dancingpotato's Full Review: Good Mourning by Alkaline Trio
Generally, a band getting media attention is good. Alkaline Trio toiled for many years on small record labels until they were finally signed to Vagrant Records. There, they released the masterful From Here To Infirmary and the single ‘Stupid Kid’ that got them some airplay on MTV. The band found popularity amongst many, thus giving them a lot more money to produce their next record, Good Mourning. This is where the problem lies. Alkaline Trio was always raw and bitter; it still is, but the new slick production (by uber-producer Jerry Finn, of AFI and Blink 182 fame) somehow betrays the band.
Alkaline Trio was formed in 1996; it is composed of Matt Skiba (guitar/vocals), Dan Andriano (bass/vocals) and Derek Grant (drums). What’s uncommon about this band is that there is no lead singer per se; Skiba is considered the frontman, but Andriano also sings quite a few songs. He sings more on this album than on any previous album, however. Alkaline Trio is basic, three-chord punk with dark, poetic lyrics that almost fall into blues at times. Good Mourning is their sixth full-length album.
The major difference this time around is that the production is slicker; the sound is more polished, and there are elements such as bells present. Otherwise, it’s still the same old Alkaline Trio.
1. This Could Be Love The album starts out with a bang with this violent, twisted song. The main riff is twisted; it almost sounds like Children of Bodom! “I don’t blame you for walking away/I’d do the same if I saw me” sings Skiba in this insanely catchy song.
2. We’ve Had Enough The first single is not really your typical Trio song. This is one of the songs that suffers the most from the new polished production; there’s bells aplenty and Circle Jerks singer Keith Morris cameos with a blood-curdling scream. A good song; it’d be even better if it’d come out on a previous album.
3. 100 Stories Now we’re heading into more typical territory. Andriano imagines himself falling down a tall building for his love (“No one could tell even if I fell a hundred stories straight down”) in this solid track.
4. Continental A very, very good song; it could be one of the best on the album. The prevailing theme of a loved one’s death is explored in this one, as Skiba wails “This bouncing baby boy’s now turning baby blue”.
5. All on Black A very strong track that is apparently the one that mirrors Skiba’s personal experience the closest. It’s once again about the death of a loved one; it’s not all that original, especially if you’re a weathered fan, but it’s very hard not to like. This song was played on Conan O’Brien last May.
6. Emma Straight-forward song, but it’s so catchy that it’ll stay in your head for days. I’ve heard that this is about a humiliating break-up that ended with one’s foot in another groin; with lyrics like “A poinsettia in poison rain/traded true love for insult and injury” it’s hard to oppose that.
7. Fatally Yours This one sounds a lot like a previous song called Keep ‘Em Coming, but that’s the only thing wrong with it. Other than that, it’s a terrific song.
8. Every Thug Needs A Lady Ignore the title, which reeks of bad gangsta rap (and is ironic, I hope) and you’ll find a solid song. This one didn’t really rub me the right way at first, but after listening to it a few times, I’ve warmed up to it.
9. Blue Carolina One of the rare lovey-dovey Alkaline Trio songs; it’s pretty good.
10. Donner Party (All Night) The humorous title is only the tip of this song’s iceberg. This is the kind of song that makes you want to sing along and jump around. Of course, I don’t do it (ahem…) but…
11. If We Never Go Inside Andriano breaks out the teen angst in this unfairly overlooked song. Practically every calls this one of the worst songs off the album; I just love it.
12. Blue in the Face The album’s sole acoustic ballad. Interesting fact: the song was not written to be acoustic. The demo versions floating around the Internet are played on an electric guitar, with the entire band chipping in. I think I prefer it that way, but that doesn’t mean that this one is bad. Besides, it ends the album on a pitch-perfect note: “Your coffin or mine?”
There’s an obvious Misfits influence running through this work; Skiba sounds more like Glenn Danzig on this album then ever before, but Alkaline Trio has an advantage over The Misfits. They haven’t turned into a bad, overplayed joke. There’s a lot more Gothic imagery on this album than ever before, maybe, but as long as the band stays in the right track, we don’t have much of a problem.
Recommended:
Yes
Great Music to Play While: Getting ready to go out
Everything the Alkaline Trio has done has been gut-punchingly great and Good Mourning can sit proudly next to those other albums without having to hov...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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