Alkaline Trio - Is This Thing Cursed? (August 31, 2018) Album • Page 56

I also love that the albums has songs like little help but also like fire islands wich sounds like a big arena rock songs.

 

Just shed a few tears to Stay. Damn you Dan. Always in my feels. Gonna have Young lovers at our wedding. My Gf's choice.

 

Happy album release, guys! So, I've been listening to this album a lot the last few days and I was thinking about doing a sort of mini-review, and here it is:

1. Is This Thing Cursed? - 10/10
When I first heard this song I was blown away by the fact that the opening track was a Dan song. This is a really interesting song, nothing about it is boring. The song structure, the harmonies, the shared vocals on the last verse. Wow, this song is amazing. One of their best openers, and one of my new favorite Dan songs for sure.

2. Blackbird - 9/10
This song is really good. Sounds like classic Trio with a taste of what's to come. Perfect first single.

3. Demon and Division - 10/10
When this song was released before the album I didn't like it that much right away. But when heared it for the second time when playing the whole album front to back, it just clicked with me. It's so catchy, the chorus reminds me a bit of Green Day (not in a bad way), and that bass line is so unforgettable. Also, the Dan bridge was a big bonus. This is one of my favorites from the album.

4. Little Help? - 8/10
A fast punk rock song is always welcome. This is a fun song, and it brings a little variety to the record. Not crazy about the lyrics though.

5. I Can't Believe - 10/10
Also one of the best songs on the album, with elements of both classic and modern Trio. Love the lyrics, and if it's true that this song is about (against) Trump then I love it even more. When a deep cut is this good, you kinda wish it doesn't become a single.

6. Sweet Vampires - 8/10
The guitar in this song sounds like Good Mourning summarized, and the chorus could easily have been from that album. This was also a song that I din't like during the first listen, but after a few more listens I really enjoy it more.

7. Pale Blue Ribbon - 7/10
This song was one of the weak points for me. It's not bad or anything, I just can put my finger on it. I guess it's a little forgettable, and not as good as the 6 previous songs.

8. Goodbye Fire Island - 7/10
Another low point. Musically it's good. But I just can't get into that "heee-eey-yah" ...

9. Stay - 10/10
As I've said before, the beginning of the chorus reminds me of Leaving on a Jet Plane, and that's not a bad thing. This song makes me feel nostalgic somehow, as if I've heard this song long ago and not really appreciated it until now. That's so strange. This too is easily one of the best songs on the album. Great job, Dan, great job.

10. Heart Attacks - 9/10
This song sounds very unique, and the guitar is amazing. Too bad this song is a little too short.

11. Worn So Thin - 8/10
Not much to say, I like this song.

12. Throw Me to the Lions - 8/10
Same as above.

13. Krystalline - 8/10
Good closer. Matt's voice sounds amazing. This is always how I wished he'd sounded on Blue in the Face. This song would be perfect if they would somehow let it build up and end it all with the whole band playing together.

I can now finally say that I like this album a little more than Crimson. There are some great classics on Crimson that will always be some of their best song, but this is a better album overall. Maybe this album will slowly make its way to the top of my ranking.

 

Anyone else hearing the vocal melody to "This Could Be Love" during parts of "Krystalline"?

 

I think Throw Me To The Lions might be my least favorite song

 

Agreed!

 

Honestly I kind of like “I warned you” too, haha. Either way his voice is absolutely outstanding on that part!

 

On my 3rd or 4th listen and this is really fun. Don’t care too much for little help but it’s a good listen all the way through. Demon, fire island, and heart attacks are prob current top 3.

 

Loving this album so much. Spent a lot of time with it yesterday and this morning. Gonna take a break bc I dont want to burn out my listens. But yeah....this thing is good.

Matt's songs are sticking out more and more with each listen. Usually I latch on to Dan's songs first and Matt's songs grow on me. I get so many GM/Crimson vibes the more I listen to this too. Especially, with the instrumentation.

 

I wish there was 1 more Dan song before the closing track, something with a little more emotional weight.

 

It’s al ata interesting when people have different favourites (and least favourites) from an album.

Gave it a listen last night, and really want to take time to let the album sink in. Good release date choice. Nothing competing for my my ears attention until new Thrice. Well done Trio

 

I’m loving this album so much still after 10+ listens. It’s so dang good. Dan sounds his best on this album, but I feel like Matts songs stick out more to me.

Also loving they do more trade off vocals

 

I think it's a pretty common chord progression for Matt - sounds a lot like Dead On The Floor too - which also means it sounds like Falling Like Rain.

 

Trying to see where this fits into my album ranking for Alkaline...right now I'm honestly putting it at Number 2. Good Mourning will always be my favorite, and while This Addiction isn't everyone's favorite, but that one really got me back into them and a good portion of the songs have stayed in my favorites playlist for years.

1. Good Mourning
2. Is This Thing Cursed?
3. This Addiction
4. Crimson
5. From Here to Infirmary
6. My Shame Is True
7. Maybe I'll Catch Fire
8. Agony & Irony
9. Goddamnit
10. The Alkaline Trio

 

I love when Danny plays punk rock.

 

Man, this album is fantastic. Was not expecting it to be this good...

Might be my favorite album of theirs since From Here To Infirmary...

 

Their strongest album since Agony & Irony definitely

 

Riley Breckenridge from Thrice giving it some love on his IG story

 

My rankings change with this band, but currently it’s something like this:

Crimson

From Here To Infirmary

Agony & Irony

Is This Thing Cursed?

Good Mourning

Goddamnit

Maybe I’ll Catch Fire

This Addiction

My Shame Is True

 

I can't make a ranking this soon after release but I'm glad to see this in so many people's top halves (lots of rankings on the FB group) it's certainly closer to the top than the bottom for me. No small achievement with what their early stuff means to me

 

Ya, I gotta let the excitement die down before ranking. But I will say this album will get an extra bonus point from me because the album art is so fucking cool. My favorite of theirs has always been A&I, but I think the blood red phone might have taken the cake haha.

 

Ok I’ll bite on this ranking thing. Need more time with ITTC but preliminary ranking.

1. Crimson
2. Is This Thing Cursed?
3. Good Mourning
4. Goddamnit
5. My Shame Is True
6. From Here To Infirmary
7. This Addiction
8. Agony & Irony
9. The Alkaline Trio
10. Maybe I’ll catch fire

 

I just had to buy that damn phone on my own haha

 

Way too curious to see if blink gives them a noticeable sales bump. And the songs on youtube are really well received judging by likes and comments too