Trying to outdo something so perfect, a piece of art that is impeccable from start to finish must take extreme energy. It must sap the strength from you and leave you drained. American punk band Green Day tried to surpass one of the most incredible albums of the last 20 years, an album that solidified the band as megastars. Before the relevance of American Idiot, Green Day was cascading into the gutter, with few ideas swirling around their talented heads. With American Idiot, they elevated and struck gold, and it kept the fans excited about what was to come next.

The album that Green Day had in their armory wasn’t truly a standout or a record to stand up against a behemoth. 21^st Century Breakdown was the next instalment, an LP technical in its execution, but one which never had those infectious lines and statement-like lyrics. Yes, it had its hits, it had those sneers from leading man Billie Joe Armstrong, and it flew into the sector of punk without exploding into obscurity.

21^st Century Breakdown could have been perceived as being an afterthought. It wasn’t a bad album though; it was a good, insightful record portraying the effects of war. Armstrong wrote lyrics that railed against the grain once more, words that resonated and turned heads. He also played his guitar at breakneck speed, and throughout the record, there are ballads and abrasive songs alike.

And the album was longer than American Idiot. 17 songs told the story of rage. It also conveyed a story about Christian and Gloria, two rebels trying to make their way through hardship; it was an intriguing fable from the mind of Armstrong.

The songs that made up 21^st Century Breakdown had their place. The album opener had “Jesus Of Suburbia” vibes. Armstrong sneered as always, pushing the limitations of his lyrical talent. Bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tre Cool increased the tension with their abilities. “Know Your Enemy” became a single. Simple riffs and intense percussion rallied this track to the top. “Viva La Gloria” showed the elegant side to Armstrong. Lyrically it is beautiful and the fast guitar lines came in droves. “Last Of American Girls” sounded fresh and daring, with Armstrong singing about nuclear winters. “21 Guns” was a standout track—a sombre, melancholic push for answers. It became the ballad of 2009.

As a record that was put up against the brilliance of American Idiot, it did pretty well. It didn’t take home as many accolades; it didn’t gain critical acclaim, but it still soared for many.