Two Alkaline Trio reviews in a row? I promise I'll review some other stuff soon, included "Wanted" next.
I've been eagerly awaiting the new Alkaline Trio album...and I must say, it's not a complete disappointment. Not the best stuff I've ever heard, but definitely not the worst. It came out a week ago, but I gave it a week's worth of listens so I could form a reasonable opinion.
If you're expecting their classics ("Goddamnit", and the self titled album), you will be disappointed. The Trio has matured since "Crimson", and their sound has slightly evolved as well. The album is reminiscent of more recent albums, with the pop/rock feel to it, as well as their usual themes: alcohol, depression, etc.
"Agony & Irony" starts out with a phenomenal track, "Calling All Skeletons", one of my favorites off the album. The high energy and wailing vocals make it a great track to lead off with. The only problem is that the album slows down significantly in the middle, so all the energy they built at the beginning is lost. The end speeds back up somewhat, which is good.
The single: "Help Me" kind of sucks. It's poppier than anything they've done, and the "Lalala"s throughout are annoying as fuck. I hated the song at first; I hate to say it's growing on me, and it is a little, but overall I'm not a fan.
The CD continues with "In Vein", a great high energy track. Plus Dan sings lead, which I generally prefer. I almost think this should have been the first single, but whatever. Track 5 is the next highlight, "I Found Away". A string of slow songs kills the energy at this point, up until track 9, "Lost and Rendered", which is another great one.
I should mention: I did get the Deluxe edition (bonus disc). The disc is worth it: nice case instead of a paper sleeve, an unreleased song ("Burned Is The House", good track), as well as 5 acoustic songs. Definitely worth the extra $5.
Agony & Irony Overall:
- Lyrically good
- Musically mediocre
- Catchy at parts, slow at others
If you like recent Trio albums, I'd recommend it.
Alkaline Trio - Agony & Irony (Deluxe Edition): 3.5/5
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