Music & More Since 2005

Either I’m just old and terribly nostalgic for “the good old days” or the Alkaline Trio’s new album This Addiction is just disappointing or (more than likely) it’s a combination of the two. Sure, there are shades of the band I used to love, but this isn’t the same Alkaline trio that once (long ago) inspired my wife to get a tattoo of their skull & heart logo; the Alkaline Trio hasn’t been that band for quite some time and it sorta makes me sad.

I was hopeful (as always) about this new album but if I could use only one word to describe the majority of This Addiction it would be well-intentioned but failing to recapture the past. Most of the album feels uninspired and feels like the band is simply going through the motions but Ican’t fault them for that since some days it feels like I’m just going through the motions too. They’ve also stated they are trying to get back to their roots despite a dozen years of moving away from who and what they were way back then. In an attempt to get there, the band even brought in Matt Allison to produce this album (the first Trio album he’s done in a long time) but it only half works. As someone who has been a “fan” of the Alkaline Trio for almost as long as the band has existed, I feel more than qualified to critique and complain about every misstep that they’ve made including this one.

So many of the songs on This Addiction come through my speakers as empty and hollow; like a catchy melody and some words written simply for the sake of writing words. It’s less apparent here than on some of their previous releases, but at some point the Alkaline Trio seems to have become more about image than honesty. Although the band didn’t begin their career writing about puppy dogs and lollipops, it’s been about the imagery of blood, death, vampires and the like for too long in my opinion. They sound like a band stuck with their image.

The title track begins with a punch that recalls the Alkaline Trio of old but despite being uber-catchy, Matt’s vocals in the chorus just seem awkward. Really (though) it’s as good of a start to the album as I could have ever hoped for. “Dine, Dine, Dine My Darling” is a tune sung by Dan that reminds me of “My Standard Break From Life” and (like that song) it is really poppy and a bit out of place here. “Lead Poisoning” is a boring (although upbeat) song that I might as well have never heard. It’s completely unnoteworthy except for the “surprising” trumpet at the end. Thus far, whatever…

From the start, “Dead On The Floor” sounds like a classic mid-tempo Alkaline Trio song (think “San Francisco” but less aggressive) and I love it. It’s my favorite song on the album. “The American Scream” isn’t bad at all and I kinda like the song, but the title isn’t clever and it just lacks any real “oomph.” Dan’s second song on This Addiction is “Off The Map” and (being pretty typical of Dan) is one of the better songs on the record even though it perfectly illustrates just how polished and predictable this current version of Alkaline Trio has become.

It really makes me cringe to say that I really like the melody of “Draculina” because with lyrics like “in the blood and guts and the birds of prey and the stinging of bees,” and a vixen named Draculina as the main character, I can’t take it seriously. They can’t just leave well enough alone. Is “Eating Me Alive” a Heavens song adapted for Alkaline Trio? Again, it’s not terrible, just not really memorable at all. Good thing that it’s followed by “Piss And Vinegar” which is my least favorite song on the album and memorable because of that. I’m not really sure who “Dorothy” is and I really don’t care. The songs here aren’t bad, but they aren’t great. This Addiction is fine and well but it isn’t for me. My apathy is more of a comment about how I feel about the evolution of the band rather than this album in particular.

The album ends with another of Dan’s songs called “Fine” and even though (or perhaps because) it is the least Alkaline Trio sounding song on This Addiction it might just be the best one. I can certainly accept change if it’s good, but in listening to this album I just find myself grasping for things to hold onto; I find myself (more often than not) wishing I was listening to Goddamnit. I’ve accepted that Matt, Dan, and Derek have changed but I also have to accept the fact that I’ve also changed. If you’d have told me when I was 18 that I would someday love alt-country and roots music, I wouldn’t have believed you. You see, the Alkaline Trio and I have grown apart over the years and this isn’t the same band I used to love, and it isn’t fair of me to expect them to be.

MP3:
Alkaline Trio - This Addiction

It was two Fridays ago when the Mrs. and I headed downtown to catch Rocky Votolato and Josh Caterer (of the Smoking Popes) live at Schubas. It was simply amazing. Josh opened and I felt like I was one of the only people singing along to every single word. It kinda sucked and struck me as odd considering how great the Smoking Popes are, but people were talking through his entire set (as well as most of Rocky’s). C’mon people, if you aren’t out for the music, what’s the point? Anyhow, Josh played a whole bunch of old material from the Smoking Popes (including “Pretty Pathetic” request by the Mrs.), a Duvall song, and even what Josh described as a new song from what will be a new Popes album! Did I ever mention just how much I love the Smoking Popes?

Next Rocky played an impassioned set of songs old and new from his catalog and firmly cemented himself near the top of my favorite artists list with Makers undoubtedly being my favorite album of his. Check out the 5 videos below for proof.

My baby is teething like crazy and sick so I’ve been back and forth between finishing this post and running upstairs to calm her down when she starts crying. What a day…

MP3
Strung Out - Solitaire
from the 1996 album Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues
The Groovie Ghoulies - Bye Bye Brain
from the 2000 album Travels With My Amp
Allister - Jimmy's Dreamgirl
from the 2000 album Dead Ends And Girlfriends
The Leftovers - Dance With Me
from the 2007 album On The Move
Samiam - She's A Part Of Me
from the 1994 album Clumsy
Supergirls - Minus Me
from the 2000 compilation Punk: It’s All About The Orchis Factor
Crime In Stereo - Nixon
from the 2007 album Is Dead
Nooner - Second Effort
from the 1997 compilation This Is The Lehigh Valley, Not South Park
Get Bent - Ridgewood
from their 2008 demo
Rehasher - Lift
from the 2004 album Off Key Melodies

Every once in awhile I’m completely surprised by this blog. I mean, things are never dull with two kids at home, but occasionally this blog just leaves me scratching my head. For example, I never thought that I would ever review a Hungarian rockabilly group, but, folks, that day has come. The Tom Stormy Trio plays neo-rockabilly that sounds like an updated version of something almost straight outta the 1950’s. It’s really no surprise that their album is called Respect for the ‘50s. The band features Tom Stormy on drums, Buddy Benkey on double-bass, and singer-guitarist Long Tall Sonny. The music is energetic and even though I’m not a huge fan of rockabilly or garage rock I still think this stuff is pretty good considering what it is. I mean, just look at the album cover; I think these guys are serious. RIYL: Foxboro Hot Tubs, Buddy Holly, Hot Rod Lincoln, etc…

MP3:
Tom Stormy Trio - Duck Tail
Tom Stormy Trio - Red Hot Mama

Yeah, so Native just released their debut full-length, Wrestling Moves on Sargent House, but this isn’t a review of that record. I could never be that “with it” or “in the know.” Nope. Instead, I offer you a review of their We Delete; Erase EP. It features six songs of skronking algebraic post punk that balances the delicate emo of American Football or Braid with the searing punch of Faraquet, Shellac, or (maybe) Lustre King. It’s all a bit frantic but (nevertheless) kinda pretty; like watching the waves of the North Atlantic rolling across the bow of a helpless freighter. This is some seriously good stuff from some boys from just around the corner in Northwest Indiana.

MP3:
Native - Ride The Tide