Agony & Irony (Deluxe Edition)

Alkaline Trio (Artist)

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 2008)
• Original Release Date: July 1, 2008
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0019M82WG
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #84,073 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Deluxe Edition Two CD set of Alkaline Trio's 2008 album Agony & Irony includes 28 page booklet in a hardbound book package with bonus disc of acoustic tracks. Alkaline Trio have been playing their unique brand of hardcore Punk music to legions of fans for over ten years. With Matt Skiba on guitar and vocals, Derek Grant on drums and Dan Adriano on bass, the band emerged from the working class suburbs of Chicago,Illinois in 1997. The Trio released their first two albums with indie label Asian Man Records and then joined Vagrant Records in 2001. Over the past decade, Alkaline Trio's sounds and lyrics have evolved from raw, loud, and uninhibited as to refined, poetic and profound as heard on their last release, Crimson. The album was produced by Josh Abraham (Staind, Korn) and features the lead single 'Help Me'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Agony & Irony, July 1, 2008

By	Brian Swane (Montgomery, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a really solid release from a great band. I've looked at reviews on other pages from the cynical people who love to trash a band's new CD and then go secretly crank the volume in their bedrooms.

Well...I actually thought that Agony & Irony is an excellent album. I think if people can realize that Alkaline Trio won't ever be the band that released Goddammit, Maybe I'll Catch Fire, Remains...ever again. Bands should always grow and constantly evolve...otherwise..who wants to listen to the same 12 tracks for 6 albums?

1. Calling All Skeletons- This is a great song from the first line. It's really catchy and will probably be blasting from car stereos for a while.

2. Help Me- This was the first single from the album. It's a catchy song-a little predicatable, but that's fine. Still a great song.

3. In Vein-The verses seem a little bit like some of their older stuff. Then the choruses are a rather Crimson-esque. It's a cool blend of old and new.

4. Over and Out- A good change of pace after 3 pretty up-beat songs. A great example of new Trio sound. Pretty good bass work on the song.

5. I Found Away- This song is probably one of the best songs on the album. It's definitely one of the best lyrically. "I found away over the fear and through the flames..." The music fits the words well. Skiba does an excellent job singing this one.

6. Do You Wanna Know- Apparently this was the bonus track on the deluxe edition. It's a pretty decent Adrianno song. It's upbeat and catchy. It sounds like it would have felt at home on Crimson, but has a place on Agony & Irony.

7. Live Young, Die Fast- I personally think this is the weakest song on the album. I think the words are decent, but the chorus is too slow. It plays like a filler song.

8. Love Love Kiss Kiss- Ah...well. I hate to admit it, but I think this song is actually pretty good. I really like the melody that Adrianno sings. The riffs in the background keep it pretty upbeat.

9. Lost and Rendered- I really dig the powerchord runs in this song. It adds a great deal of essence to the song. Skiba does another great job singing to fit the song. Typical Trio lyrics.

10. Ruin It-Not bad. A good job by Adrianno-his voice matches the song exactly. Pretty good tunes.

11. Into the Night- A pretty good song as a closer. I found myself thinking of Good Mourning a lot during this song. It's pretty poppy.

*****Bonus Songs*****

1. Burned is this House- It's okay. I've only heard it a few times-so I don't really have anything to say about it.

2. Maybe I'll Catch Fire (Acoustic)-A good version of a really great song. Adrianno does a few different things with his voice on the acoustic version so it will give diehard fans something to listen to. Plus...the quality of the original song is a little grainy...so you might be able to get more lyrics right with this one.

3. Live Fast, Die Young (Acoustic)-I liked it better acoustic, but I'm still not a huge fan of the song. Skiba sounds pretty good on this one.

4. Into the Night (Acoustic)-A catchy upbeat acoustic track. Ever wanna know what a Trio song would sound like if the other sing sang it? Well here ya go. Adrianno does a good job on this track.

5. Over and Out (Acoustic)- not a bad acoustic cover. It's essentially the same song with little added to it.

6. Lost and Rendered (Acoustic)-Sort of the same thing that I said for Over and Out-it's a decent version of the song. The airy chords add something where distortion effects did on the studio version.

5.0 out of 5 stars A More Mature Trio Sound Great as Ever, May 1, 2009

By	Megan E. Hoppe "Meg" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This album normally evokes a lot of emotion from me. Not necessarily while listening to it, but while listening to reviews and quips about the album. AGONY & IRONY is a fantastic album for a jump to a major record label. Exploding onto the Chicago punk scene in 1998, Trio has amassed a hefty following over the past decade. This fan following allowed them to hold out for the right major label transition. With AGONY & IRONY the band manages to hold onto their integrity, something that they lost sight of during CRIMSON, and take this album's sound and production quality back to MAYBE I'LL CATCH FIRE's level. In fact, the album really reminds me of a more mature MAYBE I'LL CATCH FIRE, and it's a nice change coming right off of CRIMSON.

Many critics don't appreciate the movement of the classic Chicago punk guitar and vocals to a more up-beat "mainstream" sound. And while AGONY & IRONY definitely emits a higher energy, there is an evolution of sound going on here. Trio is playing with the constraints of the punk scene that they helped create to find a niche as they mature musically- we saw this transition in MAYBE I'LL CATCH FIRE as well. With AGONY & IRONY, we also see a more harmonious vocal union between Matt and Dan. Normally, there aren't many harmonies and overlapping vocals on songs. However, AGONY & IRONY played with this old structure and introduced dual vocals and more interaction between the two singers.

"Calling All Skeletons" is one of the best opening songs that they have had since GOOD MOURNING's "This Could Be Love" or FFROM HERE TO INFIRMARY's "Private Eye." While songs like "In Vein", "Live Young, Die Fast", and "Over and Out" [you HAVE to check out the Renholder Remix of this song on the UNDERWORLD: RISE OF THE LYCANS soundtrack, it's absolutely the best version out there] will, in the long run, easily be considered some of the greatest Trio songs.

Overall, the album serves the same purpose MAYBE I'LL CATCH FIRE did. It is different, however it is by no means meant to be overlooked. The sound is still very Trio, but the experimentation of sound and vocals is something that I am eager to see as an evolving practice in albums to come.

If you're going to get this album, get the Deluxe version. The acoustic variations of the songs, especially "Maybe I'll Catch Fire" are more than worth it. Spend the extra money.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Album, September 12, 2008

By	Joseph Sparto "joe milkweed" (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've been a fan for a while. This album does sound a little different but people and bands change so its hard to stay the same. So far I'm really digging the first six, Over and Out has to be my favorite and the other 5 are growing on me. I'm looking forward to seeing them, Thrice, and Rise Against in Cleveland in 2 weeks and hopefully they'll play some new tracks along with some old ones.