Punk pop is a musical genre that has always had an unjustified reputation for producing mind-numbingly simple songs (although Blink 182’s discography perhaps validates this reputation). Nevertheless, punk pop songs need the same elements as any other genre (catchy hooks, singalong choruses, etc.) to be considered hits.
These universal elements are what separate the punk pop behemoths (like Green Day and The Offspring) from the one-hit wonders (like Lit). Chicago’s punk pop veterans Alkaline Trio recently released their seventh and latest studio album, “This Addiction.” Yes, the songs on this compilation are pretty simple by nature, but that doesn’t mean this album doesn’t have its fair share of quality and catchy punk pop songs.
Given the self-titled opening track and lead single, one can expect a good amount of references to narcotics throughout the album. Lead singer Matt Skiba wastes no time diving in, opening the song with the lines “Well you hit me just like heroin/I feel you coursing through my veins/I once tried to kick this addiction/I swear I’ll never kick again.”
Skiba’s piercing vocals in the chorus make him genuinely seem like he’s suffering through some kind of powerful addiction, whether it be drugs, love, or both. The second song, “Dine, Dine My Darling” continues the drug/love theme, with lines like “Get a couple more days, but the drugs are lame/So I’m looking for you to be/The very last thing I see before I up and fly away.”
Instrumentally, the album explores sounds not typically heard on a punk pop album. “Lead Poisoning” has a pleasant trumpet solo that may have listeners mistaking Alkaline Trio for The Mighty, Mighty Bosstones or Reel Big Fish. The guitar tone in the intro to “Dead on the Floor” sounds just like the intro to Kings of Leon’s “Sex on Fire.”
“Eating Me Alive” is arguably the catchiest song on the album. It’s incorporation of a poppy synthesizer makes this song feel like it could be on The Killers’ next album. Despite this deviation, “Addiction” still has plenty of the stuff Trio fans have come to love with Skiba’s heavy guitar riffs and Derek Grant’s aggressive and complex percussion, a staple of a genre known for simple, yet entertaining, music.
One disappointment is the inconsistency of bassist Dan Andriano’s sounds. Some songs have the bass lines pulsating with great tone and reverb, and other songs have the bass barely audible. Producer Matt Allison could be to blame here, although it could be a number of different reasons.
Along with drugs and love, another prevalent theme is the tug of war waged between hope and hopelessness. No more is this evident than in the closer “Fine.” This song produces the brightest sounds, featuring a mixture of clean and acoustic guitars throughout. This combination gives one an optimistic feeling upon listening.
Skiba contradicts himself, declaring “It’s gonna rain like this for days/I’m gonna drown in my old ways/But I’m fine, I’m fine; It’s gonna hurt like hell/When you pull back the hammer and fire/But I’m fine, I’m fine.”
Dreary lyrics in many of the songs, combined with poppy rhythms have Alkaline Trio directly under the influence of Depeche Mode, circa 1986. Maybe “This Addiction” is the punk pop “Black Celebration” that fans have been looking for.
Whether this influence is intentional or not is debatable; but there’s no doubt that Alkaline Trio is further evidence that simple songs can be great, too. “This Addiction” proves that.
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