21st Century Breakdown
by Green Day
  • Record Label: Reprise
  • Release Date: May 15, 2009
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 30
  3. Negative: 1 out of 30
  1. Rolling Stone
    90
    21st Century Breakdown is even better, so masterful and confident it makes Idiot seem like a warm-up.
  2. The Boston Phoenix
    88
    It could have easily gone any of several wrong ways, but Green Day's punk has long since been tempered with pop's most attractive attributes, and 21stCentury Breakdown, like its predecessor, is unapologetically accessible and relentlessly exhilarating.
  3. Los Angeles Times
    88
    Its musical and lyrical themes recur without fuss, and each track has its own strong identity that speaks to but isn't weighed down by the larger (and beneficially looser) narrative.
  5. The A.V. Club
    83
    Green Day took small steps out of its comfort zone on American Idiot, but Breakdown finds the band going bolder, mixing in elements of mariachi ('Peacemaker') and klezmer ('¡Viva La Gloria!'). Still, the band members never spend too much time away from their bread and butter: heavily melodic punk.
  6. Q Magazine
    80
    Bold, ambitious and revelling in the chaos of the age, 21st Century Breakdown is another perfect document of our times. [Jun 2009, p.114]
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  7. musicOMH.com
    80
    More remarkable than the variety and risk-taking pursued by the band are the melodies themselves.
  8. Observer Music Monthly
    80
    It's a state of the union address, an apocalyptic protest album. It also sounds phenomenal.
  9. AllMusic
    80
    The band manages to have 21st Century Breakdown work on a grand scale without losing either their punk or pop roots, which makes the album not only a sequel to "American Idiot," but its equal.
  10. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    We’re left with a sprawling, obvious, uber-commercial, stoopid punk-pop album that might just stop five million American idiots from voting for a war-mongering Republican baby-slaughterer when they grow up. Works for me.
  11. Billboard
    80
    The album is a call to arms for the digital age, and 20 years into its career, Green Day's ambition continues to dazzle.
  12. Hartford Courant
    80
    Green Day's latest is a collection of powerful songs worth waiting nearly five years for.
  13. Austin Chronicle
    78
    While the third and final act charges toward resolution with supreme fury, 21st Century Breakdown ultimately gets caught between panic and fledging promise.
  14. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    Give credit where thrashing, three-chord credit is due, however: No matter how arrested their style and subject matter, Green Day remain remarkably good at high-blast anthems that burrow directly into the pogo-ing, lizard-brain id.
  15. Delusions of Adequacy
    70
    21st Century Breakdown is far from a bad album, and, like Idiot, will likely be the best release this year from such a popular band.
  16. Boston Globe
    70
    As a thinker, Armstrong isn't always comprehensible or original, but he knows how to communicate his frenzied thoughts enjoyably.
  17. Alternative Press
    70
    While the disc does get bogged down with a little too much force-feeding of the Christian and Gloria characters (just like Idiot's Jimmy and Whatshername), it's a safe bet that the listener will come out the other end having largely enjoyed the last 70 minutes and 18 tracks.

Awards & Rankings

7
#7 Most Discussed Album of 2009
23
#23 Most Shared Album of 2009

User Reviews

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User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 391 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 323 out of 391
  2. Mixed: 31 out of 391
  3. Negative: 37 out of 391
  1. Tranquilbez22
    Mar 1, 2012
    6
    If you don't like Green Day or preffered they're 90's songs, Keep reading, If you love Green Day, also keep reading. Much like the EpicIf you don't like Green Day or preffered they're 90's songs, Keep reading, If you love Green Day, also keep reading. Much like the Epic American Idiot, 21st Century Breakdown is an album in the style of an rock opera, so expect this album to become a musical in the near future. While the narrative isn't as gripping as the tale of St Jimmy, The story is still strong, half the songs are Awesome while the other half are boring as **** other than that it's a solid album, go buy it… Full Review »
  2. j30
    Sep 21, 2011
    4
    Sounds like b-sides of American Idiot and Warning. Complete lackluster display of songs.from such a great band.
  3. helomyvictim
    Aug 23, 2011
    4
    So I had heard know your enemy prior to the albums release and than I started listing to it expecting them to make something as good asSo I had heard know your enemy prior to the albums release and than I started listing to it expecting them to make something as good as american idiot and I was sure they had done that when they heard 21st century breakdown which was one of their best songs and than I listened to the rest of the album and was deviated there was only one other good song 21 guns so listing to 21st century breakdown was definitely one of the most disappointing moments in my life and I adding a extra 2 stars because of 21st century breakdown 4 out of 10… Full Review »
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