By Aaron Levy (CIVL DJ) – Email
Print Edition: March 7, 2012
CIVL Radio Station Manager Aaron Levy dislikes the new Green Day. Below is a Shuffle of the best songs on Green Day’s second major full-length release, 1995’s double-platinum selling Insomniac on Reprise Records.
“Brat”
This song embodies the worst of the middle class: “Mom and Dad don’t look so hot these days / they’re getting’ over the hill / I’ll just wait for Mom and Dad to die and get my inheritance.” What is this, Green Day, Bio Dome!? Some real life depiction of Hollywood’s the Green Hornet?!
“No Pride/Bab’s Uvula Who”
Part of a three song suite with “86”; the heart of Insomniac. “I am just a mutt, and nowhere is my home / To hell with unity, separation will kill us all” and “I got a knack for fucking everything up,” an SNL reference, really explains what mid-’90’s adolescence is all about.
“86”
“What brings you around, did you lose something the last time you were here?” Rhetorical questions and backhanded compliments litter this song about breaking up and making out with the goods. “You’ll never find it now, buried deep with your identity.” Deep for a punk pop band, eh? Meow, see.
“Panic Song”
This song starts off with a deep, plodding, frantic yet monotonous baseline, slicing guitars underneath, tension, momentum and pressure, all building under the anticipation of something immediate, intense and important, leading into the repeated chorus of sorts: “I wanna drop out.” Don’t panic though; they didn’t. Why would you?! Exactly.
