Review: Saviors by Green Day released via Reprise

The timeline told me a Green Day album was good in 2024 and I regret to inform you the timeline was right.

Part of my apprehension going into Saviors was its lead single and opening track, “The American Dream is Killing Me,” a truly abhorrent song. Here Green Day attempt to recreate the magic of past, more effective tracks they’ve put on the same stage as “American Dream,” such as the openers to American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown. It’s more or less just bad folk punk with an out of touch, wealthier view of what makes the current state of the United States so stressful and dangerous for so many diverse groups of people.


Don’t want no huddled masses, TikTok and taxes.

Under the overpass sleeping on broken glass.


And granted, a lot of the record isn’t much different, songs like “Look Ma, No Brains” are fine Green Day songs with entry level politics and they’re sort of upholding good points on a not extraordinarily thought out album. A lot of it feels like its leftist Twitter posting, well meaning but with none of the nuance.


What I can give to the band here is they do sort of re-prove themselves musically after twelve years of mid to just outright bad output. “Bobby Sox” is a fun and catchy track with a cool pop punk direction and a sweet and sentimental premise, which Billie Joe isn’t afraid to get a little gay on! “Strange Days” is another highlight wherein the band demonstrates an understanding of what made their past so bright for so many listeners and even celebrate their history lyrically. For all the good, even in the depths of it, there are also songs like “One Eyed Bastard” which, yes is fun, but also the “bada bing, bada boom” chorus is nothing to praise.


I would really love to sit here and tell you this is mid or even just above mid so badly but honestly? Right now? I think this is a good album! It pales in comparison to a lot of classic Green Day, Billie Joe continues to show he cannot, at his age, be a punk rock hero. Maybe I miss the past or maybe anything sounds good after Uno, Father of All and everything in between. Regardless, I like this new record even if just a little bit.

Our score of Saviors, is 7/10.
Our favorite track is track 3, Bobby Sox.

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