Spinner

Alkaline Trio Return to 'Punk Upbringing' for New Album

Alkaline TrioIt's been 11 years since Alkaline Trio released their first full-length album, 'Goddamnit.' In that time, they've been signed to three different labels and expanded their sound beyond their original straight-ahead punk style, incorporating more melody and production. Now, with the pending release of their seventh album on their newly formed Heart & Skull label -- a joint venture with Epitaph -- the Chicago rockers are heading back to their roots.

"This record is a rock record but our punk rock upbringing definitely shines through, more so than our last few records," singer/guitarist Matt Skiba tells Spinner. "The vibe is similar to our humble beginnings. It's a step forward but I also think it has glimmers of our past in it."

To recapture the sound of the early days, Skiba says the band took a simpler approach to recording the album, which will feature 11 tracks and be released in February. While Skiba says there's a little bit of synth on the record and one trumpet solo in the style of Neutral Milk Hotel, not ska-punk, the band mainly kept things straightforward. "We went with a less-is-more approach on this record. A lot of it is just one guitar rather than overdubs or three or four guitars," he says. "We wanted a record that we could easily play live. For the most part, it's pretty bare bones while still sounding full and big."

But that's not the only way Alkaline Trio is getting back to their origins. "Another thing that makes it resemble our earlier records, especially our first record, is that it's really personal," Skiba says. "A couple of us have gone through some pretty serious life changes. We had a good friend of ours pass away since the last record. There's a song on the record, 'Dorothy,' that was really influenced by the film 'Blue Velvet' but it's a metaphor for someone and something else. Everything on the record is stuff that definitely hits close to home for us and we tried to communicate that in the songs."

That said, Skiba also takes on politics, though it's still within the traditional dark themes of Alkaline's best work. "There is a song on the record called 'The American Scream' that is political," he says. "For a long time we were afraid to write overtly political songs but I read this article about a US soldier that came back from a tour of duty in Afghanistan and blew his head off on his mother's grave and I wrote a song about that."

Skiba is currently approving the final artwork for the album -- the title of which is still being kept under wraps -- and says he can't wait for fans to hear it. "We're really excited to get back on the road and see everybody. We've been playing some of these songs live but most of them nobody's heard so we're really excited," he says. "We're very, very proud of the record and we hope that everybody digs it."

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LinkDFD

All I have to say is that I can't get remains off my Ipod. Keep up the good work guys, I know you won't let your fans down!!

December 12 2009 at 5:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ChicagoMusicFan

Ok argueable maybe on DIJ--but on the others? Never heard of?

from myspace.com/random55 :
"RANDOM55: Successful Attempts At Failure
Remixed by Matt Allison (Alkaline Trio, Lawrence Arms), Random55's limited edition 'Successful Attempts At Failure' CD-EP "
This is the Final Solution's side band! Some same members! Never heard of? RACIST LIES!


December 03 2009 at 1:48 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to ChicagoMusicFan's comment
FatallyYours

You realize, of course, that Matt Allison is a producer, right? Not a member of the Alkaline Trio? Matt Skiba (you know, that fellow who replied to your silly comment?) is the "Matt" from Alkaline Trio.

This completely invalidates your claim that Alk3 is a
"band whose member’s work with outright neo-nazis...and crypto-fascists."

Unless Matt Skiba is, in fact, a neo-nazi and all those silly things he says at concerts are an elaborate ploy to make fans think he's an advocate for equality. Now that I think about it, you're probably right. I bet Dan is a member of the KKK as well...he does shave his head. Hmmmmm.

December 04 2009 at 1:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tallshanks

ChicagoMusicFan, you're a douchebag, straight-up. Learn a little bit about the band and their members before you start passing judgment. And furthermore, don't judge a book by it's cover.

November 19 2009 at 5:53 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
haam

@ChicagoMusicFan, because Epitaph is a record label and record labels like to work with bands that roll in cash, Alk3 being one of those bands. It's called business and I think you're overreacting with all this talk of neo-nazis and fascists... At any rate, Skiba and Dan are proven great song writers, even if they've missed the mark on the last few records. I'm stoked to hear all the hub-bub.
Haam-Out.

November 18 2009 at 1:59 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to haam's comment
chrisatcpb

@ChicagoMusicFan YA BURNT!

November 18 2009 at 3:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
chrisatcpb

I'm stoked to hear it. I was thinking, maybe just get a new producer that don't take cheese with that sammich. Like Tedd Hutt.

Bring back the old alkaline...

November 18 2009 at 1:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ChicagoMusicFan

That’s a bit fucked up.
Why would Epitaph support a band whose member’s work with outright neo-nazis (Chicago’s Random 55/Final Solution) and crypto-fascists (Death in June)?

November 18 2009 at 12:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to ChicagoMusicFan's comment
matthew skiba

douglas p isn't a neo-nazi and we've never worked with nor even heard of the other artists your mentioning. death in june is art and doug is an artist. if our collaboration on the last record raises questions and/or eyebrows, we invite you to do some further research into his background and influences. thank you for your concern. all the beast, Matt

November 24 2009 at 4:52 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply