To me, this is the definitive Green Day record. OK, "Dookie" was career defining, and "Insomniac" was genius and criminally underrated, but to me their 1998 opus "Nimrod" is by far their best moment.
It sums up exactly what made them so popular in the first place. Pissed off punk played at a fast and furious pace, without ever losing their mainstream appeal. Something they kinda lost with "Warning." Which, if you have read my review of, you will know that I'm not that keen.
"Nimrod" kicks off with "Nice Guys Finish Last," a song for every pissed off angst-ridden youth, a song which grabs the listener by the bollocks. Live favourite "Hitchin A Ride" follows, with Billie Joe's scream at mid point signalling the pissed off fury that just sums them up. Ok, they are no Osker, but Green Day prove that they can still be bratty pissed-off punks even though they are all around thirty and multi-millionaires. Which isn't punk at all really, but hey...
The hits continue throughout the CD, "Redundant" is punk-lite and "Scattered" anthemic. "Worry Rock" will have you tapping your feet like a demented toe-tapper within seconds, and "Uptight" is another well-produced two and a half minute gem.
But it's the furious 'fuck you' songs that make this album so good. "Platypus I Hate You" and its expletive ridden, yet anthemic, outro, and "The Grouch" are just the band at their greatest. "Take Back" is another two-fingered salute to all the bands critics over the years. It is vitriolic, it is angry, but it is still melodic and very, very good.
Even the piss-take instrumental of "Last Ride In," which admittedly isn't as kitsch as the Austin Powers themed "Espionage," is good. Then there are the slower songs, "Good Riddance Time of Your Life" and "Walking Alone" which show another side to Billie Joe's writing. Both anthemic, both very, very poignant and very good.
In short, if you're thinking of buying a Green day CD, don't buy "Warning." It's not Green Day. This on the other hand, most certainly is.
Paul Savage
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