Alkaline Trio - Agony & Irony

This is Alkaline Trio's sixth studio album so they have firmly planted themselves in the pop-punk-rock camp and definitely know what they are all about. As you would imagine from such an established band this is a rock solid effort, and is more than worthy to stand next to 'Good Mourning' and 'Crimson'.

The album title really sets the tone for the whole record. As Matt Skiba mentions : "there's a theme of duality on the record". The themes of this album deal with love, loss, hope and despair. From the opening catchy chords of 'Calling All Skeletons' you can tell what this album wants to say. Something that makes a statement. And beneath all the rolling lyrics and radio-friendly choruses there is a real burning issue that needs to be addressed. Possibly a dig at American politics or foreign policy which is veiled by stories of people and the issues they have. It's as though they want to scream from the rooftops of how damaged their country, and possibly themselves, are, but Alkaline Trio are far too clever for that. So they hide it away in the sub-context of a breakup or an argument between lovers. As a first album this would seem pretentious and weak, but Alkaline Trio have earned their right to be a little bit clever.

As for the music, this is standard far from the three-piece. There is a progression in the music, as there should be on a sixth studio release, but if it aint broke, then don't fix it. And the album sales are there to prove the point, reaching number 13 on the Billboard 200. Obvious highlights are the aforementioned opener 'Calling All Skeletons' and the first single 'Help Me'. 'Over And Out' is about as sentimental as these songs get, and even then they manage to pull it off. As for the rest of the album it goes off without a hitch. One notable track near the end is 'Lost And Rendered'. With it's heavy guitars and interesting use of various soundbites it is a good change of pace and throws the listener out of the comfort zone they have settled into. Possibly a good change of direction for further albums perhaps?

If you want to hear a solid record and possibly be forced into thinking about the lyrics then you can do a lot worse than 'Agony & Irony'. As an Alkaline trio album it will stand in the stable as one of the highlights from their career.