Alkaline Trio - Damnesia
Rating
RIYL
Against MeFace to Face
AFI
Release Date
07/12/2011
Label
EpitaphTracklist
1. Calling All Skeletons2. Nose Over Tail
3. This Could Be Love
4. Every Thug Needs A Lady
5. Clavicle
6. Mercy Me
7. The American Scream
8. We've Had Enough
9. Olde English 800
10. I Held Her In My Arms
11. Blue In The Face
12. I Remember A Rooftop
13. Private Eye
14. You've Got So Far To Go
15. Radio
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Alkaline Trio, once apt creators of loads of well-written, infectious pop-punk/punk-rock of the dark side, decided to release a (semi-)acoustic collection of their songs. Matt Skiba and company are, of course, worth all of the praise they've received for making a minor masterpiece similar to AFI's Sing the Sorrow in 2005, but let’s face it, it has been pretty much downhill since Crimson. Their recent releases have become more and more polished, while at the same time becoming less and less relevant.
Similar to covers albums and ordinary "best of" records, acoustic retakes rarely showcase the peak of creativity for any band, but Damnesia fails to meet even modest standards. For a start, having only one song from Crimson demonstrates a rather peculiar selection choice, and, unsurprisingly, "Mercy Me" is easily the sole stand-out track, with "The American Scream" the other possible honorable mention. They have two new songs served up on this album, but "I Remember a Rooftop" feels completely unnecessary, while the embarrassing "Olde English 800" feels like it would suit a pub band much better than Alkaline Trio. Adding insult to injury, the third new addition on the album (a Violent Femmes cover) has a rather unwelcome country and western feel that does not sit well with their sound. At least the piano-tinged "This Could Be Love" manages to become slightly sinister for a while, but it soon turns into mere coffee table music.
The drama is what used to make Alkaline Trio exciting, and it is completely missing here; this inoffensive offering is as dangerous as a glass of milk, wandering a million miles away from the traces of punk rock attitude the band was known for. Damnesia may make a decent easy listening experience for some but, sadly, there is no chance for their former trademark of catchy catharsis resurfacing here. Let this album be an example that will hopefully keep other bands from forcing us to suffer through another punk rock band going indie, country or just plain bland.
--Attila Timár
Comments
I have to say I really enjoy this collection of songs and a lot of people I know (Alk3 fans and not) are as well. The Violent Femmes cover is the only song I don't enjoy. Also, citing Crimson as this band's masterpiece, makes this review lose all credibility.
SCV, CA
I respectfully disagree with this review. Crimson was great, but saying they went downhill since is silly. I actually prefer Agony & Irony to Crimson, and that's just talking about their more recent work. I like that this covers a song or two from each record and it even encouraged me to look back at their earlier releases, which I previously wrote off. This isn't my album of the year or anything, but I like pretty much everything on it and it deserves better than 1.5.
Sunshine Coast, Australia
Good Mourning is their best work, Crimson is a damn close second... anything since then has been chocolate salted balls.
"If you want something done right, get a fucking Australian band to do it" - Chris Cheney
Wheaton, IL
Crimson was my first Alk3 album, and while I loved it then and it catapulted them to the status of my favorite band, it is decidedly their weakest effort. So I think the broad criticism about the downhill trend from that album's greatness is overstated if not ridiculous, but in any event, I haven't felt the need to pick this one up yet. Dan's solo album fills me with much more excitement.
Green Brook, NJ
I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when i saw the part of the review that mentioned AFI. either way, ridiculous.
What exactly did you find ridiculous in that part?
San Diego, CA
Top Alkaline Trio albums, in my humble opinion: Maybe I'll Catch Fire, the self-titled compilation of sorts (2000?), Goddamnit. Not really a Crimson fan.
Too old to bother, too young to give a shit.