In 2004 Green Day released American Idiot, and their new album is called 21st Century Breakdown, so it's probably safe to say that their artistic feelings about the Aughts aren't positive ones. 21st Century Breakdown comes to us a concept album split into three parts, which is pretty unsurprising considering the dramatic weight of the title. The three sections are Heroes and Cons, Charlatans and Saints, and Horseshoes and Handgrenades (guess the thematic axis of that last section spins on "almost?"). It's good to see that despite all of the mindboggling success, the trio has kept their sense of duality intact.

Speaking to USA Today, singer Billie Joe Armstrong said about the album, "We could take a sideways step or go back to our roots. We chose to move forward. It's about reflecting what's been happening the past three years and putting it to melody with some bold statements." Hence the "breakdown" part.