Maps of Music

21st Century Breakdown (2009)

Where the lyrics of 21st Century Breakdown take you, and where it was really made.

The couple on the cover were not band members or models. They were friends of a friend, kissing at a party in Eskilstuna, Sweden.

Key places

Recording at Ocean Way in Hollywood (2009)

Recording site The Music Grinder (Hollywood) — The band recorded parts of the album at Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood. The point is set at city-center level, so the exact studio building is not marked. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Recording at Studio 880 in Oakland (2009)

Recording site Studio 880 — The album was recorded at Studio 880 in Oakland, which was also where the band rehearsed in early stages. The point is set at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Additional recording at Jel Studios (2009)

Recording site Jel Studios — Jel Studios in Newport Beach hosted additional recording for the album. The point is set at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Additional recording at Costa Mesa Studios (2009)

Recording site Costa Mesa Studios — Costa Mesa Studios hosted additional recording for the album. The point is set at city-center level. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Party in Eskilstuna where the cover photo was taken (2009)

Album cover Eskilstuna — Artist Sixten said the couple on the cover were friends of a friend at a party in Eskilstuna, Sweden. The point marks the city, not a specific address. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Detroit as the album's setting (2009)

In the lyrics Detroit — The album is set in Detroit, Michigan, according to the article. The point marks the city as the setting, not a specific street. Google Maps · Apple Maps

Album story

Overview

• 21st Century Breakdown: eighth studio album by the American rock band Green Day
• Released May 15, 2009 through Reprise Records
• Concept album and rock opera, much like the previous album American Idiot (2004)
• Set in Detroit, Michigan and divided into three acts
• Themes of alienation and politically motivated anger
• Singles "Know Your Enemy" and "21 Guns" show these themes
• As of December 2010, sold 1,050,000 copies in the United States and more than 4 million worldwide

Background

• Writing began in January 2006, after extensive touring in 2005 for American Idiot
• The five-year hiatus marked the longest gap between studio albums in the band's history
• By October 2007 Billie Joe Armstrong had written something like 45 songs, many on piano
• Studio work did not begin until January 2008
• To handle the record, the band turned to producer Butch Vig
• Armstrong recorded a full-band version of The Who's "A Quick One, While He's Away" during the sessions

Recording

• Recorded with Vig throughout 2008 and into early 2009
• Four California studios: Ocean Way Recording (Hollywood), Studio 880 (Oakland), Jel Studios (Newport Beach), Costa Mesa Studios (Costa Mesa)
• The band finished the record with final touches in early April 2009

Cover

• Artwork led by Chris Bilheimer, based on a work by the artist Sixten
• The photo was snapped by a mutual friend at a party in Eskilstuna, Sweden
• Stencil style, following Banksy's Blur album art (Think Tank)
• The kissing couple was later re-created in the "21 Guns" music video

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Green Day is an American rock band formed in Rodeo, California, in 1987 by Billie Joe Armstrong and Mike Dirnt.
• Drummer Tré Cool joined in 1990, and the band has mostly been a power trio since.
• Before taking the name Green Day in 1989, the band was called Sweet Children.
• The band emerged from the late 1980s and early 1990s Bay Area punk scene centered on 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley.
• Early releases came through Lookout! Records, including the debut album 39/Smooth (1990).

Career

• Dookie (1994, Reprise Records) became a breakout success and sold over 20 million copies in the United States.
• Green Day is credited with reigniting mainstream interest in punk rock.
• Insomniac (1995) and Nimrod (1997) reached double platinum; Warning (2000) was certified gold.
• American Idiot (2004), a rock opera, found popularity with a younger generation and sold six million copies in the US.
• The trilogy ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, and ¡Tré! was released in 2012; it did not match earlier commercial success.
• Later albums include Revolution Radio (2016), Father of All Motherfuckers (2020), and Saviors (2024).
• A stage adaptation of American Idiot opened on Broadway in 2010 and received three Tony nominations.
• The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2015, its first year of eligibility.
• The band has sold roughly 75 million records worldwide as of 2024 and won five Grammy Awards.

Reception

At release

• Critical response was positive, though it was generally seen as inferior to American Idiot upon release
• Dan Silver of The Observer awarded the record four stars out of five
• Rolling Stone's David Fricke called it a compound bomb of classic-rock ecstasy, no-mercy punk assault and pop-song wiles
• Dan Cairns of The Times praised the album for aiming insanely high and reaching the summit
• BBC's Chris Jones wrote that too many buzz words obscure incisive meaning
• Steve Kandell of Spin wrote that the humor of American Idiot was sorely missed
• Alexis Petridis of The Guardian wrote that the storyline becomes impossible to follow
• Robert Christgau of MSN Music panned the album
• Adam Downer of Sputnikmusic called it more conceptually vague and ridiculous than American Idiot
• Metacritic reported a rating of 70/100 based on 30 critical reviews

Reappraisal

• It has since gained a cult following
• Kyle Ryan at The A.V. Club gave the album a B+, noting it as going bolder than American Idiot
• Ryan wrote that Green Day should never be underestimated
• In 2023, Louder's Paul Brannigan put the album on a list of terrible punk albums with one classic song

Records

• Debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 215,000 copies in its first week
• Fell to number two in its second week with 166,000 copies
• Reached Gold status for 500,000 copies in the U.S.
• Spent three weeks at number one on the Billboard Top Rock Albums chart
• Debuted at number one in the UK, selling 79,770 copies in its first week
• Debuted at number one in Canada, selling 30,000 copies in its first week
• Debuted at the top of sales charts in 24 countries, peaking at number one on the European Top 100 Albums
• Won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album at the 52nd Grammy Awards, January 31, 2010

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Walmart refused to sell albums with a Parental Advisory sticker and asked for a censored edition; the band refused.
• The cover art showed a marked similarity to Blur's 2003 album Think Tank, itself a stencil by Banksy, except that one had the couple wearing diving helmets.
• David Bowie is credited as a songwriter on "21 Guns" to avoid a potential plagiarism lawsuit.
• Armstrong kept his lyrics closely guarded and intentionally mixed his demos so that the vocals were low in the mix.
• The special edition vinyl was limited to 3,000 copies, with three 10-inch records, one for each act.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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