Revolution Radio is the twelfth studio album by the American rock band Green Day, released on October 7, 2016 through Reprise Records.[2] A self-produced effort, it marked their first release since 2009's 21st Century Breakdown not to be produced by longtime producer Rob Cavallo. It is also their first release since that album to be recorded as a trio. Green Day's previous three albums ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré! featured touring guitarist Jason White temporarily joining the band in the studio.[3][4]
Revolution Radio | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 7, 2016 | |||
Recorded | 2015–2016[1] | |||
Studio | OTIS (Oakland, California, US) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 44:40 | |||
Label | Reprise | |||
Producer | Green Day | |||
Green Day chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Revolution Radio | ||||
|
Three singles were released from the album; "Bang Bang", "Revolution Radio", and "Still Breathing". The album received generally positive reviews from music critics,[5] appeared on multiple year-end lists, and sold 95,000 first-week album-equivalent units in the US to debut at number one on the Billboard 200.[6] Revolution Radio also debuted at number one in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Italy, Canada, and New Zealand.
Background and composition
editWork on what would become Revolution Radio began in 2014, following the 99 Revolutions Tour,[7] in support of ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré! (2012).
After acknowledging that the trilogy of albums had "absolutely no direction to them" and were an attempt at being "prolific for the sake of it", lead singer and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong claimed that the record is "not so much a makeover as a make under."[8] The lead single, "Bang Bang", described by Armstrong is about "the culture of mass shooting that happens in America mixed with narcissistic social media."[7]
The album's lead single, "Bang Bang", premiered on August 11, 2016. Prior to the album's release, its title track, "Revolution Radio", and "Still Breathing" were released on September 9 and September 23, respectively. On the album's release date, the official lyric video for "Youngblood" was uploaded on the band's website. On October 12, a lyric video for the song "Ordinary World" was released. On October 19, another lyric video was released, for the song "Say Goodbye". On November 7, a music video was released for "Still Breathing". On January 16, a lyric video was released for "Troubled Times". On September 8, a lyric video for the song "Too Dumb to Die" was released. The album's final track "Ordinary World" was featured in the 2016 film of the same name, which starred Armstrong. On December 13, 2018, an official music video for "Youngblood" was released with the caption "Merry Xmas 2018" on the band's YouTube channel.[9]
Professional reviewers describe the album as punk rock,[10][11][12][13] pop-punk,[11][14] and alternative rock.[11][15]
Critical reception
editAggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 72/100[5] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [16] |
Alternative Press | [17] |
The Guardian | [18] |
Kerrang! | [5] |
Mojo | [19] |
NME | [20] |
Pitchfork | 5.1/10[21] |
Q | [22] |
Rolling Stone | [10] |
Slant Magazine | [23] |
Uncut | [24] |
Revolution Radio received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 72 out of 100, which indicates "generally favorable reviews" based on 29 reviews.[5]
Aaron Burgess at Alternative Press observed, "It's the first time in years Green Day haven't had all the answers. But as a statement on how it really feels to fight, it's the closest to the truth they've ever gotten."[17] Gwilym Mumford of The Guardian stated "[after their last few albums] the band have decided to get back to basics: Revolution Radio is their most focused work in years. Lead single Bang Bang sets the tone, with a caustic consideration of the fame-hungry psychosis of a mass shooter."[18]
Accolades
editPublication | Accolade | Year | Rank |
---|---|---|---|
Rolling Stone | 50 Best Albums of 2016 | 2016 | 15[25]
|
NME | NME's Albums of the Year 2016 | 2016 | 39[26]
|
Radio X | The 25 Best Albums of 2016 | 2016 | 14[27]
|
Kerrang! | 2016 – The Ultimate Rock Review, Top 50 Albums of 2016 | 2016 | 1
|
Commercial performance
editRevolution Radio debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with 95,000 album-equivalent units, of which 90,000 were album sales.[28] The album also debuted at number one in the UK,[29] Ireland,[30] Italy,[31] and New Zealand.[32] The album had first-week units of 30,880 in the UK, 29,470 of which were from album sales.[33] The album charted at number 10 in the US in its second week with 21,000 units.[34] The album sold 118,000 copies in the first three weeks in the US.[35]
Track listing
editAll lyrics written by Billie Joe Armstrong; all music composed by Green Day, except where noted.
