Alkaline Trio has been a mainstay in the post-punk scene for over a decade. This month the Trio is back in full force releasing their ninth studio album My Shame Is True.
The opening track, She Lied To The FBI, definitely lets the listener know this is indeed an Alkaline Trio album. It has the same Americana style vocals, three chord progression guitar riffs and storytelling lyrics listeners have come to expect from the Trio. Though I typically find it an advantage to keep the status quo, the repetition of this track make it a throw away for the album.
We move onto the rather bazaar single off the album, I Wanna Be A Warhol, written in reference of popular artist Andy Warhol. The song’s music video give the track the appearance of a relationship song, but with lyrics like “the walls are closing in and melting nice and slow” it would seem it is more about a relationship with drugs. We’ll leave this up to artistic license.
As for the music, I am happy see it change from the status quo to a more post-Americana sound
This slightly new sound mixes with the Trio’s punk rock roots nicely in the tracks Kiss You To Death and I,Pessimist.
By the middle of the album, the Trio introduces an ivory key melody into the mix reminding the listener Only Love is important. The album winds down with the tracks Midnight Blue and Young Lovers. Both tracks are a slight return to the true heart and soul sound Alkaline Trio is known for.
It is important to note that undoubtedly heartbreak or some sort of ending relationship shaped this albums lyrical content from top to bottom, Until Death Do Us Part. This track provides a hopeful kind of goodbye and works well as a sendoff for the album.
I must say that going into this album I was expecting much of the same that we’ve seen from Alkaline Trio in recent albums. I was pleasantly surprised to have less of a punk feel and more of a melodic Americana rock vibe.
BOTTOMLINE: Alkaline Trio still has a lot to offer, My Shame Is True is worth a listen
