Green Day – Insomniac

Green Day followed up Dookie with Insomniac, their 2nd major label album but 4th overall. It came out on October 10, 1995, and though it had only been just over a year since Dookie, Insomniac already showed a major stylistic change for the band. Up until that point, Green Day has been known for their catchy, pop punk songs about boredom and girls. They were seen as fun-loving jokesters not to be taken too seriously. But they also became ostracized from the punk community from which they had risen, and were seen as sell-outs and posers. Their music wasn't "punk" enough. So Green Day responded by making the most aggressive and punk album of their career. The songs on Insomniac are noticeably darker and more raw, tackling tough subjects like drug use and being cut off from your home. "Geek Stink Breath" was the first single, followed by "Stuck With Me," the big hit "Brain Stew/Jaded," and the lighter "Walking Contradiction." Insomniac didn't sell quite as well as its predecessor, but it did solidify Green Day's fan base.  

Highlights on Insomniac include "Brain Stew," "Walking Contradiction," "Stuart And The Ave.," "Geek Stink Breath," and "Westbound Sign."