and in the process transcended an entire punk universe.
, however, Green Day has put a death grip on the title of World's Biggest Rock Band, and recorded a sprawling modern American epic that could very well put the band in the same league with the U2s and Coldplays of the world. Anyone who disagrees hasn't been paying attention for the past decade, watching the band slowly come to grips with their gifts as songwriters and showmen.
veers wildly through 18 tracks of John Lennon-inflected piano pop, like on "Last Night On Earth," to the Pete Townshend-approved title track showcasing the band's newfound affinity for the four-stage burner. Each song is built like a brick shithouse, with the band's signature wall of sound obscenely glazed over each.
, in fact, that one almost fears an imminent flame-out, counteracting the faith engrained in such a remarkable achievement.
Green Day drops by Toyota Center August 8 with Franz Ferdinand. Check ticket availability at www.toyotacentertix.com.