Archives:
-
- Alkaline Trio
-
- Alkaline Trio
-
- Alkaline Trio
-
- Alkaline Trio
-
- Alkaline Trio
-
- Alkaline Trio
-
- Alkaline Trio
-
- Alkaline Trio
-
- Alkaline Trio
-
- Alkaline Trio
-
- Masked Intruder
-
- Masked Intruder
-
- Masked Intruder
-
- Masked Intruder
-
- Masked Intruder
-
- Masked Intruder
Alkaline Trio – E.P.
Epitaph – Release Date: 3/19/20
Last week, Alkaline Trio released a new, three-song single, titled E.P. It was supposed to coincide with the start of a tour with Bad Religion, but with the shows postponed till fall, the band chose to go forward with the initial release date for these songs. The first entry, “Minds Like Minefields,” is led by singer/guitarist Matt Skiba and begins with ominous, echoed vocals. A rhythmic verse soon emerges, not unlike the style of their 1999 EP, I Lied My Face Off. It quickly pivots to a double-time chorus before eventually landing at an instrumental interlude. This section features ghostly backing vocals and sparse piano accents, and ultimately returns to the breakneck pace of the chorus. Overall, it’s not a typical song structure, but it illustrates how the band is freely exploring new territories and seemingly having a lot of fun while doing so.
Singer/bassist Dan Andriano takes the lead on the next song, “Radio Violence,” which sounds like a natural progression from his most recent solo LP, Party Adjacent. It finds him singing over relaxed, melodic guitar leads that easily transition to a driving chorus with layered backing vocals. It’s concisely-written and includes lyrics that talk about persevering through a tough situation, and clearly that’s something most everyone can relate to nowadays. The third and final song, “Smokestack,” is entirely acoustic and also sung by Andriano. It’s reminiscent of Tuesday, his band prior to Alkaline Trio, with lyrics that look back on his teenage years, (“Do you really believe that didn’t mean anything? / Do you really believe those days didn’t mean a thing? / Cause I’m still believing that means everything / Do you really believe those days didn’t mean a thing? / Cause I sure don’t / You made my life / You changed my life”). There’s a definite beauty in the straightforwardness of these words, which helps to make the song instantly memorable after just one listen.
With E.P., Alkaline Trio is continuing on the trajectory they’ve established since the release of their excellent and most recent full-length, Is This Thing Cursed? These three songs harken back to the band’s roots, recalling a time when they embraced more spontaneity and a carefree attitude. If E.P. is any indication as to where Alkaline Trio is headed with their next album, then fans should absolutely be excited.
Alkaline Trio @ Metro Chicago, 1/3/19
Photos by Katie Hovland
Matt Skiba and the Sekrets – KUTS
Superball Music – Release Date: 6/02/15
For their second album, Matt Skiba and the Sekrets forgo the melodic punk influences that dominated their first record in favor of power pop and ‘80s synthesizers. And that makes sense, as their first effort was comprised of leftover song ideas from Alkaline Trio, (Skiba’s primary band). This time around, Skiba wrote specifically for the Sekrets, and once again enlisted bassist Hunter Burgan, (AFI) and drummer Jarrod Alexander, (My Chemical Romance). The result is a much more collaborative album that’s brought to life with great success by producer Rob Schnapf. The record kicks off with “Lonely and Kold,” a radio-ready song that evokes hints of The Cure and is propelled by a catchy guitar lead courtesy of Schnapf. Skiba’s voice sounds clear and confident as he sings about breaking old habits and moving on to better things, a theme that emerges several times throughout the album. “She Wolf” comes next and it’s a danceable, Bowie-like tune that’s loaded with keyboards, vocal effects and the masterful bass playing of Burgan. “Krashing” is another prominent entry and features a layered arrangement, creative drumming and a memorable, monster hook. The record concludes nicely with the vulnerable, piano-laced track “Never Believe” and the nostalgic, atmospheric charm of “Vienna.” KUTS is a cohesive, listenable album that’s both inspired and well-written. Longtime fans of Skiba’s work are sure to enjoy this, as are those interested in hearing him effectively experiment with synthesizer-driven rock.
Matt Skiba and the Sekrets – Babylon
Superball Music – Release Date: 5/08/12
Babylon marks the debut of Matt Skiba’s latest solo endeavor and the results are surprisingly positive. It’s definitely his best solo release yet and arguably the most memorable record he’s made in the last ten years. Also appearing on the album are AFI bassist Hunter Burgan and My Chemical Romance drummer Jarrod Alexander, both of whom do a skilled and dutiful job, but thankfully don’t get too flashy. This is imperative because they don’t overshadow what’s most important here, and that’s the exceptional songwriting. Babylon kicks off with of “Voices” and “All Fall Down”, which represent two of the record’s strongest tracks. Both are hyper-melodic and very much in the vein of Alkaline Trio’s From Here to Infirmary. They feature inspired lyrics and a renewed vocal strength from Skiba, and fortunately those characteristics are present throughout the album. “Haven’t You?” first appeared on Skiba’s 2010 full-length Demos, but here the heartfelt ballad is enhanced with the addition of keyboards and a rhythm section. Other high points include the haunting anthem that is “You” and the huge, infectious chorus of “How the Hell Did We Get Here?” Babylon concludes with a somber acoustic number called “Angel of Deaf”, and it ranks up there with Skiba’s best stripped-down closers, like “Sorry About That” and “Blue in the Face.” All in all, this is a catchy summertime record that doesn’t lose its appeal with repeated listens. Skiba’s voice sounds great and his writing is in top form, and hopefully that carries over to the next Trio album. Those searching for quality new music shouldn’t delay in checking this out.
Follow Us
-
