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| Alkaline TrioCrimson2005 Vagrant 
 Review by: Aubin See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on May 24th 2005
All this talk about trilogies lately has had me thinking about this new album, which represents the third of the Vagrant-era Alkaline Trio releases. From observation of trilogies like the Matrix, Indiana Jones and that other one with the wookies, there is a dawning realization that there is a formula to follow in developing an effective trilogy
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This is a great album. I hated fhtI and good mourning, and I was luke warm on MIWCF. This is thier best album since Goddammit Pretty bad for Alkaline Trio...decent compared with most crap. I love the Screeching Weasels Wow. This album has renewed my love for the Trio. I would honestly rank this as a close second in Alk3's catalog, right after MICF but right before Goddamnit. Matt's songs are top-notch for the most part, and this has some of Dan's best work. The weakest track is probably "Settle for Satin," and that is still a good track. Great album. "I forgot to mention alk3 had the guy that produced blink 182's shitty pop albums produce crimson" a great album hasnt got the same in ur face up frontedness in the lyrics but thats because they've matured as any band will nd shud do THIS ALBUM IS NOT THEM that is the problem there may be good production and all that stuff but it not them the production and everything is not them its linkin park and nu metal bring back goddamnit i want them not a produced version of them. It's frustrating reading the comments below because most people seem to hate this album because it is different. These same people would hate the album had it just been another Goddamnit or Maybe I'll Catch Fire. No one wants a band to become static. It should grow up, and that is what Alkaline trio is starting to do. They are beginning to shed their punk skin and giving a little more focus to the music. They have always had witty lyrics (although I do agree that some of them are quite terrible at the same time), but the music has never changed. I was surprised by the piano at the beginning of Time to Waste, and even more surprised by The Poison, which is like nothing done they have done before. But as the album progressed, it became more apparent to me that this departure from the norm was welcome, especially after Good Mourning. The harmonies between Skiba and Adriano provide a chilling melodic sound that had been lacking in previous efforts. Overall, the album has rekindled some of the love I once had for Alkaline Trio but had been lost due to little variety. I forgot to mention alk3 had the guy that produced blink 182's shitty pop albums produce crimson Im a big Alk3 fan, but does any one besides me think that they tried to sell out on Crimson??(didnt work) Crimson, a Haiku: Not sure if anyone has pointed this out, because I got sick of reading the comments when they were reduced to discussions about wheather or not "wookie" should be capitalized. But in response to some people cringing at the poor songwriting on Crimson ("drive yourself insane tonight"; "blowing you a kiss") the Trio has always had lyrics that, when read on paper, are pretty cringe-worthy. Examples: Great album, just not the same as their older stuff. This album is so cool. Sadie makes me feel cool. Great album guys. Love it i love the song 'Mercy Me'! great album! love it very much. Mr. Skiba is cool and so is dan. -^^- yummy. this album, in my opinion, it their best yet yeah...the guy below me is right....alk 3 need vary up their sound more...maybe use some horns, have some rap sections, and maybe have some guy screaming on certain parts of the songs. Alkaline Trio never disappoints. Yet another album that will leave you wondering, "Is this song on continuous repeat?" after listening to this cd for the last several months i think its quite good....but i still like GM, FHTI, and MICF much better. Ohh...and the hot water split...fucking queen of pain...thats the best! Crimson is a fantastic album,I havent stopped listening to it since i bought it. The songs are produced very well, there isnt a weak track on it. It is better than Good Mourning, but only just. And for Godammit-that album is poor, one of the worst in my collection. This album is awesome and i am on my way to see them in a couple of months This album is so fukin awsum! To the person who insists that the lyrics aren't clever, maybe you should listen a little more carefully.. don't bother rating and reviewing an album unless you know what you are talking about! I have been listening to this CD on repeat ever since it came out and the lyrics are well though-out! Also, someone said this album is gothic.. I'm not sure if you've noticed yet or not but the Alkaline Trio's genre is