Green Day > Nirvana, Pearl Jam, etc.?

Been listening to "21st Century Breakdown" on the iPod for several weeks now and am not getting tired of it. In fact, I'm more amazed at each listen where these guys are at lyrically and musically.

Granting Nirvana's importance in launching the entire '90s alternative thing ... is it fair to now say that Green Day's entire body of work at this point, particularly when you consider longevity, evolution of the band, ambition, etc., etc., puts it atop the '90s-2000s heap?

Is that sacrilegious?

 

I'd say definitely yes to Nirvana but no to Pearl Jam. I've said this before that my top three from the time period you cited is Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam and Foo Fighters. I'm not the biggest fan of Pearl Jam but I recognize what they've done enough to put them up there. I could see putting Green Day in for the Foos in that equation.

 

Yes.

 

Green Day is far too preachy now. I think the term around our house is, "If Billie Joe from the first days of Green Day could hear the Billie Joe of today he would kick the ever loving crap out of him."
Nirvana will always be king for "Pioneering the genre" but grunge has and always will be Pearl Jam for me. My brother listened to them way too much. Maybe that's why I liked death metal back then, they weren't grunge.

 

Nirvana > Green Day
Green Day < Pearl Jam

 

Nirvana would've crashed and burned even if Cobain didn't die. Way overrated. Pearl Jam is just plain overrated.

Green Day has been a consistent hit machine, plus American Idiot was a thorough accomplishment in the studio. Come to think of it, I don't think PJ or Nirvana was ever that ambitious in the recording studio.

That said, 21st Century Breakdown is a tired retread of American Idiot. I just can't get into it. At all.

 

I hate the fucking < > symbols so much.

I was never able to figure out what they mean, cause I didn't give a shit.

 

Ross < symbols

On topic, Green Day, up through American Idiot, was a great band. I can't get behind anything on the new album...the songs I've heard are horrible.

 

I don't know if that means Ross is less than or greater than, cause it must be too hard to just say less than or greater than.

Is Pearl Jam still relevant? They are not what they were when they first started, they were amazing when they put out their first album (though I always liked Soundgarden and Alice In Chains better).

 

The little one always eats the big one

 

I second that emotion.

Pearl Jam > all others

 

This song pushes Green Day ahead of the other two. If a group can write a song this great this late in its musical career, they are freeking great.