Reviews

Agony and Irony

Alkaline Trio

Released: Jul 1, 2008
Label: Epic Records
Reviewed by: Christina Parrella
2 comments

Do you want to know why Alkaline Trio is still around after twelve years? It's because they make good fuckin' music and they never disappoint. While no album will ever be as good as Goddamnit was to me, the snappy lyrics we're used to are as still there though not as edgy and bitter as they once were. Matt Skiba and Dan Andriano's haunted vocals bring the classic Trio sound to Agony & Irony and make it catchy as hell but it's still missing something. The extra dark and twisted songs such as "Radio" and "I Lied My Face Off" for example are nowhere to be found on Agony & Irony. Or perhaps it's because this album marks the band's "major" label debut on Epic Records and its last two sorta-major-label records lacked the spirit, passion and non-generic sound they delivered from 1998-2001. Is the band becoming more commercial? Possibly. But let's hope we'll never hear them on the radio played in between a Fall Out Boy and Paramore track.

Revered in the punk rock community and responsible for scores of heart and skull logo tattoos, Alkaline Trio is famous for its heavy chord progressions, sappy guitars and noxious lyrics. The first track, "Calling All Skeletons," is a hand clapping radio-friendly song. It's catchy, has a powerful melody and progresses into a memorable chorus. Skiba shines on this song as he does throughout the album with a crisp, raw edge to his voice. "Help Me," a song speculated to be about Joy Division singer Ian Curtis, starts off with a poppy burst of piano rock and blows up with a silky chorus. Skiba showcases his vocal range with high powerful croons. However the "la-la-la-la-la's" at the end are disappointing from a band that once talked about dog's shitting razor blades.

Andriano is on point on "In Vein," which starts off with a foot stomping guitar and drum beat but, like any Sony/BMG big name record, starts to sound over processed. In fact, because of my sheer 10-year fascination with the Trio, I have chosen to ignore the overproduced tracks, which number in the handful.

"Over and Out" and "Live Young, Die Fast" (which has a bad ass title reminiscent of some James Dean quote) are slow tracks that move along sluggishly, sound half-assed, and never really develop. "I Found a Way" brings back that creepy Alkaline Trio sound and puts a beguiling and enticing spin on it. Skiba's voice is murky and towards the end the song grows into a dance-rock kinda of track.

The last four tracks are classic Trio and don't let up for a second. "Love, Love. Kiss, Kiss" is bleeding with classic Trio lyrics and sounds. Andriano's daunting voice gives listeners a goth-punk track to fall in love with. "Lost and Rendered" is another return to your roots track for the band that's mysterious, raw and poetic. Even the lyrics are a throwback to the old days "Sounding the alarms inside of me. / Hoping like hell the sound cuts through the water. / And the broken trees and reaches you. / Before the creatures of the night descend on me no help in sight. / Won't be long before we lose daylight." "Ruin It" is a scorching track with upbeat, fast paced melodies. The closing song, "Into the Night," is quick and furious and showcases Skiba's impressive vocals.

We all know Alkaline Trio sound best when the lyrics sound like rants ripped from a mass murdering cannibal's journal...but here's the thing, would you rather have a watered down version of Alkaline Trio or have to hear My Chemical Romance songs all damn day long? Ok, so shut up.