American Idiot is Green Day’s seventh studio album, released in 2004. It was originally to be released in November 2003. It is the first #1 album for Green Day on both sides of the Atlantic. It is also the fourth Green Day studio album that producer Rob Cavallo has produced.        

The album was one of the most critically and commercial successful albums of 2005.This album marked the end of a commercial slump for Green Day. Many had speculated that they would find it difficult to follow up Warning, which in itself had proved slightly less popular than nimrod. This is also hinted at with the long gestation time of this album, filled in with a greatest hits album (International Superhits!) and a B-Sides album (Shenanigans).

This is likely another reason for the band’s decision to completely re-invent their style with this conceptual work. All of the album’s singles proved very popular, a feat not matched since Dookie. American Idiot has also met with critical acclaim, with critics praising its ambition and politics.

Source: Wikipedia.