quite morbid. Perhaps you should revisit your CD collection, how did this end up in your possesion? It doesn't sound like it would be your style at all! 10! this album rocks, anyone wanna join the alky military? add alkyHQ@hotmail.com. the hype is because it is good whoever said that Sorry, but this CD was too far of a downgrade from the last two albums. I can hardly tell the difference between the last 7 songs! I completely agree with the guy below that said Derek went overboard with the high-hat. I think it's supposed to sound like scissors or something, but it just sounds stupid. There are a couple gems on this album: Mercy Me and Poison, but all in all the music is slow, the lyrics aren't clever or personal--they're mostly just gothic. Alkaline Trio saved me!!!! umm i dont really have much to say about this album...not the best but not bad I love myself and love reading my own comments! notice i gave this album a 5 when any other of alkaline trio would be 8 9 or 10 see the thing is with crimson it just seems like they died what pissed me off the most is that derek got cutesy with the high hat. derek grant is a great drummer but ever since he joined thier music is going downhill and you have to admit it it might have to do something with vagrant too when alkaline trio was with asian man records they were really good. I think when they dropped glenn porter for mike flumme or something like that they went downhill. Noone likes alklaine trio more than me and while i enjoy crimson it just doesnt cut it for alkaline trio if they went back to asian man records it would be a godsend this is my favorite band, i wear 2 tattoes of them,the heart and sundials I dl'd the leaked version, and I hated it. But then I bought the album for Time to Waste and I grew to like it. Its one of those "hate it then love it" cds. Whoever thinks Alk3 sucks can kiss my ass dan is hotttt too bitches!!!! Yeah...he might be bald...but his voice always sounds good live and he is way more consistent! Skiba has an awesome voice but sometimes he sings like ass! you got that right saying skiba is damn sexy and this has been one of my favorite albums since it came out and my sister has got me hooked on them and how hot matt and derek are ...............oh and also how good their music is..... You people are insane. I just listened to this album and it fucking blows. It's too bad, too. This used to be a damned fine band. I heard to Skiba was doing a heavy dose of steriods up until the recording of crimson to beef up his voice a little! Man..it must be true, i saw them live recently and skiba was ripped! skiba andriano porter = genius whoever said matt was a cokehead fuck you!!!! why does everyone have to say that dan is such a crappy singer or that he is a baby and lets matt do all the singing?HELLO?he's a backup singer.....pretty good too. although i would like it if derek sang more {he has a small singing part in BACK TO HELL}anyway that album is really good even though from here to infirmary and good mourning were a little bit better.their songs really make me thing hard....you know thrice use to be my favorite band until crimson came out and i heard the song time to waste.then i got the cd and GOD i can't think about anything else except how great them are and how HOT matt skiba and derek grant are.sorry dan your bald......derek i like your style.........matt stop breaking you arm........i will love alkaline trio til' i die and matt and derek!!!! alkaline trio is a really great band and i think this cd is really good but i still like good mourning the best.it comes in at a close second.also matt skiba is really HOT!!! I thought the part where skiba rapped was great! They should go full on R n B in the future! Reviews are stupid. It's all the author's opinion. If we could somehow kill everyone that used opinion and keep everyone that told exactly, or as close as humanly possilbe, how the music was we'd be fine. Then everyone would know,. from the review, if they would enjoy the CD. Does it make sense for someone who likes Yellowcard or Senses Fail or Fall Silent to review Alkaline Trio? (:As an example: Fuck off with the accusing me of accusing you stereotype). I realize it's impossiible to tell it how it is and let the people judge, but what would life be without something to strive for? I respect everyone's opinion but as a long time Alkaline Trio fan I must say that the imagery they produce with their lyrics is their selling point. I have only heard the first track off their new album, which I will buy when I have to stop paying bills, but "shakin like a dog shittin razor blades" and the style with which it is said deserves more than being used in the low end of a comparison. i thought this album was going to suck since I wasn't a big fan of there other vagrant releases but the BYO split influenced me to pick it up...good