This collection includes both the band's out of print EPs and 7"s in their entirety, along with collecting the band's various one-off compilation appearances. What separates this record from most compilations of its kind is both consistency and excellent sequencing. This is the band's best batch of songs since Goddamit, and although taken from disparate sources, the record has the feel of a long-player. The album's lyrical content explores a variety of topics — well, at least topics that deal with drinking and girls. These beer-drenched tales of love (and more importantly, loss) are told with foul-mouthed eloquence not seen this side of Blake Shwarzenbach. This includes everything from the slacker alienation of "Cooking Wine," to the straight-on guilt of "I Lied My Face Off." A must for any Trio fan. - Allmusic.com
Matt Skiba- Guitar, vocals
Daniel Andriano- Bass, vocals
Glenn Porter- Drums
1.
Goodbye Forever- 2:50
After listening to this song for a while, I'll always think that it's pretty good, but can get pretty boring after a while. Matt's guitaring is pretty bland, and simple. Glenn Porter, as always, is great on drums. Dan's bassline are super fast and fantastic, and is a great way to put this song together. As for Matt's singing, it's pretty shaky, but he's definetely not one of the
best singers ever.
8/10
2.
This is Getting Over You- 4:47
This song starts out with guitar and with a 6/8 feel to it. Bass and drums come in, and all the riffs, lines, licks, whatever, they seem pretty simple. Alk3 are never the best with creating fantasic, creative music. The song continues on with Dan's voice, which I love so much. Dan's voice > Matt's. Then there's a pause, continued by the song going in 4/4 time. I usually skip this song, except when I haven't heard it in so long, and I just feel the need to listen to it. I wouldn't recommend this song, except for the fact that Danny sings.
6/10
3.
Bleeder- 4:30
Bleeder. This is probably one of my favorite tracks on this cd. Once again, nothing crative, just simple. Nothing new really. But, this song just seems very interesting to me, which results in my liking it so much. Matt sings this, with a pretty solid voice, which is great, because I honestly can't stand his shaky voice. Alkaline Trio's lyrics always seem to confuse me a bit, especially on this cd. They always sound great with the song, but sometimes, they're just a little bit hard to understand. I would never consider Alk3/Matt/Danny as a "lyrical genius", though they can be good once in a while.
9/10
4.
I Lied My Face Off- 4:09
This isn't one of my favorite songs, but I do like it a bit. I don't have too too much to say about this song, since it's pretty bland. I will always like it, but it's just not one of those "wow" songs. But, about the song, I do like and understand the lyrics. At the beginning with "Well it's not fair, it's not even close. You tied me down, where I'm forced to watch as you poke holes, in every part of me. Containing something secretly, something sacred to me." Other than the lyrics, pretty simple and bland song.
6.5/10
5.
My Friend Peter- 2:14
This song is enjoyable, but only once in a while. It's another one of those pretty boring songs, yet still awesome, since it's a Trio song. This song mainly talks about how the love of his life, obviously not the love of his life anymore has moved on, and he hasn't, so he's dealing with it with alcohol, drinking, etc. Heh, I don't really understand why it's called
My Friend Peter, because all the song says is how he's friends with him, blah, blah, blah. This is an OKAY song, but not one of my favorite.
7/10
6.
Snake Oil Tanker- 1:22
This is a song that I really like. Like, I really like it. A lot. But, I think that this song is waaay to short. 1 minute? It should be around 3 minutes, but, whatever. I didn't write the song. Even if this is a simple song, it's pretty much like Bleeder. Simple, yet interesting and enjoyable. Well, I don't have much left to say about this. It's 1:00am and my mind is going pretty blank.
9/10
7.
Southern Rock- 3:04
I have now come to like this song a little bit more than before. It's a pretty slow song, but its definetely different than the others before this one. It has nice, calm, guitar. Matt's voice definetely doesn't suck, but isn't too too solid. But it matches the song, in my opinion, so I like it. This song seems pretty much a bit like Hell, which doesn't surprise me. Pretty good song.
8/10
8.
Cooking Wine- 2:18
I used to HATE this song, and, boy, I really hated it. After a month or two, I love this song. I honestly don't know why. I just do. I pretty much despise Matt's voice in this song. It's pretty shaky in the intro, and he sounds like he's screaming in the chorus. That is certainly not a plus for me, but other than that, I LOVE this song. Like all my other favorite songs, simple, simple, simple. And strangely enough, (:rolleyes:) this song talks about drinking! Wow, I never would've expected that from the Trio! Psh.
8.5/10
9.
For Your Lungs Only- 2:26
This song is pretty creative, especially with the bass. It has a crazy bassline, though its pretty repetitive. Certainly not as good as Goodbye Forever, but still nice and solid. This song also confuses me, because in the beginning, it talks about one thing...chorus, I have no idea, second verse talks about another thing, then same chorus. It might just be me, which it probably is. So, bass = +, lyrics = ?, which ends up to be :
7.5/10
10.
Exploding Boy- 2:57
I have gotten pretty sick and tired of this song. I used to love it when I first got this cd, but now it's just pretty "meh" to me. It does have a nice bassline, but nothing else is creative! The lyrics are reptetitive, I don't know why. This song doesn't confuse me at all. (woohoo) But, I don't like this song too much. Mehhh.
5/10
11.
Sun Dials- 3:43
This song is damn weird. It's great, but i'm like, "What the hell?" THE LYRICS ARE FUCKING INSANE! "You were like a
toilet bowl at the end of a rainbow. Something like a pot of gold, dug under my pillow." Lmao, what the hell? I doubt that it's just me thinking that these lyrics are weird as hell, but I tend to be confused a lot. Other than the lyrics, pretty interesting song. Little bit creative, but still some simplistic lines and riffs.
8/10
12.
Nose Over Tail- 2:35
This is definetely my absolute FAVORITE song to hear live by the Trio. Matt sings it pretty well, along with pretty meaningful lyrics. I really like these lyrics. Probably the most popular line from this song is "Whatever happened to that silly dream you had? I want to make it real, I'd love to rub your back." It is ONCE AGAIN a simple song, but I looove the lyrics. If this review of the song is short once again, it's because Roseanne's on. :).
9.5/10
13.
'97- 4:32
This. Song. Is. One. Of. The. Best. Ever. By. The. Trio. Period. The intro is great, and I love to play it on guitar. It's just so fun. The rest of the song is fantastic, and one single second never bores me the least bit. BASS is pretty
simple, but I don't care because my attention always turns to guitar, Matt's voice, and the lyrics. This a great song, and another one that I love hearing live. This song is great to end a concert, a cd, and pretty much anything. It lingers in your head, which is awesome for me. Great way to end the cd.
10/10
All in all, all the tracks on the cd are very simple, but pretty interesting.
Songs that i think you should listen to:
-Bleeder
-Snake Oil Tanker
-Nose Over Tail
-'97
Any constructive critisism would be nice. And if you liked it, please vote yes. :)
