12 years ago a group of working class kids from the suburbs of Chicago, Alkaline Trio, made a name for themselves with the vitriolic, yet surprisingly sensitive, punk rock of their classic debut, Goddamnit. Then refining and redefining themselves as purveyors of the satirically macabre on the band’s breakthrough, 2003’s Good Mourning, the trio seemed to have found their critical and commercial niche, only to lose some of the fervor of that classic album on later releases. Now, with their sixth full-length album, and the band’s major label debut for Epic Records, Alkaline Trio have yet again altered their musical course, this time drastically, emerging as anthemic power rockers perfectly content to leave punk rock purists in the dust. From the handclaps and engaging verse that open the album to the driving, propulsive “Into the Night” that closes it, Agony & Irony represents a new and improved Alkaline Trio. “Help Me” is power pop that culminates in an arena-ready chorus. “In Vein” begins smooth, percussive, and bass-driven, something like a groovy punk rock update on Elvis Costello’s “Watching the Detectives,” before morphing into a late period Bad Religion sing-along. “Over and Out” tugs heartstrings as a post-wartime soldier’s suicidal lament. But with the growth and experience on Agony & Irony also comes some missteps. The falsetto-laden, power balladish “Do You Wanna Know?” doesn’t quite fit any Alkaline Trio mold, especially with ultra-sappy lines like “Don’t let me go. I’d fall apart. Don’t say you won’t follow my heart.” And “Live Young, Die Fast” sounds like a mild retread of past glories. Still, Agony & Irony holds up surprisingly well to repeat listens, despite the shift in format. It’s an admirable stretch for a band that refuses to get stuck in adolescent punk rock purgatory for the rest of its career. Here’s to new beginnings.
--Frank Valish [July 7, 2008]
