21st Century Breakdown is the eighth studio album by American punk rock band Green Day. It is the band’s second rock opera, following American Idiot, and its first record to be produced by Butch Vig. The band commenced work on the record in January 2006. 45 songs were written by vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong by October 2007, but the band members did not enter studio work with Vig until January 2008. The writing and recording process spanned three years and four California recording studios and was finished in April 2009. 21st Century Breakdown was released through Reprise Records on May 15, 2009. Critical response to 21st Century Breakdown was generally positive. Critics praising the album considered the composition and Armstrong’s lyrics a success; skeptical reviewers were critical of the album’s concept, describing it as vague and directionless. The record achieved Green Day’s best chart performance to date by reaching number one on the album charts of various countries, including the United States Billboard 200, the European Top 100 Albums, and the United Kingdom Albums Chart.

Other Information

• Title : 21st Century Breakdown
• Artist : Green Day
• Released : May 15, 2009
• Recorded : 2008–2009 at Ocean Way Recording, Hollywood, California; Studio 880, Oakland, California; Jel Studios, Newport Beach, California; Costa Mesa Studios, Costa Mesa, California
• Genres : Punk rock, pop punk, alternative rock
• Length : 69:15
• Label : Reprise Records
• Producers : Butch Vig, Green Day

Track Listing

1. "Song of the Century" 0:57

Act I: Heroes and Cons

2. "21st Century Breakdown" 5:09
3. "Know Your Enemy" 3:11
4. "¡Viva la Gloria!" 3:31
5. "Before the Lobotomy" 4:37
6. "Christian’s Inferno" 3:07
7. "Last Night on Earth" 3:57

Act II: Charlatans and Saints
 
8. "East Jesus Nowhere" 4:35
9. "Peacemaker" 3:24
10. "Last of the American Girls" 3:51
11. "Murder City" 2:54
12. "¿Viva la Gloria? (Little Girl)" 3:48
13. "Restless Heart Syndrome" 4:21

Act III: Horseshoes and Handgrenades

14. "Horseshoes and Handgrenades" 3:14
15. "The Static Age" 4:17
16. "21 Guns" 5:21
17. "American Eulogy" 4:26
18. "See the Light" 4:36

Tags: Green Day