Jason Rankin
LANCE WRITER


Green Day – ¡Uno! (Warner)





It’s been three years since Green Day’s last album and eight years since they took the downward spiral into rock-opera. Gone are the days of the story-infused plight of American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown, replaced with their new album, ¡Uno!.

¡Uno! brings a break from the bad. It’s a return to Green Day’s old pop rock, throwing in a sprinkle of alternative rock and some 60s style power pop. Oh, and it’s funny.

“Nuclear Family” lights the fuse for the album. Upbeat drum beat and silly, funny lyrics eased the worry that this album would be another relapse into failure.

“Let Yourself Go” sings to all those who make you sigh when they open their mouths. Or maybe it’s about some sort of breakup. Anyhow, “shut your mouth / ‘cause you’re talking too much / and I don’t give a damn anyway,” with a fast, happy drumbeat and jumpy rhythms makes the song funny and awesome— not angry.

“Fell For You” draws laughs right off the bat, “I woke up in a pool of sweat / first thought that I pissed the bed.”

This marks the first of an album trilogy. ¡Dos! launches Nov. 13 and ¡Tré! on Jan.15. This album’s filled with chuckles, but Green Day’s no laughing matter— they’re good again. And I can’t wait to hear what else they’re cooking.