February, 2024 - Jaded In Chicago - Music News, Interviews, Features, and more

02.15.24

Last fall, Chicago’s Chicken Happen released their fourth full-length, the aptly-titled Chicken Happen IV. We recently spoke with singer/keyboardist Lilly Choi and talked about the album’s writing process, which led to a significant stylistic shift for the band. For the first time ever, they opted to write on piano, as opposed to guitar, resulting in a record that blends a variety of genres into an especially cohesive effort. The band’s lineup is rounded out by bassist Zack Hjelmstad and drummer Mark Gianforte, and the album also features guest vocal and guitar contributions from longtime friend Chris Sutter, (Meat Wave, Truman & His Trophy). Additionally, we conversed with Choi about what enabled her to embrace this change in style, the lyrical journey of the record, their plans for 2024 and more.

Alkaline Trio – Blood, Hair, And Eyeballs

02.02.24

Rise Records – Release Date: 1/26/24

Last week, Alkaline Trio released their tenth studio album and first for Rise Records, titled Blood, Hair, And Eyeballs. It marks the first time since Maybe I’ll Catch Fire that the band wrote the majority of the record in the same room together, and this approach proved to be highly beneficial. Despite it being over five years since the release of their last full-length, Alkaline Trio has returned sounding energized and laser-focused.

The album kicks off with “Hot for Preacher,” which is built around a ripping, metal-inspired guitar riff. It’s a fast-paced opener that’s meticulously arranged, but the band sounds very much at ease regardless of the complex structure. “Meet Me” features a rhythm-heavy verse that has a nice interplay between the bass and drums. Its airy chorus is unapologetically catchy, while the lyrics paint a picture of a not-too-distant dystopian future. “Versions of You” finds singer/bassist Dan Andriano assuming lead vocal responsibilities and starts off unhurried, but builds to a frantic chorus. Its peak comes when the vocals shift from Andriano to singer/guitarist Matt Skiba, only for Andriano to return with both vocalists providing overlapping leads as the song ends.

“Bad Time” presents a bouncy verse with a pronounced, palm-muted guitar lead. Drummer Derek Grant leads the charge on this track, providing creative and powerful drumming throughout. It also boasts a superb vocal performance from Skiba and is likely the biggest jam on the record. “Break” begins with definite shades of Good Mourning, set against a chorus that’s hyper-melodic. There are seamless transitions from verse to chorus and back again, making this song feel as though it was written in a very natural manner. The title track is an example of the band not overthinking it and just having fun. It has a huge, sing-along chorus and the accompanying video sees the band fighting zombies in a skatepark and even has a cameo from skating legend Steve Caballero.

The album concludes with “Broken Down in a Time Machine,” a straightforward Danny entry that sounds like it could’ve easily been included on From Here to Infirmary, and “Teenage Heart.” The latter is especially haunting, with lyrics that critique the gun violence epidemic and opioid crisis in America, (“All I want for Christmas is an AR-15 / My stocking stuffed with fentanyl”). The song again observes Skiba and Andriano trading lead vocals, but fittingly draws to a close with both singing in unison.

Blood, Hair, And Eyeballs is arguably the strongest Alkaline Trio album since 2005’s Crimson. It was recorded at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 with Grammy award-winning producer Cameron Webb and sounds phenomenal. It’s also Derek Grant’s final recording with the band, as they split amicably after completing the record, and he more than did his part to go out on a high note. This album illustrates that not only is Alkaline Trio back, but that they still have plenty of new ideas and a lot left in the tank.