shit, if i had to rank their albums: Very good cd. fresh and interesting. The voice octive thing is pretty cool. I agree with the previous comment. Good mourning was a sweet album. Everyone seems to rip on it but i thought it was kinda raw and more punk...especially compared to crimson. There are some awesome punk songs on good mourning....fatally yours, donner party, continental..... Sure skiba's voice was raspy and perhaps overproduced to compensate for this...but as a whole good mourning was much less produced than crimson. I have to really like crimson after a few weeks but when i put in good mourning or FHTI they really rock in comparison. The song your neck has really grown on me...its kinda like a modern misfits song. Nice review. It's hard to rate this album, though. It's not their best but I can't call it their worst. this is their worst album... aka... even if you here resemblances of their old albums they are just ripping themselves off.... they need to go back to their old producer I have to say while this isn't "maybe i'll catch fire" this album is great, it really shows how they've grown up and how even with the change of musical stylings the lyrics remain dark with most songs. I think that's what this band origionally set out to do is to take really dark shit and scream it in a light way (IE: radio, stupid kid, this could be love, continental, prevent this tradgedy, and mercy me) and as for someone in here saying "there's no way they can reproduce the effects in concert" i can recreate them on a 120 dollar amp and i know they can because i saw them the opening night of their tour and i was even shocked when they played burn and it sounded so much like the album version, and in closing this album may not be their best but it is at least in the top 3 for me, and i think this album is proof that punks grow up fall in love and fall apart just like everyone. list them** ok...so this is how i feel...im not just gonna listen them...gotta backup your reasons..so thats what im gonna do..and now that i try to rank the cds, i really cant, so im just gonna show my opinion per cd I came back here to say fuck all of you who are all like "Yeah this is shit because its not like their old stuff" or " They used special effects and that means they arent punk so i dont like them...haha I'm punk these faggits are retarded" Alkaline Trios my favorite band. Always will be. I love everything including olkd and new. The only album i dont have is Maybe I'll Catch Fire but i still have heard pretty much everything on it. Well I've spoken my part. I love it all 1. Goddamnit good mourning was over-produced, but it was still very good. I hear you man...in reference to the guy before me. I'm starting to like this cd the more i listen to it and i do really like alkaline trio but this cd is just toooooo soft and processed. There is no way it will sound like this live with all these vocal effects. There are some really good songs on hear but it pails in comparison to the other releases in my opinion. Good mourning was way better i thought...at least it rocks and is less poppy. Back to hell is awesome, your neck is cool, mercy me is sweet, but burn sounds like nine inch nails! goddamn, there is just NO flow to this record at all. i'm really disappointed. burn is probably the worst song they've ever recorded, and the production makes me feel like i'm listening to this through a wall. far too dreamy. and dan sounds like a ghost - way too much echo. it's killing me that the "old" alkaline trio is definately gone for good. sigh. Does anyone remember when derek played with the suicide machines and tore mad shit up with his drumming. He was insane. I haven't seen any of that tenacity on this or good mourning. Still solid, but not the derek grant that blew me away in S.M. or telegraph. Album is weak, but definitely listenable. this review sucks.....a trilogy????? this would be the return of the jedi, episode 6. so in turn you are calling goddammit fucking phantom menace, you are a fucking turd sandwich. this is a great dics. you either like a band or you don't. i hate music elitists. get a life find something original to listen to. this disc is great, something totally new that sounds familiar, the alkaline trio are freaking geniuses. get over it. this band is fan-fucking-tastic. "Right now, i don't need a blow job, a massage, or Jessica Alba licking my ears. What I really need, is another ranking of Alkaline Trio albums. That would really tickle my fancy." Right now, i don't need a blow job, a massage, or Jessica Alba licking my ears. What I really need, is another ranking of Alkaline Trio albums. That would really tickle my fancy. "from here to infirmary is shit so don't go saying its good cos it only has about 3 good songs on it" The drummer looks extremely clockwork-orange-esque. Methinks he's bound to bugger the