By Alex Kantarelis

When Green Day announced that they’re releasing not one, but three new albums, I wasn’t sure what to expect. It is a totally fresh idea, and I was real curious as to which direction all the new material would take. In the early 90s, the band toured relentlessly and had a rabid underground following. They became so big, that by the time 1994s Dookie came out on a major label, many of their fans turned their back on the band, dubbing them sellouts. They continued their power chord driven pop punk sound on their next few albums, before deciding to evolve with 2004’s epic American Idiot. Sure enough, all the haters started saying that Green Day had sold out yet again. After 10 years of being on a major label, headlining arena tours, stadium tours and festivals, people were hating on the band for changing their sound. But American Idiot had launched them to a new high. They were the biggest band in the world, even though the “punk fans” seemed to hate them. Their follow up, 21st Century Breakdown followed the same routine, with its epic piano driven ballads. The haters were in full internet hate mode, calling them the worst punk band of all time. Keep in mind that Green day now had now been together for nearly 20 years. Obviously their sound would have to evolve.

So here we are, in 2012, and Green Day has decided to do something new. Three albums, which in reality serve as one mega album. ¡Uno! is the first part in the trilogy, and showcases a stripped down, back to basics Green Day. Instead of ballads and piano driven operas, the album is 12 tracks of pop-punk songs similar to the sound of the Kerplunk, and Nimrod albums. Green Day fans should be thrilled, but for some reason the internet has gone crazy yet again. The same haters that wished Green Day would would play songs like their earlier albums are now upset that they are playing songs like their earlier albums. I simply don’t understand the contradiction here.

¡Uno! kicks off with “Nuclear Family,” a guitar driven song that could have very easily been straight off Kerplunk. Catchy chorus after catchy chorus, the band continues to keep the three chord formula working song after song, Track 5, “Kill the DJ” is the first song on the album that really mixes things. It’s a lot more dance-happy than most Green Day songs, and is one of the best on the album. The super catchy f-word filled chorus will have you singing along in the car, and have you wishing it would be played at a club. What could be more punk rock than asking the club goers to kill the DJ for playing a Green Day song instead of some Bieber song.

Another stand out track is “Fell For You,” which is incredibly simple but also incredibly sincere. Again, it sounds like it would fit right in with the Kerplunk era. They end things with the only “ballad” on the album, “Oh Love,” which is a perfect closer. The drums take over as the song somehow manages to be heavy while still being a ballad.

To all the haters, get over it. Just because Green Day is bigger than your average garage band is no reason to hate them. And stop using silly arguments, because at this point you have all contradicted yourselves. You can’t get mad at a band for evolving their sound, and then get even more mad when they go back to the basics. If you are a fan of good music, check this album out. If not, just believe all the internet hype and skip it. You’ll be sorry you did. I can’t wait to hear the next two installments (¡Dos! – due out in November, and ¡Tre! – out in January).