Green Day Album: “1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours [Digipak] [Remaster”

It's rare that a young band's first album is extremely good but with Green Day, anything is possible. I wasn't expecting much from this album when I was first getting into Green Day's music, but it completely blew me away. I definitely recommend this album to anyone and if you're a Green Day fan this is a must-have.

My daughter Bailey turned me on to Green Day in 1994 when "Dookie" first came out; I was blown away and bought everything these guys have released since. But I have to diverge from Bailey's opinion on "1039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours" which she owned before "Dookie" was released (I have the 2007 Reissue). She found it raw, intense and superior to "Dookie"; I find it to be the garage band beginnings of a group that achieved mega-success through hard work, talent and determination.

These freshman songs do have the driving music that would become the band's signature, especially `At the Library', `I Was There', `16', the absolute rockin' `I Want to Be Alone', the very playful `Knowledge' and - even a ballad - `Rest'. There's also some of the humor, clever lyrics and wordplay in it's infancy; songs like 'Judge's Daughter' ("Today I kept on falling down / I thought it was the street / So I looked down at my shoes / They were on the wrong feet"), 'Dry Ice' ("I'll send a letter to that girl / Asking her to be my own / But my pen is writing wrong / So I'll say it in a song") and the signature track 'Green Day' with it's salute to self-inflicted herbal adjustment.

But most of the songs are about love gone wrong, break-ups and longings for the lover you can't have... and anybody that's been 15 years old can relate. For me it's very listenable beginner stuff. But to sweeten the deal, the CD has computer extras with Old Photos, early Flyer Art, Live Radio Performances and 3 Video Clips ("from some kid's crappy camcorder").

Essentially the CD is ok; I'm mainly interested in it as a point of reference from where they started before they perfected their sound and content. I have read opinions from others who swear that "1039 Smoothed Out Slappy Hours" is Green Day's best work and now they can't stand the band. It's all a matter of taste but I recommend anything these guys have done.

Any true GreenDay fan has heard these songs, knows the lyrics by heart, and loves it as much as any of their other albums. The music on this CD truly are the roots of GreenDay. This is where it all started, where they came from, and what they built on. A definite listen for anyone that loves the band and the way they have evolved over the years. This album really makes you appreciate what the band has done for the world of music!

I will begin by explaining my review title.

Surprisingly good due to the fact that such an early album from young guys like this shouldn't be this damn good.

(Not So) Surprisingly good due to the fact that we all know that Billie Joe Armstrong can apparently write an endless amount of catchy songs!

That being said, I basically grew up with Green Day albums, 1st hearing "Kerplunk" then of course "Dookie" and so on. Always finding something to love on each album, if there's one thing you can say about Green Day, they are consistant. Each album has worked right into the next one with a flawless attempt to become more and more serious and broad when it comes to songwriting. While all the same, never (ever) sounding quite like anybody, but Green Day, when you hear the songs you know who it is.

Well, here's where it all started, with "1039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hours", and the amazing thing is, IT'S ALL HERE (except for Tre Cool that is), but everything that makes Green Day popular is present on this early album. How as a young kid Armstrong could concoct such catchy melodies as "Going To Pasalacqua" is beyond me, that damn chorus has been in my head since the second I heard it.

Sure, upon 1st listen it might sound amateurish, and under produced, when compaired to everthing else they have done, but that is exactly the appeal of it, it's them being themselves at the time without any big production, just good old fashion garage band jamming! The only difference between this and just any old everyday run of the mill garage band, is that something golden is happening here. If listened to closely you can really hear a band that has got something different going on, in terms of how they construct a song and execute it. The passion is at the forefront and doesn't let up. They are playing like they have nothing else to fall back on, and maybe that was the case, i don't know, but it sure sounds like it here.

There are so many good songs on the album, but I place my emphasis on "Going To Pasalacqua" because it exemplifies all my points, the passion, the agression,and the catchiness! If you want a good sample of what the album has to offer, give this song a listen. If you like it, your in for a treat the rest of the album goes along that path and doesn't let up, much like the band it's self.

It's just really interesting to see where these guys came from musically. And, like I said, the fantastic thing is that these songs were written early on with out the help of big producers or commercial success, straight from the heart and gut. Bigger things were to come for Green Day, but here was the launching point.

This is one of my all-time favorite CDs. Love it. Very raw. I also love AI, Dookie and 21st. Warning is another good one and really underrated. Kind of a transitional cd. All of the Green Day cds are worth buying, but this is essential GD along with Dookie.