Green Day: Dookie Years

Green Day: The Dookie Days


Punk Rock unearthed a band and album that revolutionised a derailing sector. Pumped it up with a truly mesmerising piece of complete musical genius. That was Dookie, a deep filled monstrous invention which received a groundbreaking reception from Rocks cornered section of die hard faithful. A tiresome relocation to greater and more formidable extents, unforgetful, unmatched and never broken and still a fierce mainstay in music’s prized laden hands.

1994 was the release of punk/rocks true saviour, in the form of a flamboyant catalogue laced directly with up-tempo bratty beats and strong descriptions of masturbation and paradise. It was wired and narrowed to a selective audience of dope smokers, punk addicts with radical tastes in music. Dookie was and still is fearsome, diverse and heavily involving.

Green Day chose a path, a true direction to the birth of their most detailed product. Its character was rapid and refreshing contacting its listeners so free fully, a justified rise to grace, and a new level for the Berkeley trio. Advised by mainstream certainty for their first entrance into airwave rock. Green Day moved upwards with the backing of major label status in the form of Reprise, leaving their previous stamp Lookout behind.

Becoming a mainstream act is not entirely respected, it’s potently resented. Green Days elevation commenced a source of downfall for the band. They lost a substantial amount of there prior hysteric fan base, a skin that covered them was painfully scarred. A tarnished following wasn’t going to hinder vast sales or start a crippling malfunction. Green Day went from a great band to a Groundbreaking one in the space of months, reinventing punk/rock, suffocating competitors and stating a new found glory.

Dookie was fast-paced and highly addictive. It contained a spark, an urgency and maturity that wasn’t mastered in prior Green Day records. Green Day were young in physical terms but very much aged in thought and lookout. Since the first record of the bands reign, the freakishly named 1039 smoothed out slappy hours, Green Day rose to the occasion and took a different road, a more assertive and certified trail.

Dookie starts at a rattling pace with Burnout a truly Green Day start, and a truly Green Day song. As catchy as they come, the song is full of shouts and overcharged riffs that is short but brilliantly stuck together. ‘Am Not Growing Up, Am Just Burning Out’ the track is great taster for things to come. The next two notable tracks are Welcome To Paradise a story of a broken home also a story of leaving home as the opening line verifies ‘Dear Mother Can You Hear Me Whining, Its Been 3 Whole Weeks Since I have Left Your Home’ a sincere and lyrical piece of music that highlights the motives on the album. Longview
Is similar, a song of being incompetent, bored and lazy. It also offers a sense of intimidation and psychological feeling I’m Sick of All The Same Old Shit in the House of Unlocked Doors, And Am Fucking Lazy’ an upbeat track with an underlay of emotional conflict.



Basket Case is a magical and ferocious fight for approval and self realisation, a sure single in any album. Sometimes I Give Myself the Creeps, Sometimes My Mind Plays Tricks on me' a lyrical gem with a fluent chorus that would become favouritised and memorable. She stars off calm and mellow then falls into a fit of rage. A song about a girl, a little cliché but very much formidable for the albums strength and gelling process. ‘Wait, waiting for a sign, To Smash the Silence with a Brick of Self-Control’ When I come around could be the most likeable song on Dookie. It s more advanced in lyrical terms; it’s intact and keeps its own on the record. It’s hard to explain the background and ionisation of the track, but is certainly one of Green Day more pivotal songs that may have even shaped there evolution. 'No Time to Search the World Alone, Cause You Know When I Come Around’.

Coming clean is a song about becoming a man with no understanding from the parents. An insanely short piece, but creative all the same. 17 And Strung out on Confusion Pulling Teeth goes through a country orientated style. Again it s about Girl lost in the shadow of conflict, a depressing song full of lost love. The song boasts a great chorus that exploits the variation of Billie Joe s voice. 'She Comes to Check on Me, Making Sure I m On My Knees’. FOD is beautiful and melodic. The only real sentimental value on the album, but leaves that sadness and evolves into a full swing Green Day number. 'Lets Dup the Bridge We Torched a Thousand Times Before' a real lyrical phenomenon.

Dookie is a flawless punk upgrade. An unbelievable package of rock steady triumphs that empathizes Green Day’s true talent and dedication. Every song tells a profound story of the bands hard times, good times and days in the spotlight. It tells of break-ups, leaving and finding the right path to better days. It s produced but it sounds nothing like a mainstream, media torn inclusion. It sounds fresh and cared. The. Album is Green Day s finest record, their most purified and genuine contribution. As for the band as a foundation and punk institution, they can hold their own under the shining lights of controversy and become even stronger.


Mark McConville