No. | Title | Music | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Somewhere Now" | 4:08 | |
2. | "Bang Bang" | 3:25 | |
3. | "Revolution Radio" | 3:00 | |
4. | "Say Goodbye" | 3:39 | |
5. | "Outlaws" |
| 5:02 |
6. | "Bouncing off the Wall" | 2:40 | |
7. | "Still Breathing" |
| 3:44 |
8. | "Youngblood" | 2:32 | |
9. | "Too Dumb to Die" | 3:23 | |
10. | "Troubled Times" | 3:04 | |
11. | "Forever Now"
| 6:52
| |
12. | "Ordinary World" | Billie Joe Armstrong | 3:00 |
Total length: | 44:29 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "Letterbomb" (live at the Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, Chula Vista, California; September 2, 2010) | 4:34 |
Total length: | 49:03 |
Personnel
editGreen Day
- Billie Joe Armstrong – lead vocals, guitars, piano, producer
- Mike Dirnt – bass guitar, backing vocals, producer
- Tré Cool – drums, percussion, producer
Additional musicians
- Ronnie Blake – trumpet ("Bouncing off the Wall")
Production
- Chris Dugan – engineer
- Andrew Scheps – mixer
- Eric Boulanger – mastering
- Justin Hergett – mixing assistant
- Bill Schneider – guitar tech
- Andrew Hans Buscher – guitar tech
Art work
- Nick Spanos – cover photo
- Frank Maddocks – creative direction, photography, design
Managerial
- Pat Magnarella – management
Charts
edit
Weekly chartsedit
|
Year-end chartsedit
|
Certifications and sales
editRegion | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Italy (FIMI)[75] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[76] | Gold | 100,000‡ |
United States | — | 118,000[35] |
Summaries | ||
Worldwide | — | 600,000[77] |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
edit- ^ Andy Greene (11 August 2016). "Billie Joe Armstrong on Green Day's Provocative New LP". Rolling Stone.
- ^ "Green Day official pre-order website". Green Day. Archived from the original on August 11, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
- ^ "Billie Joe Armstrong announces Bang Bang on Twitter". Retrieved August 10, 2016.
- ^ "Billie Joe Armstrong on Green Day's Provocative New LP". rollingstone.com. 11 August 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Reviews for Revolution Radio by Green Day". Metacritic. Retrieved November 13, 2016.
- ^ "Green Day Earns Third No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Revolution Radio'". Billboard. Retrieved 2017-11-23.
- ^ a b "Billie Joe Armstrong on Green Day's Provocative New LP". Rolling Stone. 11 August 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
- ^ "Billie Joe interview with Q magazine on 'Revolution Radio'". Green Day Authority, Q Magazine. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
- ^ Green Day (12 December 2018), Green Day YOUNGBLOOD - Merry Xmas 2018!, retrieved 2018-12-14
- ^ a b "Review: Green Day Older, Wiser, Mad as Hell in 'Revolution Radio'". Rolling Stone. 6 October 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
- ^ a b c "Album Review: Green Day – Revolution Radio". Consequence of Sound. October 7, 2016. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
- ^ Mongredien, Phil (October 9, 2016). "Green Day: Revolution Radio review – punchy punks return to form". The Guardian. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ "Album Review: Green Day, "Revolution Radio"". PopDose.com. October 25, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ "'Revolution Radio' is Green Day's most heartfelt work in years (Review)". Cleveland.com. 5 October 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
- ^ McEvoy, Sophie (October 20, 2016). "Review: Green Day – Revolution Radio". The Edge. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Revolution Radio – Green Day". AllMusic. Retrieved October 6, 2016.
