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Alkaline Trio - My Shame is True

As my first blog back, it's only fitting that I start with one of my favorite bands of all time: Alkaline Trio. My Shame is True is a great album to get me back in to the swing of things. Musically the album picks up where This Addiction left off. The perfectly choreographed layers of Matt Skiba and Dan Andriano vocals never miss a beat while the frantic bridges play off a steady verse...classic Alkaline Trio. If the instrumentation brings it up to par for the rest of their discography, it's the lyrics that propel it towards the the top. The difference is the pain of a break-up that Skiba sings about; and this isn't your 20-something pain, this is your "I got a divorce, found something beautiful in life out of it, and was crushed when it ended." This is big-league, adult break-up, and I guess as I get older, I can relate to it a bit more. There are songs that may sound indifferent, like "Midnight Blue," but if you've been there in that position, you know that it speaks honestly to that situation. I highly recommend this album for any Alkaline Trio fans, and anyone that needs a pick-me-up coming out of a crappy relationship. Misery is a dish best shared. Unfortunately, it took this type of situation to see Skiba and Co. at their best, but as a fan, I'm glad he made it and sounds like he pulled through okay.

 1. She Lied to the FBI
2. I Wanna be a Warhol
3. I'm Only Here to Disappoint
4. Kiss You to Death
5. The Temptation of St. Anthony
6. I, Pessimist
7. Only Love
8. The Torture Doctor
9. Midnight Blue
10. One Last Dance
11. Young Lovers
 12. Until Death do Us Part

  Stream it here on Youtube (and buy it on vinyl)!

Starting anew

Yo, I'm restarting the blog. Why now? Because I miss writing, and there's a ton of music that the world should know about. Spread the word, and let me know what's good in the 'hood. I'd like to keep to indie/punk, but I'll review pretty much anything, new or old. It's been a long time friends, and although I probably won't be updating daily, I want to re-discover my love for music, and help some folks along the way. I won't be posting full albums or anything like that (RIAA has a bounty on my head), but Youtube and links to the band's sites should do the trick, if only to hear them. If this turns you off, sorry, but hey, check out my reviews, and I'm sure you'll find the album somewhere; hopefully it's at their table at their show. Let's kick this pig. I'm going to need your support on generating interest if this little experiment in independent music reviews will work...