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Time To Waste - video

Burn - video

Stupid Kid - video

Good Bye Forever - video

• Genre: Punk
• Members: Matt Skiba Derek Grant Dan Andriano
• Label: TBA Vagrant Asian Man
• Label Type: Major
• Website: www.alkalinetrio.com

Though the current world of Alkaline Trio is not nearly as fraught with and fueled by drink and drama as in the band’s formative years, the making of the new Crimson (out now on Vagrant), was not without its share of dark portents: Two bone-shattering skateboarding accidents, one PunkVoter tour that failed to block the reelection of George W. Bush… but oddly enough: No failed relationships!

As a result Crimson stands as the most mature and ambitious 13 songs Alkaline Trio has ever pushed itself to create-with able guidance from producer Jerry Finn (Green Day, Blink-182, Jawbreaker). From the ominous piano and atmospherics opening of first single “Time To Waste” to closing ballad “Smoke,” not a moment or note is wasted as the familiar Trio balance of darkness and melody on “Mercy Me,” “Dethbed” and “The Poison” nestles up against increasingly progressive tempos and arrangements of “Burn” and “Satin,” and the epic true-to-life tales of Manson family member Sadie Mae Glutz (“Sadie”) and the West Memphis Three (“Prevent This Tragedy”).

Alkaline Trio’s legacy harkens back to 1997, when Matt Skiba, a bike messenger from working class Chicago ‘burb McHenry, gave up the drums for the guitar and began his quest for the perfect balance of lyrical hell and pop heaven. He and fellow messenger / drummer Glenn Porter and bassist Rob Doran would debut as Alkaline Trio for the Sundials 7”. Dan Andriano replaced Doran prior to the For Your Lungs Only EP, adding a second voice and songwriting style that complemented and contrasted with Skiba’s, and the signature Alkaline Trio sound was born.

Two albums on indie Asian Man Records, Goddamnit and Maybe I’ll Catch Fire, followed in 1998 and 2000 respectively, punctuated by hard touring and yielding to-this-day live favorites “Radio,” “Nose Over Tail” and the latter’s title track. A self-titled compilation of early singles, EPs, compilation tracks and others odds ‘n’ ends followed later in 2000.

From Here To Infirmary was released in 2001, marking both the Trio’s Vagrant Records debut and the addition of ex-Smoking Popes drummer Mike Felumlee to the fold. Singles “Private Eye” and “Stupid Kid” and staples “Crawl” and “Another Innocent Girl” became instant classics to the exponentially growing Alkaline Trio fan base that buoyed the record into the top 200 and packed clubs and theaters, transforming the band into a formidable worldwide draw.

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