20 Punk Rock Albums Turning 20 In 2020
1. Green Day - Warning
Sandwiched in between 1994's Dookie and 2004's American Idiot is this absolute gem of an album. The band had secured their place as future all time greats by 2000 and Warning was yet another consistent offering from a group who seemingly could do no wrong.
The band's sixth studio album seemed like a very mature and intelligent offering which opposed the toilet humor and pot shots the punk legends incorporated in their first few offerings.
Breakout track "Minority" was inspired by vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong's fear of democratic nominee Al Gore losing the presidential race to a more conservative candidate. The track "Blood, Sweat and Booze" touches on the world of sadomasochism and "Misery" tells the stories of a number of individuals struggling to get by.
Whether they were telling the stories of broken individuals or delving into the political world, the song's themes featured the world around the rockers instead of merely their own personal issues, a stark contrast to their earlier work.
As of 2012, just before the death of record sales and rise of streaming, Warning had sold 1.2 million copies.
Standout Track: Minority