Alkaline Trio
Sometimes Rock groups engage in a game of "how deep is the hole you're in?" The light is above but everyone is either digging down or sideways. Unless there is a reasonably good chance of reaching China or at least Jersey, it's a futile effort. From a distance the holes may look the same but upon closer inspection there are differences. "Our hole is deeper." "Ours' is darker." The Alkaline Trio has their hole. It's a bleak and despairing place but still with hopes that things might get better.
Alkaline Trio came together in '97 with vocalist/guitarist Matt Skiba, vocalist/bassist Dan Andriano and drummer Mike Felumlee. Like countless other bands, Alkaline Trio built there reputation with a combination of indie releases ("Goddamnit" in '98 and "Maybe I'll Catch Fire" in '99) and touring. Signed by Vagrant Records, the group released their highly touted "From Here To Infirmary" which contained the single "Stupid Kid." That success lead to the Warped Tour, Pleas for Peace Tour, the Vagrant Tour and opening for Blink 182.
Felumlee split and was replaced by Derek Grant as the group began work on "Good Mourning." As the title suggests, death appears as a theme throughout but not without occasional stabs at humor like "Donner Party (All Night)" and "Every Thug Needs A Lady." There's a little light shining into their hole.
"Remains," issued in '07, was culled from a decade's worth of b-sides, rare tracks, material from split EPs and even a live track.
Early '08 turned out to be a busy time for Alkaline Trio. First came the announcement that they had returned to the studio to work on an album slated for release later in the year. Then Asian Man Records issued a 10th anniversary edition of the band's '98 set "Goddamnit." Some festival shows, an appearance on MTV's The Hills and a contest where fans submitted footage based on the lyrics to "Love, Love Kiss, Kiss" kept the calendar full. "Agony And Irony," with the single "Help Me," landed in the summer of '08.
The album peaked at #13 on the Billboard album chart. But just a few months later the band announced they'd left Epic and would release their next set, "This Addiction" on their own label, Heart & Skull, a joint venture with Epitaph Records. The title track was indicative of the album's direction.
"The song takes heroin addiction as a metaphor for love," said Skiba. "The whole record is really personal, all three of us have been through quite a bit since our last album and it is all expressed through this, all the songs are about the relationships we've been in and so the record has a constant theme.
"This Addiction" dropped in early '10 and peaked at #11 on the Billboard chart - the band's best showing to date.
There is nothing better than unadorned Punk. But too many bands try to "dress up" or dilute their core Punk sound. Not Alkaline Trio. They are an aggressive band that whipsaws through chords and emotional debris. They sing of hard times and depressing situations with rare authority.
So what's eating Alkaline Trio on "This Addiction?" Probably "Lead Poisoning." They fire through the tracks in trademark fashion. And that is what makes "This Addiction a brilliant album. No BS, just great Rock.
"Agony And Irony" always has a place for sharp guitar/bass interplay ("Into The Night") or a shot of Punk-pop ("Love, Love, Kiss, Kiss). "Help Me" has all the good things a single should have but the set's to-die-for track is "Lost And Rendered." "Live Young, Die Fast," "Over And Out" and album opener "Calling All Skeletons" are not far behind.
"From Here To Infirmary" contains a hopeful look at the hereafter with "Your Dead" and the nearly cheery sounding "I'm Dying Tomorrow." Other tracks like "Private Eye" and "Take Lots With Alcohol" are dark blasts. This stands as their most vicious effort.
"Good Mourning" continues the darkness but less relentlessly. The album opens with a pair of in-your-face tracks, "This Could Be Love" ("step one, slit my throat") and the commercial radio bashing "We've Had Enough." "All On Black" and "Donner Party (All Night)" are strong Rockers but lyrically they don't go for the jugular the way earlier songs did.
"Maybe I'll Catch Fire" and "Goddamnit" have their moments but are generally unexceptional.
When a group releases a collection of lesser known or obscure tracks it usually means "buyer beware." Regularly, these offerings are little more than a last, brazen attempt to separate true fans from their money. "Remains" is different. Here we have a band in their full-on Punk glory. Their razor sharp sound and sneering recklessness is intact throughout.