Green Day Band • Page 82

I don't really think it's all that different from their other relatively recent records, though. Between Dos, the Longshot, and Foxboro Hot Tubs we've already heard them tread the whole "garage rock meets pop-punk" bit. Other tracks sound like subdued versions of what they did on American Idiot and 21CB without the emotional heft or story behind the lyrics ("I Was A Teenage Teenager" and "Graffitia," for example).

The biggest offenders to me, though, are the first three tracks. Those sound like they were legit written around that NHL deal for use during commercials.

I can get behind enjoying it as a fun record. That's super subjective. And more power to you on that!

But treating it like it's this great work of original, interesting art that people just don't "get" is just... I dunno. (And I understand that's not where you were coming from, but we're here and I'm on a rant now so sorry...LOL)

FOAM almost feels like their Green Album. Billie went pretty heart-on-sleeve with his addiction issues on RevRadio and people didn't react. Of course, those songs were also surrounded by a bunch of songs with different lyrical themes which didn't help... But either way. The response to that record was mostly tepid. FOAM feels like a reaction to that. "Fine, fuck it, whatever! I don't care how I feel either."

Which is also counter to the band's usual reaction to things. When people expect the least of them, that's when they usually come out guns blazing.

 

I was perfectly fine ignoring that FOAM even existed, but reading the last few posts reminded me of how cringeworthy the interviews and promo of the FOAM era were. From Kerrang: "ROCK HAS LOST ITS BALLS… WE’RE GONNA TEABAG ALL THESE MOTHER F*CKERS".

And then they released a 20 minute album with two decent songs and a bunch of Foxboro Hot Tubs b-sides.

They also used to joke about doing a lot of drugs while writing and recording this album, which is so weird and disappointing considering Billie Joe had to go to rehab not that long ago.

 

I definitely don’t go back to it the way I do Warning, Nimrod, AI, and my Cuatro version of the trilogy. I’m almost always listening to those albums.

But I do really like Sugar Youth, Graffitia, and Junkies on a High.

 

This song has grown on me quite a bit already. Here for this sound again

 

So in a nutshell, the biggest problem people have with FOAM besides some bad lyrics is the promotion/marketing that came with it? From what it sounds like, if Green Day hadn't made the deal with NHL and didn't say dumb stuff when promoting the album, maybe there'd be a chance you would have enjoyed the album more.

I guess that's the alternate universe I live in, haha. I didn't pay attention to their promo at all besides seeing a picture of that infamous billboard. I didn't read any interviews, and I don't think I really knew about the NHL thing til after the fact, and still don't even understand what the deal was, nor do I care. So I guess I just went into it all very blindly as a very moderate oldschool Green Day fan who expected the album to just sound like their previous handful, and then was pleasantly surprised that they did something different.

But maybe it's not THAT different for them since they apparently have toyed around with this sound with the Foxboro Hot Tubs? I wouldn't really know because I don't think I've ever listened to that album. Sounds like I should listen to it because I'll probably like it, if it actually does sound like FOAM stuff.

Either way though, I can understand why hardcore Green Day fans might not like FOAM. And I can understand that if you paid close attention to the marketing and promo around the album, that could have put a bad taste in your mouth. Fair enough.

However... I can't imagine a Green Day fan not loving "Sugar Youth."

But

 

Pollyanna is the first new song from Green Day that I have liked in a long, long time.

 

On track #2 of the Foxboro Hottubs album. I can see the similarities to FOAM for sure. And obviously, I'm really liking it haha.

 

Listening to RevRad while I clean up my apartment. This album rules

 

I just didn’t like FOAM because almost all of the songs were bad. The marketing was super corny, but dumb marketing isn’t going to stop me from liking good songs. The songs just.. aren’t good. They almost all sound like super boring, watered down, midlife crisis dad rock.

 

Yeah, the marketing sucked, but I don't like this album for the reasons mentioned above lol

It's not fun to me, it's not interesting. Nothing stands out at all, there's no highlights, it's just not good and huge step down from almost all their other material except some songs on the trilogy

 

FOAM is a record that is trying to chase a trend that died a deserved death in like early 00’s mainstream rock. That’s why it’s bad. And perplexing that they’d even make a record like that in 2020.

 

I mean, you're right. That song is pure Green Day. But the best parts of that song are essentially recycled moments from "She's A Rebel" and "Letterbomb." So why would I listen to that when I could listen to those songs that pull it off effectively and have better lyrics?

For me, none of what is on FOAM is original enough, emotive enough, or catchy enough to overcome the fact that it's a super talented band operating on cruise control. They have too much music in their back catalog that I love to be bothered with subpar songs.

It goes well beyond the marketing. The songs just aren't that good, for the most part. Especially the first three on the record. Those are on some Black Keys/Imagine Dragons shit that is just... Embarrassing.

 

They tried too hard to be punk rock n roll in the FOAM era. Like annoyingly too hard.

Kinda like Hawk's character in Cobra Kai. Quiet, shy, smart guy with loyal friends who gets called a wuss by a washed up alcoholic Sensei and bullies then arrives the next day as someone with scrawny swag and red mohawk who eventually breaks the arm of his only loyal friend.

 

Green Day's music broke my arm

 

Sugar Youth is fine. Nowhere near upper or even mid level Green Day, but it’s not terrible. I don’t hate it.

 

Junkies is the one I enjoy the most from FOAM

 

Foxboro Hottubs rules.

 

More importantly, there is no lyric on Stop! Drop! and Roll! that says "you can suck my c**k."

 

FOAM is awful in my opinion. The trilogy is 1000x better, if we are comparing bottom of the barrel GD releases.

 

I like The Black Keys and Imagine Dragons, so it's probably why I enjoy FOAM.

 

Oh my god this discussion is so fucking boring.

 

How are the black keys and imagine dragons in the same sentence?

 

Big, overproduced radio rock and songs that sound custom-made for basic cable TV commercials and bumpers for dramas on the Fox network.

 

“Big, overproduced songs” is not something I think many people would associate with the black keys. Whaaaaat.

 

FOAM has been relitigated on this site more than any other 2020 album. Impressive longevity, really.