lovely devotchka in the background. The pictures in the cover are postively horrorshow. I agree that Dans vocals are too produced on crimson...or too many effects or something. Ohhh...and people always bust on his songs on good mourning as being too happy compared to skiba...which maybe true...but the songs on crimson arent exactly dark...the are just as poppy! Actually...the entire record sounds very poppy despite the dark lyrics which i guess is kinda their nich. I thought good mourning sounds much darker and heavier...more songs in minor keys and his scrachy voice adds to the dark sound. i prefer skiba to dan too, but I think dans songwriting has VASTLY improved since goddammit, and I do think they balance out nicely and compliment e/o dan always sounds like a big fat baby let matt sing all the songs and id like this band alot more 1.self-titled this album is pretty fucking good and better than any other band could do but whats with all the slating of good mourning? that album was fucking great. that and goddamnit are the best two albums they've done. from here to infirmary is shit so don't go saying its good cos it only has about 3 good songs on it its not the way dan's singing its the production, too much compression or some shit i have a problem with how dan sings on his songs on Crimson. it is really hard to understand what he is saying. The HWM/AK3 split is one of the coolest cds I ever heard in my life. "i have never understood how anyone could possibly think Goddamnit is their best album. both musically and lyrically, it is far inferior to the band's past 3 efforts. it just doesnt compare. " you guys know that avocado and guacamole is like cocaine and the bands you listen to. I made a list earlier but didnt include any of the splits or EPs because they are not full length albums. But fucking A...how can you go wrong with my friend peter....thats a classic tune as well as goodbye forever. The Hot water music split rocks ass too...some of my all time fav songs.....better than any of the new stuff in my opinion. In defense of the trio, i was at conan that night and they sounded awesome, but when i watched on tv they sounded like shit. I guess you gotta be there when it comes to tv appearences. "Skiba's been a coke head for a while now, but I don't think hes ever looked this bad." Skiba's been a coke head for a while now, but I don't think hes ever looked this bad. Everyone and there fucking lists...what about the HWM split? how come no one included that shit! The best 2 trio songs queen of pain and while your waiting..fucking get with it bull dykes i have never understood how anyone could possibly think Goddamnit is their best album. Dude, Rich Harden, Vlad, K-Rod, Mark Loretta, Erik Bedard, and still no Guillermo Mota. My team has taken a fucking beating. my ranking of alk3 albums matt's pale because he's a fuckin' cokehead man if i had to rank them.. Down below I forgot Goddamnit.......put that inbetween the split and the self titled. My ranking of their best cd's: skiba's voice is hit or miss live The more i listen the stronger the album is. 1 and 4 are incredibly catchy. Sadie is awesome, and 10 and 13 are incredible. It's just well-balanced with the catchy rockers at the beginning and the synth-drenched almost ballads at the end, and a bunch of solid filler (not in a bad way) in between. I still like S/T and Goddamnit better, but this is such a different band now that its hard to compare them. "What the fuck is up with Skiba? His face was so pale, tight and thin, plus with all that make up all he needed was a long black wig and would've looked exactly like Michael Jackson. Fucking creepy!" I saw them on Conan last night too. It was really awful. I was sitting in my living room in shock at how weak Skiba's voice sounded. It could have been the set-up on the show but either way it was a horrible performance. Did anybody see them on Conan last night? They sounded pretty horrible but I guess I wasn't really expecting anything better. i saw matt skiba having sex with a dog. i won't ever play into this band again, in fact anyone want to buy my two old cd's for like a dollar S/H? I have goddamnit and maybe i'll catch fire, excellent condition cuz i never listen to this garbage i kind of just aquired it. I think Matt's vocals on Good Mourning were awesome! Although they were "scratchy" they really added a raw element to a very produced album. His voice has always been a little scratchy and on Good Mourning they chose to bring that out. Catch Fire's the only one I'd buy again if my collection got stolen. i have goddammit last because of the context of which i got the alk3 albums after about the 7th listen or so it grows on you..the strenghty of skiba's voice and the new ground they broke in the songwriting really makes it outshine 'mourning' I can't stop listening to "Burn." goddammit 1. From