The AMG review is a very interesting take on American Idiot.  I also heard
threads of the Who, particularly, "A Quick One While He's Away" sprinkled
throughout the extended tracks.  This is just a great album and it
might...just might... be the best album I have heard this year.

And Sam, I think you are correct in your assessment that they are one of the
best bands in the world.  I would like to add that they may also be one of
the most underrated bands in the world.  Since they are a Punk-Pop band, I
don't think they are  taken too seriously, or worse, they are lumped
together with lesser Punk-Pop bands like Sum 41 or Blink 182.   And the
hard-core punks see them as sellouts.

However, looking back at their catalog, you have to hand it to them for the
quality of the music they have released.