Album Review: Green Day, ‘¡Dos!’

logan j. fowler says “d’oh!” to ¡Dos!…





Back in October when I reviewed ¡Uno!, I was excited at the possibilities of the follow-up albums in the trilogy which recently came to a end. Upon the release of part two AKA ¡Dos!, it was an album scooped up in no time flat but as you can tell it took me a while to absorb



Released in November of last year, ¡Dos! is probably the most experimental of Green Day’s albums, which one might expect with a library as dense as this band, which has been around since the late 80s. However, change is not always good, as the record has more hits than misses. 



The second album in Green Day’s trilogy starts off soft, with the melodic and brief “See You Tonight.” Sweet and catchy, the tune has almost a lullaby quality. It’s just guitar and singing, not a loud entrance as we’ve come to expect from the group, but it’s quietly beautiful. 



All the sincerity and low key drowns out as track number 2 pumps on. From relaxed to raunchy, front man Billie Joe announces its “F— Time (not kidding)” with the background beats sounding like a more raw Beatles song. It’s got a “bop your head” feel to it, but it’s not that innocent. I don’t know what it says about me, but it’s one of my favorites on the record. No regrets.





The hard rock continues as the band plays on, transitioning into “Stop When the Red Lights Flash.” Moving from sex to violence, the song taps back into the political standpoints that Green Day used not too long ago. A steady beat keeps this one in the keep pile. 



“Lazy Bones” just screams of stress and dealing with two faced people, but takes on a political agenda too. Living in this day in age it’s hard to find a main target for Billie Joe’s words (maybe that’s my opinion), but then again, the beauty of it is that you as listener can take it to mean anyone-or anything-you want. Solid. 



“Wild One” sounds like something out of the 1960s, not much different than something you’d hear in That Thing You Do. Here there’s an injection of more violence in words, but that’s how these guys work. Not a fan. You can also say that for “Makeout Party,” which sounds like it would be right at home in a teenager’s Friday night party when the parents aren’t home. Blech.



”Stray Heart” is like something out of the Pointer Sister’s catalogue, and despite its fun sound, it’s not something I’m fond of. I didn’t say the band couldn’t be sentimental, but here I’m just not digging it. 



I could analyze each of the songs one by one till the end, but “Ashley, Baby Eyes,” and “Lady Cobra” are just blur into one another and despite my fondness of this band it was tough to get back to basics after my disappointment in the album this far. And then when I thought I couldn’t be more upset, along comes “Nightlife,” a garage rock tune with a rapping element. WHAT?! Come on, this isn’t Green Day! 



“Wow, That’s Loud!” aims more for the arena rock sound and succeeds, sounding like a good blend of old school and new school Green Day. Thankfully earning back my trust near the end, the band pulls out the stops for the best song on the album, also the conclusion, “Amy.” A musical love letter to the now deceased Amy Winehouse, the hypnotic melody sinks into your skin. It’s almost sad you have to trudge through some crap to get here, but better to go out on a high note then crash and burn.



With ¡Dos!, there’s a strong beginning, a good end, but the stuff in the middle just is just disappointing. “Nightlife” would’ve almost put the nail in the coffin for me, but rounding the final lap with stronger material is ultimately what saves the album. Sadly, ¡Dos! failed to capitalize on the strong head start formed by ¡Uno!. Can ¡Tré! pick up the slack and end the trilogy triumphantly?



Rating: 6.5/10



[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXn3rGpG_IY&w=420&h=315]