here to infirmary Back to Hell is awesome. i cant get that song out of my head Godammit last? eh... hey sciulli, i agree w/ you 100% on those 2 songs, definately 2 duds and settle for satin is the worst song on the new one oh, and Burn is fucking awesome. Just picked this up today. LIstened to it about 4 times through. I'll probably listen to it some more tomorrow...hell, this one is going to be in the CD play for a while. It really is a fantastic album. Gob is my favorite character on Arrested Development. i really want to like this. but i just can't. I don't know what it is, but "Settle For Satin" just rubs me the wrong way. It may be the only Trio song I don't like (actually, "Donner Party" from Good Mourning isn't that great). uhhh...actually it is different. But it is good i think. mellow little kiddies...it's no different than any of their previous albums...they continue a stellar run hey if anyone cares, punkrockvids.com just posted "mercy me" from alkaline trio's "secret acoustic show" in london. Hey Rawls: Yo ElVaq: Everyone seems to dislike from here to infirmary. I thought it was a very good cd...actually its always been my favorite. I love bands like NO use, lagwagaon, face to face and so on...and From here to infirmary is the most similar to that style in my opinion. Songs like Mr. chainsaw, take lots with alcohol, and armageddon are awesome melodic punk songs that are reminicient of classic punk like the misfits, damned, ramones and the like. The song crawl is one of their best with great lyrics, raw, emotional and hard driving. Sure stupid kid is really poppy but overall that record rocks with loud guitars and a basic and raw kind of recording quality. I really like the earlier stuff as well but its more emoish...and i do apologize for using that term. "Not as good as the first 3 albums." 1. Maybe I'll Catch Fire I wish there was a view counter, I want to know if this or The Mars Volta's new album review has been bitched about more. Views Th guy acouple post down who ranked the albums is fuckin right on. Oh yeha.....does anyone know where to get an advance of No Use's new CD?? best albums: Best Alk3 album yet next to Maybe I'll Catch Fire The only French Connection that mattered was Rene Robert, Gilbert Perreault, and Richard Martin. The French Connection II is better!!! Its getting better the more I listen to it...i figured that would happen. Matts voice is awesome just maybe too much vocal layering on EVERY chorus. And I am not sure why everyone of Dans vocals has to have all those effects on them...it sounds like a flanger or chorus effect for those who play guitar....people always rip on his voice but i always thought it was pretty cool. Prevent this tragedy is a pretty good song once you get past the synth intro. My least fav track is burn...its very catchy but i does kinda remind me of linkin park as someone said earlier. Not as good as the first 3 albums. The voiceover on "Sadie" is glaringly atrocious. It's awfulness is worth commenting on as it is the single worst aspect of an album I have heard in years. Record isn't really anything special, but maybe it'll grow on me. What kills me is the layering/effects on the vocals on almost every track; I hate that shit. yea man, i'm not saying its necessarily the age thing, but i think its more of where they are in life, just not depressed anymore. dan's married, matt's engaged, i heard matt has really toned down his party/drug/drinking life, theyv'e become successful, makin money, etc. Derrek's drumming sucks on this record, and he's one of my three favorite drummers around today. He has so much more talent than is displayed on Crimson, just look at the Alkaline Trio's DVD. Getting older does not equal slowing down or becoming less edgy. I realize that as musicians they want to experiment as playing the same style must get old from their perspective. I just whish more of the songs were a little harder with more emphasis on loud punk style chainsaw riffs like on basically every other record they have recorded...i guess thats just one of the qualities i have always liked about them. And just because you're approaching 30 does not mean you have to start listening to the postal service and the killers and all that indie 80s sounding music. I'm 29 and I still prefer punk such as social D, face to face, misfits and nofx...i guess i am immature. The art work is trash. GREAT ALBUM! Shitty photography. The lyric booklet is thick, but their is nothing to it. I don't mind the album cover, but the rest of the artwork can hit the road... I too have gotta give props to Temple of Doom. It wasn't great when it first came out, but it's certainly gotten much better with age! Classic 80s flick, despite some annoying chracters. this record blows yea, i see your point, i too commented earlier that i think they get a little too caught up in their 