It is a trade secret. Creating depressing alcohol and broken heart driven theme songs that arn't miserable. Never before have I been so proud to have a mess of a life. With a song listing like : Nose over tail, Clavicle, my little needle, and sothern rock you can't go wrong. I've listened to this album at the beach, in the city and while at home alone in the darkness of my room; and it is great everywhere. inteligent lyrics for a world that is stuck on the Retarded "post punk" style. A must have for anyone who has ever lived a life. ever.

This is my all-time favorite CD by any band, however it also happens to be by my all-time favorite band, Alkaline Trio, which just makes it even more wonderful. I love a wide variety of bands and many different types of music, but music that really strikes a cord with me is when the lyrics are more than just lyrics, but poetry. The lyrics on this album could easily be printed out and read like a poem, and still be equally as brilliant as they are when they're listened to on the CD. Although Alkaline Trio is from a completely different era and plays a completely different style of music, I compare them to the likes of Simon & Garfunkle in that respect.
My favorite track on this CD is "Trouble Breathing," about dealing with depression. The lyrics are incredible and really touching. But then, so are all the songs. Matt (lead vocals/guitarist) and Dan (bassist/vocals) both have excellent and unique voices. Matt's voice is especially distinguishable from pretty much every singer today.
For anyone who wants a comparison of Alkaline Trio to another band . . . well, I have difficulty offering one. They sound unlike any other band I've heard and don't fall into any one category of music. The only group I could even remotely compare them to is The Lawrence Arms, but I may be giving this comparison subconsciously because they are both Chicago bands. However, some of their subject matter (drinking, especially) is similar. As for the type of music they play . . . well, I suppose you could stick them into the punk/emo category, but I absolutely hate to do that. That would probably be the best way to describe it, but it still doesn't quite fit, because they are so much more than a genre label. And as for people who describe them as pop-punk, I have to disagree. Most people I know who only like poppy punk really don't like this. It's much to raw and hard for their liking, I think.
But again, it is hard to put into words how great this album is and how great this band is. I reccomend it more than any other CD by any other band, but I must stress that you have to listen to it a few times. The first time around you may not be too impressed, but it's the kind of CD that grows and grows on you until you don't want to listen to anything else, ever. Please, please buy this album and all of Alkaline Trio's other albums as well.

I am going to freaking wet myself the day the Alk3 goes big. I know so many people who want them to stay small and avod becoming trendy, but I wish them the absolute best of luck. This album is wonderful, 'Clavicle' remains one of my favorite songs the Trio has done, and the whole album (with the glaring exception of Track 2) is really very good. I suggest it wholeheartedly, along with all the other albums; but if you really want to know what is up, you need to see them live. Keep your eyes open... Matt Skiba is my hero..so is Dan...and Derek...
P.S. I find myself giving alot of 5 star ratings when I sign on
here, but thats only because I tend to only review the albums I really really like, this being one of them...GET IT, and support one of the last honestly rocking bands I know.

There are a few albums that every punk or emo or ska fan has, or at least has 10 friends who have them. This is simply because it is a fact that they are the "best" and the "classics." Albums that never get old. Albums that, if they've been around long enough, touch more than one generation of music fans. To name a few:
Ramones: s/t
Operation Ivy: s/t
Jawbreaker: Bivouac
Bad Religion: Suffer
Slapstick: s/t
The Clash: London Calling

. . . .

This is now one of those albums. The Alkaline Trio is in for one of the most promising musical careers in years, and this full length, thier 2nd release, 3rd disk, is proof. There is a single bad song on this CD: Cop, track 2. But it's not so bad that it's unlistenable. What I think is that it's a song that was written in haste. I actually have several friends who like this song, but it doesn't do anything for me.

But let me tell you, the rest of the album would make up for ANYTHING that they could have put in the track 2 slot. The start of the album never fails to get me pumped up for what's in store: you hear the setting up sounds in the studio before the power chord start of "Cringe." If you like songs to drive to, this is by far the best one ever written. The songs are poppy, but not sugary, up-paced, but not punk-fast, tasteful, but distasteful. I wish I had more space to write about the lyrics, but if I did that I'd probably end up typing them all out. Just know that they are genius, and you'll often get really excited and shake your finger at the stereo thinking, "That's what I've been trying to say!!" The music is simple and beautifully so. A mildly seasoned guitar player could figure out almost every riff and rhythm in a half hour, but the complexity isn't the point: it's the amazing way so much is put into so little. You do not notice simplicity in the guitars because it works so well and it is not at all redundant. The bass guitar whips out hooks left and right in ways you rarely get to hear bass played. And the drums? *quiver* The drums. Oh, the drums. This is the ORIGINAL Alkaline Trio drummer, Glenn Porter, not Mike Felumlee or whoever the new guy is. Glenn is quite possibly one of the best drummers in the business. I would even dare rate him above Travis Barker of Blink182 (for those of you who know how good that guy is). Glenn definetly shows what he's made of on this disk. I wish I could go on but I'm sure I'm running out of room. If I were only allowed to keep one CD for the rest of my life, it would be this one. Oh, and to clear up people who are confused about their style: They're not really emo. But they're not really punk. They're both and they're neither. If you've heard "From Here to Infirmary," it's more emo than that CD, if you've heard "Maybe I'll Catch Fire," it's more punk than that CD. You will never regret the money spent on this album. Trust me.

Every song on this cd is perfect. There's only a few albums I like more, but that's not a bad thing! The only album's that I like more are Rocket To Russia by the Ramones, and Living In Darkness by Agent Orange. These guys are my favorite band besides the Ramones, you should check out all their cd's. They have a new one coming out May 24th called Crimson. This is them at there best, Maybe I'll Catch Fire and the Self Titled are right behind this one, but From Here To Infirmary, Good Mourning and the split cd's are really good too! Oh yeah, and the Matt Skiba/Kevin Seconds acoustic album is really good.