10 Most Disappointing Hard Rock Albums Ever Made

For as much as they were on top of the world, Green Day were in a bit of a dangerous situation around the mid '00s. After making their second wind as a band with the punk rock opera American Idiot, there was no way they could have possibly followed it up without it looking lackluster by comparison. Then again, 21st Century Breakdown actually looked like it had the ability to make lightning strike twice.

Going into recording with production giant Butch Vig and making another concept album, a lot of hardcore rock fans were pulling for this record to be good. What we got in its place was just a blatant re-run of American Idiot, with Christian and Gloria practically being substitutes for Jesus of Suburbia and Whatsername from the last record. That's not to say that there aren't some interesting ideas on display here though, with the whole record emphasizing more grandiose production on tracks like Viva La Gloria? (Little Girl) and Restless Heart Syndrome.

While the standout tracks from this record like Know Your Enemy and 21 Guns tore up the charts back in 2009, time has dulled the impact of 21st Century Breakdown, making it look more like a companion piece to the band's opera years than it's own unique thing. If you like American Idiot though, this will still get the job done regardless.