- ^ a b "'Revolution Radio' is the most intensely personal Green Day album in years – Reviews – Alternative Press". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
- ^ a b Mumford, Gwilym (October 6, 2016). "Green Day: Revolution Radio review – pop-punks go back to basics". The Guardian. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
- ^ "Review: Revolution Radio". Mojo. London: 88. November 2016.
- ^ "Green Day – 'Revolution Radio' Review". NME. 5 October 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
- ^ Nelson, Ivy (October 10, 2016). "Green Day - "Revolution Radio"". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
- ^ "Review: Revolution Radio". Q. United Kingdom: 104. November 2016.
- ^ "Green Day: Revolution Radio – Album Review". Slant Magazine. 6 October 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
- ^ "Review: Revolution Radio". Uncut. London: 28. November 2016.
- ^ "50 Best Albums of 2016". Rolling Stone. November 29, 2016. Retrieved November 29, 2016.
- ^ "NME's Albums of the Year 2016". NME. November 24, 2016. Retrieved November 24, 2016.
- ^ "The 25 Best Albums of 2016".
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 16, 2016). "Green Day Earns Third No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With 'Revolution Radio'". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
- ^ a b "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
- ^ a b "GFK Chart-Track Albums: Week 41, 2016". Chart-Track. IRMA. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 41 (dal 2016-10-07 al 2016-10-13)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. October 17, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ "BuzzJack Music Forum". buzzjack.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2016. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
- ^ "Kings of Leon Score Their First No. 1 Album on the Billboard 200 Chart". billboard.com. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
- ^ a b Rutherford, Kevin (November 2, 2016). "Green Day Earns 10th Alternative Songs No. 1 with 'Bang Bang'". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2016. Retrieved November 6, 2016.
- ^ "Green Day / グリーン・デイ「Revolution Radio / レボリューション・レディオ」|ワーナーミュージック・ジャパン". Warner Music Japan. Archived from the original on August 23, 2016. Retrieved August 27, 2016.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – Green Day – Revolution Radio". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Green Day – Revolution Radio" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Green Day – Revolution Radio" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ "Ultratop.be – Green Day – Revolution Radio" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ "Green Day Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
- ^ "Top Stranih [Top Foreign]" (in Croatian). Top Foreign Albums. Hrvatska diskografska udruga. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
- ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Green Day – Revolution Radio". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Green Day – Revolution Radio" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ "Green Day: Revolution Radio" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – Green Day – Revolution Radio". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Green Day – Revolution Radio" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ "Official IFPI Charts – Top-75 Albums Sales Chart – Week: 42/2016". IFPI Greece. Archived from the original on October 20, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2016. 40. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – Green Day – Revolution Radio". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
- ^ "Oricon Top 50 Albums: 2016-10-17" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
- ^ "Charts.nz – Green Day – Revolution Radio". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Green Day – Revolution Radio". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
- ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 20, 2016.
- ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – Green Day – Revolution Radio". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
- ^ "South Korea Circle International Album Chart". On the page, select "2016.10.02~2016.10.08" to obtain the corresponding chart. Circle Chart Retrieved October 18, 2016.
- ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Green Day – Revolution Radio". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Green Day – Revolution Radio". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Green Day – Revolution Radio". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 19, 2016.
- ^ "Green Day Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
- ^ "Green Day Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
- ^ "Green Day Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
- ^ "ARIA Top 100 Albums 2016". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 6, 2017.
- ^ "Ö3 Austria Top 40 – Album-Charts 2016". oe3.orf.at. Archived from the original on January 4, 2016. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2016 Albums". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
- ^ "Rapports Annuels 2016 Albums". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
- ^ "Top of the Music – FIMI/GfK: Le uniche classifiche annuali complete" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on January 10, 2017. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
- ^ "2016년 Album Chart" (in Korean). Gaon Music Chart. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade Alben 2016". hitparade.ch. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
- ^ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 2016". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 31, 2016.
- ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2016.
- ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- ^ "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- ^ "Italian album certifications – Green Day – Revolution Radio" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ "British album certifications – Green Day – Revolution Radio". British Phonographic Industry.
- ^ "Anuarios SGAE 2017". Archived from the original on 2018-01-12. Retrieved 31 August 2019.