Album of the Day

Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong described 21ST CENTURY BREAKDOWN as a “snapshot of the era in which we live as we question and try to make sense of the selfish manipulation going on around us.” That makes the Reprise collection a sequel of sorts to breakthrough album AMERICAN IDIOT; produced by Butch Vig, the set is a rock opera in three parts following a young couple's struggles in Bush-era America. If the lyrics are among the most personal Armstrong has written, they're woven into some of the trio's catchiest songs - “Know Your Enemy,” “21 Guns” and the title track among them. Released ten years ago today, the chart-topping 21ST CENTURY BREAKDOWN earned a Grammy Award for Best Rock Album, and its passion and ambition continue to inspire listeners.