Alkaline Trio - This Addiction
genre: punk rock, alternative rock
released: Feb. 23, 2010
label: Heart & Skull, Epitaph
I'd like to apologize for my lack of updates in the past two weeks, I attribute that to bad weather and a wave of school work recently. But I have finally gotten my hands on some albums worth reviewing lately, and I was excited to get my hands on the new Alkaline Trio album. After a string of successful punk rock anthems with their first four studio albums, ALK3 has disappointed many, including me, with their last two albums, Crimson and Agony & Irony. Both albums lack what their previous efforts had, and with their new album, they took a step in the right direction.
With their new album, Alkaline Trio produced the music along with an old hometown friend who they used with most of their earlier material (including their first three albums). The album does sound better than recent efforts, and its clearly evident throughout the album. It does have a Goddamnit-esque feel to it at many points in a few songs. The stripped down, "return to their roots" sound ALK3 is looking for is a good thing, going back to just playing punk rock instead of some of the other directions they were heading in before. And with only three songs being written by bass player Dan Andriano, most of the creativity on this album comes from band leader Matt Skiba. Skiba provides a much greater effort on this LP, with much better lyrical content and a higher wave of emotion expressed on this album.
Unfortunately, this album isn't anything special. It's not as good as their better albums, but it certainly isn't as bad as their worst material either. The tempo on this one is still much slower than the pace set in their younger years which is the biggest flaw. Punk rock is fast and loud; this album is neither. It's definitely got a punk rock feel to it, but it isn't what the band used to be, with its raw edge and constant quick pace. Maybe the band is just maturing into something different, but they need to get fast and get loud if they hope to recapture their glory days. Also, the album doesn't have any stand-alone songs. I like a few songs and I dislike a few songs, but nothing really sticks out as the song I want to keep coming back to. Along with an immediate Give Up The Ghost steal for album art, this one has plenty to complain about.
Despite the obvious flaws, this album is solid. It's more typical rock than anything else, which is easy enough to get into. This one is the middle of the road, not a favorite yet not hated album for Alkaline Trio. Nothing stands out, good or bad. This album is a step in the right direction as far as getting back to a punk rock sound, but there is still a journey ahead of the threesome if they hope to get back to their From Here to Infirmary days.
Favorite tracks: This Addiction, The American Scream
For fans of: Rise Against, The Lawrence Arms
Alkaline Trio's myspace
genre: punk rock, alternative rock
released: Feb. 23, 2010
label: Heart & Skull, Epitaph
I'd like to apologize for my lack of updates in the past two weeks, I attribute that to bad weather and a wave of school work recently. But I have finally gotten my hands on some albums worth reviewing lately, and I was excited to get my hands on the new Alkaline Trio album. After a string of successful punk rock anthems with their first four studio albums, ALK3 has disappointed many, including me, with their last two albums, Crimson and Agony & Irony. Both albums lack what their previous efforts had, and with their new album, they took a step in the right direction.
With their new album, Alkaline Trio produced the music along with an old hometown friend who they used with most of their earlier material (including their first three albums). The album does sound better than recent efforts, and its clearly evident throughout the album. It does have a Goddamnit-esque feel to it at many points in a few songs. The stripped down, "return to their roots" sound ALK3 is looking for is a good thing, going back to just playing punk rock instead of some of the other directions they were heading in before. And with only three songs being written by bass player Dan Andriano, most of the creativity on this album comes from band leader Matt Skiba. Skiba provides a much greater effort on this LP, with much better lyrical content and a higher wave of emotion expressed on this album.
Unfortunately, this album isn't anything special. It's not as good as their better albums, but it certainly isn't as bad as their worst material either. The tempo on this one is still much slower than the pace set in their younger years which is the biggest flaw. Punk rock is fast and loud; this album is neither. It's definitely got a punk rock feel to it, but it isn't what the band used to be, with its raw edge and constant quick pace. Maybe the band is just maturing into something different, but they need to get fast and get loud if they hope to recapture their glory days. Also, the album doesn't have any stand-alone songs. I like a few songs and I dislike a few songs, but nothing really sticks out as the song I want to keep coming back to. Along with an immediate Give Up The Ghost steal for album art, this one has plenty to complain about.
Despite the obvious flaws, this album is solid. It's more typical rock than anything else, which is easy enough to get into. This one is the middle of the road, not a favorite yet not hated album for Alkaline Trio. Nothing stands out, good or bad. This album is a step in the right direction as far as getting back to a punk rock sound, but there is still a journey ahead of the threesome if they hope to get back to their From Here to Infirmary days.
Favorite tracks: This Addiction, The American Scream
For fans of: Rise Against, The Lawrence Arms
Alkaline Trio's myspace
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