Alkaline Trio
From Here to Infirmary
Vagrant Records
Release Date: April 2001
Alkaline Trio's new release From Here to Infirmary sounds like it might be very bruising but don't be scared, it's quite harmless. Their third release bobs along in standard pop-punk sensibility telling tales of love lost, drugs and drinking. With the commercialization of punk rock, this LP with big, clean production stands ready for some public and maybe even radio acceptance. So riding along the big-sounding punk path pioneered in the early-80s by Descendents and carried further in the 1990s by bands like The Offspring, NOFX, Rancid, and Avail, Alkaline Trio offers their take on a somewhat stylized genre.
The lyrics, mostly about love, are very literal and naïve begging the question whether the singers are really young or immature and lacking an understanding of relationships, or merely trying to relate to the angst ridden teenage fans that grew up listening to commercial-punk bands. Their smooth strong voices deliver lyrics in first and sometimes third person mostly about love related dramas. Overall, the record has some great hooks while breaks no new ground.
-- Ben Segal
ben@outersound.com
