21st 21st century breakdown eighth studio album american punk rock band green day band second rock opera following album produced green day commenced work record january songs written vocalist guitarist october band members enter studio work january album released armstrong described album era live question try sense selfish manipulation going government religion media frankly form authority singles know enemy guns themes politically motivated anger present record critical response 21st century breakdown generally positive record achieved green day best chart performance date reaching number album charts countries including european albums awarded grammy award best rock album 52nd grammy awards held january december 21st century breakdown sold copies united_states million worldwide writing recording green day began write new songs 21st century breakdown january touring extensively support seventh studio album american idiot time frontman stated start silence able find inspiration find record band release details writing recording process october armstrong said interview rolling_stone written like songs band members worked primitive conceptual stages album rehearsal studio oakland california little revealed themes musical style album armstrong stated want dig feeling moment middle aged added songs written piano guitar began recording process 21st century breakdown january later year confirmed band worked producer album recorded early locations california ocean way recording hollywood oakland recording hollywood band members bought cheap listened vinyl records inspiration including albums beat armstrong cited inspiration music ray davies doors doors strange days meat bat hell noted influence writing writing home studio armstrong worked cover mini opera quick away recorded band version song album sessions noted cause delays recording process 21st century breakdown armstrong kept lyrics closely guarded intentionally mixed demos vocals low mix band members late chose share words cool bassist sitting reading entire album lyrics aloud order band members finishing touches album early april claimed release lead kind post depression themes composition 21st century breakdown continues rock opera style predecessor album set detroit michigan divided acts heroes saints loose narrative follows young couple named christian challenges present following presidency bassist compared relationships songs born run saying themes tightly interwoven concept album connected record themes lyrics drawn armstrong personal life sings person narrative style abandonment vengeance christian rolling_stone noted album personal emotionally record armstrong written title track opening lyric born nixon raised hell references armstrong birth year class references fact eldest son joseph graduate high school expressed belief american girls written armstrong wife claimed beliefs defends armstrong cited disconnected childhood raised older siblings father death mother worked graveyard shifts roots discontent expressed 21st century breakdown east jesus religion written armstrong attended church service friend baby baptized musically 21st century breakdown similar punk rock style american idiot critics claimed green day traditional sound evolved years release incorporate new influences heavier pop rock stadium rock epic scale rolling_stone indicated album sports ballads green day polished claimed band combine punk newfound love classic rock mtv compared material classic like spin called title track green day epic song cool remarked important looked punk band religion higher education noted armstrong past writing 21st century breakdown inspiration artists shaped rock music armstrong stated ground zero punk rock like painting ugly picture uplifting singing shit sing dna promotion release green day commenced work record january writing recording process spanned years california recording studios finished april february announced album title record split acts heroes saints march teaser trailer 21st century breakdown posted band website international release date announced march early april green day premiered know enemy television portion song introductory music ncaa men basketball tournament championship game band performed 21st century breakdown string california club shows april given programs containing album lyrics single know enemy released april soon world premiere song music video occurred april mtv website 21st century breakdown released internationally special edition vinyl version limited copies consisted records album acts copy album page art booklet code digital download album album artwork process led based work artist confirmed couple cover friends friend party sweden explained mutual friend snapped picture pair kissing added love passion spread love cover art noted marked similarity album think tank artist green day showcased collection similarly themed art called art rock art exhibition london october november record reached number billboard sold copies week shortened days album remained number chart weeks canada album debuted canadian albums_chart selling copies week album debuted sales charts total countries including peak number european albums 21st century breakdown released version containing explicit lyrics content refuses sell albums requested green day release censored edition band members responded stating dirty record want artists censor records order carried said feel like second single guns released radio stations band embarked world tour july north american leg lasted september european leg ended november east jesus released album single october critical reception reception 21st century breakdown generally favorable according website metacritic reported rating based critical reviews observer awarded record stars likened music avant garde writing rolling_stone called 21st century breakdown compound bomb classic rock mercy punk assault pop song like clash london calling arcade compressed songs times concluded lyrically succeed capturing contradictions longing harmony armstrong cool country humanity real triumph age market testing self censorship lowest common simply aim high summit criticism centered concept record bbc said authority buzz words obscure meaning spin wrote humor american idiot missed energy album guardian alexis_petridis indicated storyline impossible follow sputnikmusic critical professional reviewer album questioned clarity lyrics calling 21st century breakdown vague ridiculous american idiot went control heroic glory regains focus ending product green day couldn afford produce average record slant_magazine claims sense familiarity hangs album melodies tracks suggest ghosts songs gave album noting going american idiot ryan declared 21st century breakdown american idiot revealed green day accolades album awards track listing lyrics written music composed green day bonus tracks lyrics written music composed noted personnel release history charts certifications
21st Century Breakdown