Album Review: Alkaline Trio - My Shame Is True

If anyone has concerns that Chicago punk rock icons Alkaline Trio may have run their course, those worries will be set to rest minutes into My Shame Is True, the band's ninth record. Any concerns are valid, and probably would have arisen from My Shame Is True's predecessor, This Addiction. While it had an immensely catchy title track and a few other gems, overall it fell short as far as songwriting goes.

In the three years between records, each member ventured out and travelled the world, releasing music independently from Alkaline Trio. It seems letting AK3 sit on the sidelines was exactly what it needed, as they have returned with one of their best releases yet. The first half of the record doesn't stray too far from the sounds of 2005's Crimson, a record that scored them something of a cult following with its dark undertones and playfully dreary lyrics. It's towards the end of My Shame Is True that the songs really take on a new sound, however, like nothing they've done before.

If you're looking for classic Alkaline Trio, you can't go past Torture Doctor or the album's opener, She Lied To The FBI. Both are Matt Skiba songs and it seems the guitarist has stuck to his usual formula of singing about lost love through analogies. Bassist Dan Andriano, who splits songwriting and vocal duties, has fewer songs on the record, but his songwriting has evolved into a completely different beast, which adds a different dimension and a fresh perspective. In their most honest and original release since 2005, Alkaline Trio have injected new life into the band.