Review → Alkaline Trio – Agony & Irony (2008)
Alkaline Trio - Agony and Irony
I always find myself surprised that Goddamnit only came out in 1998. And it surprises me just as much to realize that 1998 was ten years ago. Has it really been that long? Clearly, I’m getting old. At any rate, it’s been ten years since the Alkaline Trio released their debut LP, and in addition to a deluxe reissue (still on Asian Man Records- props to Mike Park), Chicago’s dark trio have given us a brand-new full-length. Of course, comparisons between then and now and inevitable.
First off, long-time fans of Alk3 will have noticed that their punk tendencies have lessened over the years following their trio of Asian Man releases (Goddamnit, Maybe I’ll Catch Fire, and the self-titled compilation). So anyone entering into this album expecting some full-throttle, alcohol-drenched punk rock hasn’t been paying attention.
That said, there’s a lot to like here. Matt Skiba has grown as a songwriter over the years, and here he turns in a number of excellent songs. The first single, “Help Me,” is a poppy tribute to Joy Division’s Ian Curtis. Opener “Calling All Skeletons” rocks as hard as any of their post-Asian Man material (this is not the backhanded compliment it seems; some of my favorite Alk3 songs come from From Here to Infirmary and Good Mourning). And closer “Into the Night” is a definite highlight of the album.
The vocals as usual are split between Skiba and bassist Dan Andriano, with the majority going to Skiba. Andriano shines on “In Vein” and the underrated “Love Love, Kiss Kiss,” with Skiba coming in on the bridge. The latter song utilizes both of their vocal stylings perfectly, and the song really grows on your after a couple of listens.
The album is not without its share of clunkers, or just songs that don’t work as well as the others. “Lost & Rendered” and “Ruin It” aren’t bad, and I tend not to skip them, but they don’t leave an impression. After several listens through this album, I’ve absorbed a lot of the lyrics by osmosis, but these two escape me. You can’t win ‘em all, Matt.
Despite criticism from their fanbase about how they’ve lost their edge, the Alkaline Trio has released another strong album, picking up from the somewhat lackluster Crimson. Fans of the band will no doubt enjoy this latest effort from Chicago’s morbid threesome.
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