Pop-punk pops back! (Plus four other songs)

 Green Day and blink-182 are BOTH back?! Say WHAT?! Not every day this happens (and I barely even like blink to begin with, but their latest song changes my opinion of them)!! The '90s are back, baby! Four other songs worth listening to here, too. Enjoy!


"American Dream is Killing Me" by Green Day:  Green Day became the Clash of latter-day rock music with the release of American Idiot in 2004, which expanded the formerly bratty punk-pop-rockers both lyrically and musically. "American Dream is Killing Me," the latest from the first '90s punk-pop group to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, continues where American Idiot left off. In addition to having a similar title to that album, the song also has similar themes with its dissatisfaction of the American government and politics. The song has a similar riff and rhythm to their '04 song, "Holiday" (which itself seemed to borrow heavily from The Clash's "London Calling," sound-wise). Where "Holiday" criticized the younger of the two President Bushes, "American Dream is Killing Me" is probably aimed at Donald Trump, or perhaps at 21st century American politics in general. Upon further examination of the song, it seems to rebuke more than just the political system, as not even TikTok is safe now from Green Day's righteously rebellious wrath!

"Doubt" by Slow Pulp:  Bearing a similarly androgynous and apathetic vibe to The Smashing Pumpkins both vocally and instrumentally, "Doubt" by Slow Pulp a post-punk/post-psychedelic swirl of deliciously seductive angst. Even the title of the song seems to hint at dissatisfaction with life and relationships, and that's pretty much what the song is in a nutshell. At only two and a half minutes, "Doubt" is a song that might as well be sung by a Siren of Greek mythology, as it allures its listeners, only to drag them into a world of pain and sorrow. 

"Northern Attitude" by Noah Kahan (featuring Hozier):  With "Dial Drunk," Noah Kahan's fans got to hear more of a rock side to an otherwise folk-y singer/songwriter musician. "Northern Attitude" sees Noah's return to folk-pop/rock. While I'm normally not a big fan of Noah's, having Hozier on board makes all the difference here! Hozier's soulfully-inflected pop/rock can move mountains, and he continues to do so with his huge, booming vocal presence on "Northern Attitude"! The song is a cathartic one for Kahan, who grew up lonely for much of his childhood. "Northern Attitude" finds him losing faith with both his friendships and himself and trying to come to terms with how his life has become. Having Hozier backing Noah up seems to lift him up, and hopefully the song will do the same for its listeners!

"One More Time" by blink-182:  Green Day and blink-182 were two of the hugest pop-punk groups in the world during the mid to late '90s! Where Green Day "matured" their sound and outlook on life, blink-182 didn't seem to do so near as much. They've had brushes with "soft" rock before like "I Miss You" and "Bored to Death," but neither of those songs have affected me the way this one has. This song comes off like a cross between "Hey There Delilah" and the unplugged version of "Everlong," neither of which I would have expected from blink. Where "I Miss You" was probably about a fading romantic relationship, "One More Time" could very well be about either that or about a dying friend or relative. Folk-rock is the last thing I'd have expected from blink, but they pull it off remarkably well!

"Say it Like You Mean It" by Sleater-Kinney:  From pop-punk to post-punk, from men to women, from immature to frightfully mature, Sleater-Kinney and blink-182 could be said to be opposites in some way, so it's kinda funny I'm reviewing their latest songs back to back, but that's what happens when I review songs alphabetically like I do! Anyway, although Sleater-Kinney are best known for their challenging blend of riot-grrl and post-punk, it's the songs of theirs that stray away from the genres they get pigeonholed into that are truly their shining moments. Their most recent song, "Say it Like You Mean It," is no exception to the rule! It's an intense song, like a lot of Sleater-Kinney songs are, but the intensity doesn't come from the guitars as much as it does from the orchestration, the song's largely minor key, and through Corin Tucker's frantic vocals! The guitars do get gradually louder as the song goes on, but they never "explode" to full crescendo like the other elements of the song do. 

"Sunshine Baby" by Japanese House:  Japanese House are one of those groups whose sound could be described as "ultra-chill." Their latest song, "Sunshine Baby," continues in this direction. Although the song's sound can bathe its listeners in a state of ultimate relaxation, the lyrics of the song are about trying to escape from life, as opposed to trying to embrace it. The title refers to a person who can bring the lead singer of Japanese House the type of ethereal euphoria she is seeking, while she meanwhile feels stuck in a state of constantly performing the same routines in a world of uncertainty. The "Sunshine Baby" in question might just be her backing vocalist, The 1975's Matty Healy.