Goddamnit Review

One album I will always associate with pop-punk greatness is Alkaline Trio's first studio release, "Goddamnit". The band's lineup at the time of recording was Matt Skiba, Dan Andriano, and Glenn Porter (Who would later leave the band). Together they created a thrashing, catchy and raw album that caught the attention of many with its intelligent lyrics, speaker shattering guitar work, and addicting choruses. Although the record is relatively short, coming in just over thirty minutes, it's full to the brim with everything you'd expect from a great punk album and more. Sit down with your expectations high -- Or maybe even a head full of anger and a shattered heart for an intensified experience -- and be ready to experience Alkaline Trio at their best.

The opening track, "Cringe", wastes no time with a subtle introduction. Within seconds we're plunged from silence into a delicious mess of guitar, bass and drums. How better a way to start an album then immediately diving into the grungy display of Matt's scratchy vocals, the quick, but repetitive guitar work and Dan absolutely shredding on the bass? This would soon be known as the Trio's formula for each catchy song they've produced over the years and it works fantastically throughout all of "Goddamnit". From there we're taken to our next number which begins appropriately with police sirens, pounding drums, a great bass line and a distortion-laden pick slide. "Cop" is another quick, addicting song which again shows how great the Trio are at what they do. Matt's voice is clean and sings his ever-clever lyrics with an intense anger that he performs so perfectly. This style is repeated numerous times throughout the record, but never once does it feel stale. It's always an invigorating listen, especially when you're angry and feel like screaming at the top of your lungs, the Trio has a style with angry songs that is always flawlessly executed.

Among the fast-paced angry numbers there are also the emotional tracks, which are just as good, if not better in their own respect. "San Fransisco" shows us Skiba at his best. The heart-wrenching lyrics about his homesick feelings for his hometown give us an insight to his emotions that is rare to see so vividly in music today. His voice is just the perfect intensity to show how truly heartbroken he is and how raw the passion for what he's singing is. Skiba appears with another emotional song on the album's acoustic conclusion, "Sorry About That". Here we're shown again that Skiba has a soft side outside of the songs about drugs and anger. The vocals are flawless once again for what he's singing. He really has a way with letting his emotions flow out through his music.

I'm of course not forgetting another key player in Alkaline Trio's success on this album. Dan Andriano is ever-present with his gruff bass shredding on each fast-paced song, giving us wonderful ear candy when he's not being drowned out by Skiba's relentless guitar. He first appears as vocalist on his slow, emotional number, "Enjoy Your Day". Although this track slightly dulled the pace that was set up by Skiba's previous tracks, it is still a great, emotionally vivid track. Andriano, much like Skiba, wonderfully portrays his emotions through his singing. Each note stings with an obvious sadness that only Andriano could make you feel. The next track we hear him on is his faster number, "Message From Kathlene". Though not as emotionally effective as his last, this is still a solid track; His bass prominently appearing with a sweet line throughout.

During the course of the album we're shown Skiba's intelligence as a writer. He gives us wonderful metaphors (Mostly focusing on drugs and alcohol) and witty quips which set him apart from many of his punk competitors. On songs like "My Little Needle" and "As You Were" he gives us the insanely catchy rhythms along with his clever writing to create some of the best tracks on the record. On the other side of this, Andriano's writing isn't nearly as cryptic but is still effective in it's own regard; though you can't say he had as much of a chance to have an impact with only 2 tracks to himself.

"I'll come down and get you high/Or maybe sing you a lullaby/Sing you to sleep, a sleep you'll never wake from/Sing you to coma so to speak"

For the Trio's first full release this is an absolutely superb effort. We're served wonderfully rough, emotionally fueled songs from start to finish. It has an almost unstoppable pace, only losing momentum a few times along the way, making this an album to easily become entranced in. This will remain one of my favorite pop-punk albums available and would highly recommend it to anyone who is at least slightly interested in intelligent writing, gruff music, and of course those ridiculously catchy rhythms.

