Warning:

The years have taught us that Billie Joe Armstrong is a tremendous pop songwriter. That he came to public attention via Green Day and the alternative rock explosion of the early- to mid-‘90s is a matter of fact. Armstrong has benefited from Green Day’s basic, primal attack. It’s put his melodies up front and allowed his recklessly funny, silly and poignant lyrics to plant themselves in our consciousness. Their mainstream success led some in the punk community to view the band with suspicion, but Armstrong never paid them any mind and kept his focus on writing the best songs he could. The occasional ballad or horn and string arrangement was to emphasize the song. Warning continues his grand tradition. The hooks are long and sharp. The title track immediately establishes itself as prime Green Day. The sashaying rhythms of “Blood, Sex and Booze” and “Fashion Victim,” the Kinks influence circling the five-minute (an opus by Green Day standards) “Misery,” the Ramones pump of “Church On Sunday,” the sing-along glee of “Castaway” all coalesce into easeful pop music in modest punk clothing.