Is "American Idiot" the "London Calling" of my gen.

[rebel_yell]

well is it? it's certainly the best punk record of the last 10 years. but does it rank anywhere near the immortal Clash classic?

[Goldmund]

1. Can't say it does.

[salvorhardin]

2. I'd say no...

...but I'm highly biased being in that previous generation.

[etherealtruth]

6. I must agree ... much to the horror of my kids n/t

[bennywhale]

3. Not a Chance

[flvegan]

4. Don't compare. Just enjoy.

To every person, a different meaning. Whatever gets your blood boiling, your mind working and your fist in the air.

American Idiot is awesome. 20 years from now, folks will be suggesting the same thing you are now. Ride the wave...

[gater]

5. Perhaps equal in stature, eventually...yet different due to the times.

And I won't go into all that. But loads of people in '79-80 though that London Calling was sell-out. Even the band members had reservations about it. It certainly lacks the edge that, say, Sandinista has, but it was one of the major albums of that era, punk genre or otherwise.
American Idiot is a much grander work, more like The Who's Quadraphenia than London Calling. In twenty or thirty years, I believe that Green Day's Idiot will show that it is one of the best albums of the first quarter of the 21st century, and marked a return of music with a message to the mainstream. It is amazing that it's had so much CHR air play!!!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

7. It's a great record; but it doesn't touch the Clash