Cash Grab Honouring the Punk Pioneers' Early Career - A Review of Green Day's BBC Sessions

BBC Sessions is a compilative live record by American punk rock legends Green Day, recorded in four different sessions between 1994 and 2001, and focusing on the band's material from its second studio record Kerplunk in 1991 to its sixth album Warning in 2000. Each recording at the Maida Vale Studios in London is presented chronologically and features four different songs. In a certain way, this release serves as a greatest hits compilation of the band's early years.

On the positive side, the production sounds vibrant, organic and energetic. The band chemistry is very solid. The group members and producers occasionally make a few remarks between songs. The track list featues well-known classics such as catchy punk rock anthem ''Basket Case'', dynamic, fast and rebellious ''Geek Stink Breath'', catchy, melodic and romantic ''Redundant'' and harmonious, longing and soft ''Waiting''. This release however also offers some deep cuts such as the release's earliest tune ''Two Thousand Light Years Away'' and ''Church on Sunday'' that finds the right balance between dynamic anger and quirky melodies.

On the negative side, one can't help but consider this release a cash grab. Instead of coming around with a new live album recorded right before the ongoing pandemic, we are offered material that has been kept in archives for more than two decades. Green Day is known to perform best with an audience in front of the stage which isn't the case for these studio recordings that sound a lot less enthusiastic, immersive and revolutionary. Some of the classics aren't performed as well as on the studio records, most notably ''When I Come Around'' that starts on a low note that lacks energy as punk rock spirit is replaced by unnecessary simplicity.

At the end of the day, Green Day's BBC Sessions is for undconditional collectors and faithful fans only. The release with its sixteen tunes and running time of forty-eight minutes is entertaining while it lasts but doesn't leave a deeper impression. The band's best live album by a mile remains Bullet in a Bible but a new live recording featuring tunes from the band's last five albums would be a good idea for the near future.

Final Rating: 60%