#375 Green Day, 'Dookie' (1994)

Previously #193

A massively important album from my teen years. Could this possibly the first major pop punk record? I think it might very well be. It was definitely the album that launched Green Day into the mainstream and brought punk to Top 40 radio. Remarkably, this album only sold 9,000 copies in its first week. It took a few months for the album to take off, but once it did, it didn’t stop. The album has sold in excess of 20 million copies and has been certified Diamond, making it one of the biggest selling albums of all time.

I remember hearing this for the first time when a friend lent it to me when I was about 13 years old. ‘Basket Case’ was one of the most exciting songs I had heard and I can remember being astounded by Tré Cool’s drumming (to be honest, I still am). This album almost plays like a Greatest Hits record; the aforementioned song, ‘When I Come Around,’ ‘Longview,’ ‘Burnout,’ ‘She,’ honestly, I could list them all. 15 songs, most averaging around 2 minutes, clocking in at 38 minutes. It’s a perfect record. Whether you’re into this music or not, you’d be a liar if you said you’ve never air drummed to ‘Basket Case.’ They walked away with the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album and was nominated for two more.

#rs500albums