Alkaline Trio – Good Mourning – Review

Alkaline Trio

Good Mourning (Vagrant)
by Tim Den

You know, I’ve remained loyal to Alkaline Trio through all the cries of sellout. I never once let their popularity effect my judgement of their songwriting, which – by the time it hit its peak on last year’s split with Hot Water Music – I was beginning to think would never falter.

So why does Good Mourning feel so mundane, so uninspired? Could it be because I’ve really heard it all by now (a lot of the melodies here recall older songs)? Or has the whole “we’re an evil pop punk band!” image replaced my appetite for them with mockery? Cuz, after all, how can you sit through sugary songs with lyrics about coffins and Satan with a straight face? Maybe that’s it: The fact that Good Mourning feels more like the band trying to differentiate themselves from the pop-punkers through image rather than songwriting. Harmonize about getting “murdered’ by heartbreak (Cheese alert! Cheese alert!) all you want, but when people stop snickering, they’re gonna notice that those harmonies aren’t even that great. Then what are ya left with? A whole lot of “no, seriously, we’re dark, maaaaaan!’ and not much else.

Hey, I’m as bummed about this as you are, dear 15 year old. But don’t blame me, blame whoever’s telling these guys to write poser Goth metal lyrics over mediocre songs.
(2118 Wilshire Blvd. #361 Santa Monica, CA 90403)