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Alkaline Trio- This Addiction LP

Alkaline Trio- This Addiction LP
Alkaline Trio- This Addiction LP
SKU: 87075lp.gal
Band/Title: Alkaline Trio
Label: Epitaph
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List Price: $24.00
Price: $22.99
You Save: $1.01 (4%)
Product Details
After expanding their musical boundaries with their last two albums, Alkaline Trio is returning back to what made their music so addictive. Their seventh studio album (and Epitaph/Heart and Skull debut), This Addiction, takes cues from their dearly loved earlier records, such as Goddammit and From Here To Infirmary. The Chicago natives main goal was to make a stripped-down punk rock record while maintaining a big sound. This Addiction accomplishes this, but does it recapture the same magic first heard 12 years ago? Throughout the album, the highs are incredibly enjoyable, while the lows are brutal, just like with any addiction.

As soon as the title tracks initial guitar riff blasts through your speakers, I immediately noticed Matt Allisons production, as its definitely a throwback to early Trio recordings. It captures the vibe of the album nicely, but it will create a love/hate predicament for many fans. But dont think that the Trio doesnt throw a few bells and whistles into the mix. Horns fill the background nicely during Lead Poisoning, while the synth heard on Eating Me Alive puts a little glam into the bands gothic style. Tracks like Lead Poisoning and Dorothy capture that melodic yet menacing sound the band had perfected earlier in their career, and Dine, Dine My Darling and Off the Map have more of a pop vibe to them. The American Scream is the ideal Trio song; its totally dynamic and enthralling, and should be a quick fan favorite.

Lyrically, This Addiction features some of the bands most personal lyrics, as well using drug addictions as a metaphor for love and relationships. And just previous records, some of the lyrics are cringe worthy, while others really hit home. Also, one of the albums standouts, The American Scream, shows the band delving into politics somewhat, as guitarist Matt Skibas words were inspired by an American soldier who killed himself after returning from Afghanistan.

But with most Alkaline Trio records, fans always break it down between Skibas songs and bassist Dan Andrianos songs. Both vocalists bring something different to the table, as each voice fits certain vibes and creates a nice back and forth variety on each record. Its more of the same on This Addiction. While Skibas frantic voice sounds awesome on the title track and The American Scream, he falls flat on blunders like Draculina and Piss and Vinegar. Andriano only leads on three tracks, but sounds fantastic in each, especially in album closer, Fine.

Sometimes the problem with throwback albums is the listeners tendency to just listen to earlier work. I mean, whats going to stop you from turning this off and putting on From Here To Infirmary? Personally, the growth in musicianship from that album to This Addiction is staggering and should keep listeners interested. And while some of Skibas weakest material shows up here, Andriano really shines and picks up some of the slack.

This Addiction promises exactly what the title describes, as most older fans will eat this up. It strikes me as an album that could be polarizing to fans, splitting them into three groups: fans who love the album because it goes back to the bands roots, fans who dislike this album because they may think its is a cheap imitation of older days, and the fans who might think this is a step backwards from the previous album. One thing is for certain though: this is definitely an Alkaline Trio punk rock record, and This Addiction is my kind of relapse.
 
-Drew Beringer (AbsolutePunk.net)

 

 

Comes With Free MP3 Download Code Of Entire Album!