'dark' image and lyrics but the problem is, the sheer awesomeness of their old lyrics came from how fucking angry they were. skiba is like engaged, has money, probably a decent place, gets steady ass, drinks wine, turns 30 soon....its just not the same, i do like their old lyrics better, and i do think the music is better than the lyrics on this album, but its still a progression from good mourning and i think its as solid of a 6th alk3 album that i could expect. most bands don't even make a 5th album. and those of you asking why its missing the 'punk edge' or its edgyness or 3 chords and breakneck speeds Me again. That was me right above Paul. I'd like to clarify, I don't think most of the lyrics are silly. There are just an abnormal (for the Trio) number of subpar lyrics. See, some of us care about intelligence and thought going into our music. Music is equally important, I'm just attacking the lyrics on this album because it is far more musically sound than lyrically sound. silly lyrics? anyone who thinks the lyrics to 'i was a prayer' are silly is a fucking pretentious (theres the word we all love) piece of shit. fuck you. hanson has silly lyrics dickbag. Fuck the lyrics, listen to the music. I'm sick of all these people who are into all this lyrical quality shit. Alklaline Trio has sillly lyrics but they play great music. Great band, good album, poor album art. not to be an ass, but i believe you meant thinking. maybe you and skiba were on the same page. Just because it's better than Good Mourning doesn't make it good. It's good mourning with shitty synth parts. "Worst lyric EVER: Huh. I downloaded this on a whim (expecting it to suck), and was actually pleasantly surprised. I mean, it's not great, but every song is listenable. I thought the song "your neck" was pretty bad when I first heard it, but after a few listens it grew on me and is actually kinda like a modern misfits song...like children in heat...but way more overproduced since the misfits sounded like they were recorded with a tape recorder. Overall crimson is a 7 out of 10. polished production is for pussies, you stupid college boys I too think its a bit overproduced and I guess that makes me gay for thinking that. I still like the record and actually dont mind the lyrics or the actual songs and shit. There just seems to be less edge and less of a punk rock sound to it. I guess thats not a bad thing to everyone. The reason I 1st got into the trio was for their 3 chord, loud guitar sound...i feel that sound is almost gone from this album. I have always like pop or melodic punk like face to face and No Use but alks new cd is much more poppy..ohh well. Its still worth getting i think. Worst lyric EVER: and to the dude below me, i actually think the 'drive yourself insane' line in mercy me is one of the best in the album great album. they've grown more since 'good mourning' than they have between any other 2 albums. very different. much more dramatic, slower, more songwriting effort. really, the core sound is there, but this is a VERY different trio than the one that released 'from here to infirmiry'. the lyrical content is still clever and dark, but it is more abstract and the drinking references are gone (this bums me out, but they're being honest...as they near their 30's and get married i'm glad to see they aren't early 20's depressed boozehounds anymore). Nobody said the Blink-182 album was overproduced because there's a difference between produced well and overproduced. Blink-182 is far poppier and wrote songs that fit that production better. March of the wooden soldiers The production is a big part of an album, its the difference between songs recorded, and songs performed live, you ignorant, retarded fuck. hey i'm just commenting on the production of the vocals because i think they sound shit. why would i comment on the production 'just to be cool'? I love how everyone feels the need to comment on production these days. is that the cool thing to do? is everyone the fucking RZA all of a sudden. fuck anyone who makes a comment on production. you're ghey. "because in my opinion if they can pull it off live then how is it overproduced" i just picked this up and i am actually suprised at how good it is. i wasnt expecting it to be that special after good mourning didnt make me feel it was special. this is a really solid album in my view. it doesnt hold a candle to maybe ill catch fire or goddammit! but id reccomend it anyway. After the byo split with one man army, i thought i would give this a chance.... Not bad... Nothing groundbreaking by any means but a good pick up-oldpunker- i'm sure this has been said a million times before but bands change. you have to look at this release seperately from their asian man work (which WAS amazing) and know that this is now their third record (it's been five years?) since they did their f |
