’ is a superb showcase of the talents of one the true heavyweights of punk rock. But, at the end of the day, it is nothing more than a tool to put money in Warner’s back pocket. I can only really recommend it to newcomers to the band and individuals with more money than sense. I have one closing comment to make to greatest hits albums in general: “Go on, naff off!”
Mark
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