Alkaline Trio-Agony & Irony Review
Posted by Dan Marsicano on 06.30.2008
Chicago punk band Alkaline Trio return with Agony & Irony, their sixth album and first major label release. Can Alkaline Trio follow-up on the success of Crimson?
The Band
Matt Skiba-Vocals, Guitar
Dan Andriano-Vocals, Bass
Derek Grant-Drums
The Track Listing
1. Calling All Skeletons-3:18
2. Help Me-3:44
3. In Vein-3:56
4. Over And Out-3:13
5. I Found A Way-4:00
6 Do You Wanna Know?-3:36
7. Live Young, Die Fast-4:13
8. Love, Love, Kiss, Kiss-3:25
9. Lost & Rendered-3:22
10. Ruin It-3:36
11. Into The Night-3:22
The Review
Chicago punk band Alkaline Trio has spent a decade crafting album after album of solid material that has amassed the band a ton of fans. While the band hasn’t topped the charts yet, they could be posed to do so with their sixth album, Agony & Irony, which is also their first album on Epic Records. Being on a major-label can have a major effect on a band’s sound, and Alkaline Trio is no different. Fans on their MySpace page and on internet forums have been mixed so far on the album, but then again, their fans seem to be mixed on almost all of their past albums. Agony & Irony is a far cry from any of their previous material, with a more mainstream sound that relies on catchy melodies and choruses. That isn’t to say that the Alkaline Trio of old is dead; their earlier sound is still around, just hidden away, only coming out at brief parts of Agony & Irony.
“Calling All Skeletons” is a powerful opener to the album, with the band using hand claps and tight vocals from Skiba to drive the song to a way-too-catchy chorus that just screams “sing along.” The song is a good way to open the album up, and single “Help Me” follows suit with a more melodic sound, full of “la la la’s” and driving guitar. The song is based on the movie “Control,” about the life of Joy Division front man Ian Curtis, who committed suicide in 1980 before the release of the band’s second album Closer.
The first half of the album continues in a similar fashion, with Matt and Dan switching vocals on a few songs, not unusual for Alkaline Trio, and mostly staying mid-paced with upbeat melodies, dark lyrical content, and even some keyboards strategically placed. In some of the songs, like “I Found A Way,” there is a more hopeful vibe brought across in the lyrics. It could be because the band members are in a place in their lives where death and depression seem “boring,” or it could be the fact that the band members are in their 30’s, but the album benefits from having a more uplifting message, while retaining the dark sound of old.
Starting with “Live Young, Die Fast,” the album starts to buckle under its own weight. The songs go a bit slower, get more repetitive, and sound like the band is on auto-pilot. It’s a real shame too, as it kills any momentum that the first half was able to build up. The band might have realized this too, as the last three tracks are fast numbers that more than make up for the lackluster middle section. Alkaline Trio sounds full of energy, full of life for the first time on the whole album, sounding like the Trio of old, just with better production. The last ten minutes of Agony & Irony doesn’t let up or let you catch your breath. If the whole album was like the last three tracks, it might have been a modern day punk classic. Some might say that it could have rivaled Goddamnit.
Actually, now that I think about it, I’m glad that the band didn’t do that. Yes, Goddamnit is a great album, and one that put the band on the map in the underground punk community, but what Alkaline Trio is doing with Agony & Irony is construct 40 minutes of punk-pop that has elements of their old sound, yet progressing towards something that can broaden the appeal of the band. At least they didn’t pull a Green Day and write a concept album and go all “I hate Bush” on us.
Matt Skiba continues to hone in his vocals, mixing a lower, sinister tone and a high-reaching clean tone. Dan Andriano and Derek Grant continue the solid rhythm work that the band is known for. Andriano sings on a few tracks, with my personal favorite being “Do You Wanna Know?” His falsettos are impressive, as is his vocal interplay with Skiba.
Agony & Irony takes time to seep in and is an album that will not appeal to every fan of Alkaline Trio. Some of you will listen to it once, wish for the glory days of Goddamnit, and let it collect dust. Others will give it a shot, think it’s decent, and only pull it out occasionally. Most fans will enjoy it and see it as another step in the progression of Alkaline Trio. I lie in the middle category, as Agony & Irony is a good album, but definitely not one of the band’s best. I wish the album was as full of energy as the first two, and last three, tracks were. In a recent interview I did with Matt Skiba, he said that he was proud of the album, as was the rest of the band. While long-time fans may turn their backs on Agony & Irony, I think that the album will gain them new ones, and hopefully, finally give them the publicity and success that they deserve.
The 411: Agony & Irony will not please every Alkaline Trio fan, but it is a solid album that continues the progression that was present on Crimson. There aren't any slow songs, as on the previous release, and the band eases more into a punk-pop sound at times, but the band still knows how to write a song. The choruses are catchy, the lyrics are dark with some moments of light on display, and the album ends on a high note, with three back-to-back-to-back tracks that are quick and furious. Agony & Irony is a grower, but one that awards the person who is patient enough to let it sink in.
