With the release of their provocative new record, American Idiot, punk rock innovators Green Day prove only that their longevity is everlasting, as is their ability to write a solid, passionate record. Doused with the overwhelming and undeniable style that is still mimicked by hundreds of bands today, the new record from the California trio delivers over an hour of great, infectiously rhythmic songs, well structured with an excellent share of fist-pumping, head-bobbing rock and even a ballad or two thrown in. On the new record, Green Day venture beyond past successes, and impressively raise the level of quality and durability of their songs as well as the potential of their capabilities as musicians and songwriters.

Beginning with the rebellious single, aptly titled "American Idiot," Green Day’s singer/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong tackles head-on issues of corrupt media and the status quo of American culture. "Welcome to a new kind of tension/All across the alien nation!" he growls in the song’s chorus. The disc is constructed with similarly attention-grabbing titles such as "Jesus of Suburbia," one of two nine-minute condensed "punk rock operas," "Give Me Novacaine," and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," set to be the second single, more along the lines of their past classic "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life). Green Day provides a large portion of fast-paced punk tunes, occasionally interspersed with a slower moment, some laced with the sounds of piano. Yet long-time Green Day fans such as myself, who still revere discs like "Nimrod," "Dookie," and "Insomniac" need not fear, for the band has pulled through and produced a polished yet raw record, which is hands down one of the best efforts of their career.

Whether it’s Armstrong’s singular voice, never without its recognizably raw drawl, the tag-team of his chugging power chords and bassist Mike Dirnt’s melodious and solidifying bass lines, or the phenomenal drumming of veteran skin-pounder and resident comic Tré Cool, there is not much to not love about Green Day, and certainly of their new record. Seriously, it brings the rock like few other releases have. Other unforgettable highlights include "St. Jimmy," which never fails to get me moving and "She’s a Rebel," a powerful mix laden with brief yet dramatic pauses that only renew one’s interest in the entire album. Honestly, there is not a song on American Idiot that I don’t like and if you can see past the band’s two latest discs, Shenanigans and Warning, and remember Green Day for the colossus they had proven themselves to be, you’ll thank yourself for making this purchase. The lyrics are bold but not pretentious and the music remains intriguing and forceful yet not lavish. To say it outright, I’ll take this over almost any new CD I’ve recently added to my collection, no questions asked, hands down. A monstrous, diverse, and powerful release, Green Day makes me want to listen to and play music more and more everyday.