Anyone doubting Green Day's current popularity 15 years into their career might need reminding that, despite not having released a record since 2000, they headlined the final day of this year's Reading Festival. The Berkeley trio's upbeat, poppy punk—equally indebted to The Kinks as The Ramones—shows no signs of fatigue, but has now been put to blantly political use. Hingeing on two five-part epics, American Idiot deals with the disillusionment and despair of the USA post-9/11, but fans will be relieved to know that although it pulls few lyrical punches, slam-dancing is still possible.

SAVE A THIRD!
WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE TO UNCUT!