Green Day Album / 1,039/Smoothed Out Slappy Hour

Release Date: April 19, 1991

1. At The Library
2. Don't Leave Me
3. I Was There
4. Disappearing Boy
5. Green Day
6. Going To Pasalacqua
7. 16
8. Road To Acceptance
9. Rest
10. The Judge's Daughter
11. Paper Lanterns
12. Why Do You Want Him?
13. 409 In Your Coffeemaker
14. Knowledge
15. 1,000 Hours
16. Dry Ice
17. Only Of You
18. The One I Want
19. I Want To Be Alone

This compilation of early indie work (1989's 1000 Hours EP, 1990's Slappy EP, and 1990's 39/Smooth LP) was a strong indicator of things to come for Green Day. Recorded on shoestring budgets, these recordings out-rocked most of the wannabe punk records that flooded record stores at the time. From the first strains of the opener, "At the Library," Green Day are off on a fast, fun ride. Some of the band's best tracks are from these early sessions--"Don't Leave Me," "Dry Ice," "16," "Rest," and "Paper Lanterns," to name only a few.

It's a hook-filled record with three-chord wonders at every turn, anchored by Armstrong's snotty-boy vocals. He captures youthful yearning, variously spitting lyrics like "I feel forgotten / Feel like rotting" and then musing out loud, "What is it about you that I adore?" Simply some of the catchiest punk rock ever made. Review By: Lorry Fleming