REVIEW: Alkaline Trio, Maybe I'll Catch Fire (Asian Man)
- Christina Apeles
Feverish and virile, Alkaline Trio's second full-length release is not as raw as one would expect from a young trio raised on punk rock. Their jaws would likely drop at the bands that came to my mind after listening to the first two tracks. "Keep 'em Coming" had the guitar workings of early Ride, while "Madam Me" felt much like Sunny Day Real Estate. These tracks demonstrated their keen sense of what makes a catchy melody, producing more of an uplifting feel than aggressive. Moving into "Fuck You Aurora" and "Sleepyhead" their punk aesthetic is more apparent, with discordant vocals and frantic drumming. This is where you find Fugazi and PIL influencing their sound, especially in the pogo-friendly "Tuck Me In."
Maybe I'll Catch Fire is their last album to be released on Asian Man, having just signed on to Vagrant (Get up Kids, Face to Face, Saves the Day). One of Chicago's prized pop punk bands, Alkaline Trio have range, clever sonic sensibility and charisma which means great live sets and a bright future ahead.
