Customer Reviews

Agony & Irony (Deluxe Edition)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

First, I gave this album 3 stars because I couldn't give it 2.5. I became a fan of Alkaline Trio when I was a freshman in high school when 'From Here to the Infirmary' hit the stands. I bought all of their previous albums shortly thereafter. From then until 'Crimson' the band has done nothing but impress. With this album, however, the band falls short of thier once powerful poems and deliver watered-down sentiments of restated themes. With a video in rotation on MTV2, a tour sposored by Hot Topic, and an album put out on Epic, it stands to reason that this album fails to reach the band's water line. Each album they have put out has progressed the band further. As a fan I would hate to think that this is where their growth gets stunted. Musically it's just a good ole Alkaline Trio record, but it is lyrically lacking. For those of you reading this review intent on buying the album I suggest buying any one of their earlier albums along with it (get it used they're cheap).

I would put this record with Crimson since they almost sound the same but this is poppier in the sense that more people would listen to it because of the songs catchiness.

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.

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.

It's hard to find words that truly express my full disappointment with this album.
I really wonder if the persons involved in writing music for Alkaline Trio really want to be in the music business at all anymore; let alone for a band that I coveted like Trio. Whatever.
Bands go through changes. They go through bad times. They go through slumps, and they go through courtings. They feel love, hate, and break ups. The goods, the bads, and the what-have-you's.
Some never lose sight of the prize...and some do.
Some say, "It's what we've worked for!" And some realize it's a lot more than that.
A band like Trio was a once in a lifetime thing. The sad fact is that they've become what, I believe, they -at one point- never would have wanted to be. A shadow living in the depths of what was, and what now is past. The members try to do what they used to, but it's come so far...you've come so far.
If any member of Trio ever reads this, I would ask that you look back on what you were. Maybe there you'll find what was. Maybe you could find it again. Probably you'll think you're being chided for "being yourself", but the you who was exited long ago.
You can never write songs like you did years ago; I don't even ask you to. But couldn't you at least write one song that had some feeling in it?

I first heard the Alkaline Trio on [...], and thought they were slightly better than average. I bought this album, and it's been a little better than expected.

Let's get something straight. Alkaline Trio seems to emphasize one major aspect of music: Vocals. This is great in my book, because that's really all I care about in music, but other's care about the guitar and drums. To be honest, the guitar didn't make a huge impression on me, but I am by no means an expert.

Deluxe Edition Extras:

The deluxe editon came with an extra CD full of acoustic and demo versions of the songs. They are not too bad, but not as good as the main album. Deluxe also includes extra artwork, and a cool little cover box thing. Is it worth the extra money you pay? I don't think so, but that's only my opinion. If best buy had had the regular edition, I would have bought it.

So basically if you like the basic melody and rhythm of emo music, and you like the vocals of standard rock music without depressing lyrics, give this album a try.

I can not say too much bad about this album, it is a good sounding album. But to compare it to their previous releases, this one falls short. It would have been hard to top Good Mourning, but Agony and Irony does deliver a nice sound, interesting lyrics, and the bonus album is a fun change to their sound.

I'd buy it again... on sale.

What I like about Alkaline Trio(and you may think I'm old for saying this) is that you can understand the words. Though their lyrics are not Shakespeare and at times seem random, I like that I can sing along with them. Agony and Irony is a heartbreak album from start to finish. Lots of angst and anger here--I especially love this lyric from In Vein: "Do you recognize this shape? It's the back of your hand. You paste it on my face here again & again". Love that and can totally relate.

Musically, there may not be enough punk for me--I like it a little more fast and furious, but did find that I especially liked "Calling All Skeletons" and "Lost and Rendered".

The suicide song "Over And Out" could have been very cheesy and overdone, but I think it was well played. Seems as if they understand the emotion that drives you to the edge, but at the end they encourage anyone thinking in this direction to "never lose hope". For someone who respects Alkaline Trio, this may work.

All in all, I recommend it if you have money to buy two CDs--your first being something more challenging to the ear.

So, this is a Sony album, and boy does it show. This album is way, way, way over-produced. Everything that is true and real and good has been tweaked out of it by the magick of Sony production.
Go back to Vagrant!!!