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With snappy, three-chord songs driven by effectively unshakable rhythms and squinty-faced vocals, Green Day have set the standard for punk-pop. Though the genre existed before their time, this Bay Area trio -- under the tutelage of Lookout! Records co-founder Larry Livermore -- helped resurrect the catchy, two-and-a-half-minute pop song. Green Day came together at a time when Berkeley, Calif., was bubbling with new bands who were blowing air into punk's gasping lungs. They quickly became local favorites, frequently playing 924 Gilman St. and helping to establish the venue's legendary status. Constant touring spread their easily digestible songs the world over, and Green Day began attracting considerable attention. Though not the first Bay Area punk band to sign with a major label, they have certainly gone on to be the biggest, a fact solidified by 2004's acclaimed American Idiot, which found them changing their punk-pop tack a bit. With more complicated structures and more than a few chances taken with their fan base, the record proved to be a success on all accounts, both commercially and artistically. In particular, the single "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," one of the band's best songs, was a major departure from the Buzzcocks-worship of their past, yet it had lyrics you could sing along with, as well as an excellent phased-out guitar sound.
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