193 - Green Day - Dookie
Fun! I hadn't listened to my copy of Dookie this millennium and I realize now how much of a shame it is that I've gone that long. The energy is very infectious and the songs don't lag or become tedious as the album progresses (which can't be said for many stereotypical/hardcore-eque "punk" albums).
What sticks out to me most about Dookie is how polished it sounds. The vocals are clear and well sung. There isn't any sonic dissonance or conflict, everything is perfectly in its place. Considering the mumbling and wailing that were common in the early 90's in both grunge and shoe-gaze, for a “punk” band to have such crisp and upfront vocals that not only strive for tonality, but also occasionally includes harmonies, still strikes me a bit as odd.
And, yet, at the same time, Green Day doesn't come across as hokey or manufactured to me on Dookie. The attitude of the storytelling and lyrics help in that endeavor. The band looked the part in their ubiquitous videos at the time. If Green Day was in some other genre the polish may not be as much of a distraction. When I merely listen to the album, the polish isn't detrimental to my enjoyment. It is only when I start to rock out or I think of the band that is performing the music that I feel a little discombobulated by the production. I would really love to hear what Dookie would sound like if produced by Steve Albini. Or maybe that is part of the appeal of how this was recorded. There were certainly a bevy of home-recorded punk bands that had scratchy tapes passed around in the late 80s. How much of a difference would a raw, lo-fi version of “Longview” have to the average listener? Would the hooks and lyrical wit that people enjoy about Dookie be more obscured or missed by the change?
Songs I Knew I Liked: “Longview,” “Pulling Teeth,” “Basket Case,” “When I Come Around,” and “All By Myself”
Songs I Now Like: No new likes.
Songs I Don't Want to Ever Hear Again: None