Parents need to know that although the members of Green Day love the word "s--t," as well as a bit of violent imagery and a perpetually depressed world view, their music comes across as sounding, well, sort of cheerful and perky. Some violent lyrics: "I'm taking all you down with me/explosives duct taped to my spine/Nothing's gonna change my mind/I won't listen to anyone's last words/there's nothing left for you to say/soon you'll be dead anyway."

Families can talk about Green Day's long career, and what has -- and hasn't -- changed (both in music and in the world) since this album was released almost 15 years ago. Why is this group still considered important, when others come and go? Read the lyrics to "Coming Clean" ("Seventeen and strung out on confusion/trapped inside a roll of disillusion/I found out what it takes to be a man/Mom and Dad will never understand"). What do you think they mean? Are there things in your life you are sure your parents couldn't possibly understand?