Batteries Not Included
There are certain artists who understand music so well, that they can put together ultra poppy music along with twisted lyrics and come up with a formula for success. Alkaline Trio possesses this skill, and have used it on every album since their 1999 debut Goddamnit. Four other albums, a smattering of singles, and countless tours give us the next album of demented pop-punk from the boys from Chicago, Crimson. Musically, Alkaline Trio’s sound isn’t much different from their past outings, a mix of pop and rock and roll that is so simple and catchy that it is impossible not to hum along to almost every track. Over the years, Alkaline Trio’s music and style has become more refined, without ever sacrificing their style.
Lyrically, Matt Skiba is still twisted and deranged. A song like “Sadie” by any other group is just another sappy love ballad. Put in the hands of Skiba and company, the lyrics change into a twisted prose such as “Sadie G. she’s crazy, see?/that’s what the white coats say/Now Ms. Susan A. your losing every opportunity/Well they found you and they shipped you up the river the same way/That you bound and gagged, you shot then stabbed.” Not your classic pop-punk lyrics of love, heartache and skipping class.
This is what seems to keep Alkaline Trio going, album after album, and the formula still works. While many groups try to hard to “grow up” or “be mature,” Alkaline Trio just does what they know best, play straightforward songs with lyrics that could get someone put away.
Leave a Comment