This Addiction Review

Since the release of their 2008 record, "Agony & Irony", Alkaline Trio has undergone several changes. The punk group originating from Illinois have taken on their own record label, Heart & Skull, leaving behind their major label, Epic, as well as making a so called "Return to roots,". Whether this self-proclaimed resurrection of past styles is legitimate or rather a ploy to bait in older fans lies solely in the music of their newest release, "This Addiction". There was plenty of build-up for the album, vocalist and guitar player Matt Skiba stated several times that this record would be reminiscent of their earlier work. They even went as far as to return to the recording studio used for their first full length album, "Goddamnit". Is this truly a return to punk glory for the trio? Let's observe their latest creation.

As the album starts we're immediately introduced to the first single of the record, also being the title track, "This Addiction". This is the quintessential song to show the bands (Somewhat) return to their former sound. It has everything you've come to expect from Skiba -- Drug metaphors, catchy rhythms, and some simple guitar chords to string it all together. There is no denying this song's catchy factor; It's simple and addicting (pun very intended). Along with that, it also shows Skiba's repetitive and dare I say laziness as a writer on this album. The drug metaphors are nothing new -- Any Trio fan having come to expect them -- But these lack the cleverness we've also come to expect from him. This is seen once again on the third track, and Skiba's second of eight songs on the record, "Lead Poisoning". Besides it's sickening catchiness, and the surprisingly great use of a trumpet, this song is nothing special. Using the common broken-hearts, bitterness, and death filled lyrics to a catchy rhythm that can be found in almost any Trio song to bring forth an almost solid track; If only the lyrics had a bit more substance.

"Sobbing softly, lost and hollow/This fevered dream, tough pill to swallow"

The way I've introduced this has brought us to a shaky start for the record, but it's not all bad news. In fact, there are indeed some solid tracks delivered by Skiba. The fifth track of the record, "The American Scream", is a good song about a soldier's suicide after his return from Iraq. This is possibly Matt's best on the album, portraying the situation successfully with his descriptive lyrics. The next Skiba song that caught my attention sounds as if it could be a missing track from his side project, Heavens. "Dorothy" is incredibly reminiscent of "Anabelle" from Heavens' 2006 release "Patent Pending". I suppose you could say that about just any song by the Trio that includes a female name in the title, though.

I feel like I'm missing out on something here... Oh yeah! Dan Andriano! He's on the record too! With a whopping three songs out of the eleven on the album I almost forgot about him. Though, that isn't to say that his songs were forgettable -- In fact they were far, far from that. Andriano presents some of the best songs on the record, and I hate to admit it, but I don't think the album would have been half as good without his contribution. The second track is where we first hear Dan on lead vocals. "Dine, Dine My Darling" is a catchy song with good lyrics and, of course, Dan's wonderful vocals. He sounds consistently crisp throughout the record, which is refreshing with eight tracks of Skiba's not-so-savory pipes. Four tracks later Dan shows up with "Off The Map", another great song which has seamless flow and is one of the catchier tracks.

"I loosen my lips and the truth slips out/A free ride on a forked tongue/This twine of trust is unspun"

As the conclusion, and best song on the record, we are served Dan once again. "Fine" is possibly the best song Dan has written thus far. The ability to make a song extremely emotional, cleverly written, and catchy all at once is something that the Trio has perfected. Of course, you must compliment Andriano's vocals once again, showing that he is indeed the star of this album. It gives us a wonderful conclusion to a record that I was iffy about during the process of listening to, almost redeeming some of the mistakes on earlier tracks. This will no doubt be a fan favorite, and will be on repeat for me for quite some time.

"If I'm the captain of this boat then all my shipmates are fools/And all the stars in the world couldn't help me steer my way out of this kiddie pool"

I'd say this is a decent record at best. There are blatant weak spots brought by some of Skiba's weakest writing thus far -- And there are some high points, brought by a few Dan songs and the addictive factor of Matt's. Is this a return to former glory? I wouldn't say that at all, but it's a definite nod to their older material. It's a fine effort, but not quite up to par of what the band is capable of. Is it worth your money? Yeah, I'd say so. It has plenty of catchy songs and singalong chorus' to keep you humming them for a while. For older Trio fans, I'd say check it out. And, of course, if you've never listened to the Trio before. What are you waiting for? Seriously.