Green Day – 20 years of ‘Dookie’

Green Day – 20 years of ‘Dookie’

Green day’s debut major label album ‘Dookie’ turned 20 this February. Amazing to think this adolescent string of pop punk fury has reached such maturity. Dookie sky rocketed the 3 punks from North Cal to the main stay as they filled in the void left by the departure of Kurt Cobain (R.I.P) later on in 1994 and the death of moody Grunge . The first track ‘Burnout’ sets a confident tone for the album showing the raw energy and charisma of the band. Billie Joe Armstrong’s vocal melodies are at their very best in Dookie. He is really able to carry their energy to another level showing Green Day to be far above other trashy pop punk acts like Blink 182 and Sum 41. The Stars of the show are definitely tracks ‘Longview’ where Mike Dirnt has a good bassline for once and Armstrong’s masturbation themed lyrics show the adolescent smuttiness of the boys,’Basket case’, Arguably Green Day’s most classic song with incredible hooks filled energy and finally ‘Welcome to Paradise’ which has their famous instrumental interlude showing another angle to their musicianship and talents.  

The genius of this album is the lack of over thinking that went into it. Pleasing guitar hooks, self deprecating humour and  popish flowing melodies. Despite these simple ingredients they managed to come out with something very tasty that is still listened to today by millions of people of all ages. Green day would later grow up and write some bigger songs with meatier concepts but they’ll always possess the aura of adolescents just wanting some fun that they gave of from the spunk in the letterbox that is Dookie. 

-Nat 

High Contrast – The Agony and the Ecstasy

High Contrast – The Agony and the Ecstasy

High Contrast made his way into my music taste when a friend showed me his incredible drum and bass remix of Time To Pretend (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8Bmczy66to), and then I moved onto his original work – and, consulting Spotify, the first song I heard was The Agony and the Ecstasy, which instantly became one of my favourite EDM songs. Combining pop style vocals and synthy-electronic backing, I fell in love with High Contrast, as well as the ‘indie bragging rights’ I gained from liking his music – although some of his songs have huge view counts on youtube and spotify, he is still somewhat unheard of. 
I’m still looking for his albums in record shops but can’t find it anywhere, so I’ll either have to look harder or order it off the internet – and when I do, expect another, much longer review.

Listen, or be square.

– Crum