Warning continues the trend of the band's recent work. The singing is a little slower, the guitar is a little less heavy. Billie Joe also seems less concerned with attitude, coming across as unpretentious and good natured. The songs are not the more nuanced pop Armstrong seems capable of. They're pretty basic but dependably likeable.
Warning is a good, straight forward record.
Warning is hardly a major break for Green Day. Most of the songs are like one of their earlier ones. There are some slower rockers, with shuffling drums and a sturdy Mike Dirnt bass line, that resemble Redundant or Long View. The title track is pleasantly unassuming rock that cites terms we grew up with, like this is only a test and keep out of reach of children, that hint at dangers all around us. Blood, Sex and Booze is such an amiable rocker that its tale of a masochist who enjoys being tied up hardly seems threatening.