Review Summary: Let’s pick another day to call it quits and walk away
It’s incredible to imagine Alkaline Trio releasing anything of quality in 2018, let alone anything at all. While the band never put out a truly bad album (This Addiction coming the closest), it’s no secret that the last decade has shown them far beyond their best. Their latest efforts showed a band still capable of writing passable hooks, but tired and long out of ideas. Couple that with vocalist Matt Skiba’s stint replacing Tom Delonge on Blink-182’s less than stellar last album, the idea of ever hearing new Alkaline Trio material seemed less and less likely. But out of nowhere came the announcement of the band’s ninth album Is This Thing Cursed? and the best set of singles they’d released for an album since at least 2005’s Crimson. These songs showed the band with new level of confidence and life that hadn’t been seen in an incredibly long time, and sure enough the rest of the album delivers the same level of quality. Is This Thing Cursed? is a 40 minute blast that somehow filters the bands best work through a newfound passion that results in the bands best work in well over a decade.
Right off the bat the album shows a sense of cohesion and unity we’ve haven’t seen in a while with the incredible title track. A morose feedback swells up alongside a piano line that perfectly compliments some of Dan’s best lyrics, setting up a depressing tone that lulls the listener in. That is, until the whole band kicks in, to which the listener is greeted to Matt and Dan harmonizing over Derek’s powerful drumming that drives the song with an energy that hasn’t been felt on a Trio opener as far back as “This Could Be Love”. Matt and Dan continue sharing vocal duties on “Demon and Division”, which contains one of the best bridges the band has ever written. While the dual vocal interplay only comes up briefly afterwards, like on the perfectly paced “Heart Attacks”, the two of them still find ways to play off each other incredibly throughout the rest of the album. Leadoff single “Blackbird” is full of engaging bass and guitar riffs that perfectly compliment each other, and “Demon and Division” perfectly blends catchy bass lines with one of Matt’s best verses/choruses in years. It’s also worth noting that Derek Grant continues to prove himself as one of the best drummers in pop punk, with songs like “I Can’t Believe” and “Throw Me to the Lions” showing some of his most tasteful, technical and forceful playing to date.
If there’s one thing that’s been consistent about Alkaline Trio over the years, it’s been the quality of Dan Andriano’s songs, and luckily this has the most Dan songs since 2003’s Good Mourning. Aside from the title track and the phenomenal “Fine”-esque ballad “Stay”, most of his songs are 2 minute punk powerhouses that almost recall bands like Rancid and Social Distortion. “Little Help” is arguably the best of them, showcasing some of Dan’s best hook writing ever, and “Worn So Thin” effortlessly transitions betweens double time and half time throughout it’s brief runtime. But while Dan’s songs being great is expected from a new Alkaline Trio album, Matt’s songs come as a huge surprise. Songs like “Blackbird”, “Sweet Vampires” and “Throw Me to the Lions” would fit perfectly among their 2000’s output, while others like “Goodbye Fire Island” and “I Can’t Believe” show a more mature sounding Trio, all of which have some of the best vocal lines he’s ever written.
The lyrics here are also better than they’ve been in a long, long time. The band pulls from themes across their discography, but unlike much of their later output it doesn’t feel forced. The themes of drinking, depression, and death feel more real this time around, The title track perfectly captures a tone of hopelessness and despair that come along with mental illness and drinking, while “Heart Attacks” morosely telling the tale of an overdose and the aftermath of it. Hell the best track “Krystalline” is lyrically My Shame is True done right over an acoustic guitar progression, pushed over the edge by a jaw dropping chorus of Matt belting his lungs out until the song dissolves into ambient noise.
Overall Is This Thing Cursed? is a phenomenal return to form and although it won’t win over those looking for another Goddamnit, it’s still a fantastic album and absolutely a rewarding experience for those who have been patient with the band. And even if it takes another five years for the next one to come out, if it’s anything close to being this good it’ll be well worth the wait.
4.8
