With Crimson I’m faced with a dilemma, how do I write a critical review of my all-time favorite band? Truth be told, I still listen to Goddamnit more than I listen to Good Mourning and I’ll probably listen to Maybe I’ll Catch Fire more than Crimson. Produced by Jerry Finn (Green Day, AFI), Crimson is Alkaline Trio’s tightest effort to date.
Unfortunately, that tightness has given Trio a cleaner sound and Crimson sounds like it was produced by a mega-producer. Crimson isn’t bad, but the band’s old material is still my favorite. In reading recent interviews with the band, Alkaline Trio was trying to convey some maturity. After all, they are all married or engaged and priorities tend to shift from drinking oneself stupid and stumbling home, to being a responsible husband.
One thing that has always been Alkaline Trio’s best quality is their eloquence of morbid lyricism. Lines like, “Stuck to the roof of my mouth with a staple” or “Crack my head open on your kitchen floor, prove to you that I have brains,” are classics. With Crimson, the lyrics are still dark, but don’t have as much in-your-face morbid tact. On “Mercy Me” Matt Skiba sings, “I used to long for broken bones, I used to long for a casket to call my own,” while Dan Andriano croons, “There’s got to be more, much more than this, I’ve got pages or dreams, they’re covered in piss,” on “The Poison.” Trio are still tackling their inner demons, but larger issues as well. On “Prevent This Tragedy,” the band sing about the West Memphis Three.
Another aspect that’s slightly different from the bands previous endeavors is the overall musical tones. The songs are slightly slowed down and more reminiscent of the Smoking Popes, than uppity pop-punk. “The Poison” is an textbook rock song with rising and falling guitar riffs, while “Settle for Satin” is more of a melancholy assault. “Sadie,” the track originally heard on the BYO Split with One Man Army, has a place on Crimson and it’s very fitting
There’s more evident vocal harmonies on some tracks on Crimson. If Skiba is leading a song, Andriano can be heard adding some elements and vice versa. This is something we didn’t hear as much in previous Trio albums, but I like the harmonies.
Crimson is Alkaline Trio’s most marketable album to date. It’s still an extremely enjoyable listen, but old fans will crave the sounds from the past. I give Crimson a 7.5 (out of 10). Kudos to the Chicago boys for trying to evolve and no matter what, they’re still going to be my favorite band.
Suggested Listening: “The Poison,” “Mercy Me,” “Sadie” and “Present This Tragedy”
Release Date: Out Now
By: Adam K. Zakroczymski III - Senior Editor / Founder
