Alkaline Trio’s 2000 release, Maybe I’ll Catch Fire, is not there best work, but it is still a CD that is worth listening to. It is another chapter of delightful darkness for one of the most under appreciated bands out there.
One thing that catches you right off the bat is the sound of the album’s production. It manages to sound like it was cheaply recorded, but still is extremely tight and “clean”. It’s hard to explain but one listen to any of the tracks and one instantly is able to recognize the effect I speak of. I absolutely love it, it might have my favorite production sound of any album.
The album kicks off at full gallop with “Keep ‘Em Coming”. The third track “You’ve Got So Far To Go” is a terrific tale of love, smoking, and booze carried by bassist/vocalist Dan Andriano. It the type of song that other bands often try and fail miserably at pulling off, but Alkaline Trio quite often nails.
Maybe I’ll Catch Fire, more than any other Alkaline Trio disc, showcases lead singer/guitarist Matt Skiba’s unique ability to sing even the most terrible things in a inviting and pretty way. This style is clear on “Fuck You Aurora.” It’s a gift for scathing beauty that no one does quite as well.
The album ends with it’s best track, the bipolar bliss of “Radio”. The song starts with with a soft and simple guitar intro that is ridiculously hard to get out of your head. Skiba matches this with a soft almost crooning vocal about revenge. Just when the listener is getting lulled into a sense of peace, the chorus hits like a bag of bricks to the side of the head. The guitar suddenly turns harsh and Skiba bellows at the top of his lungs about his wish for an ex to take her radio into the bath. It’s such a good track. If nothing else, go download this song.
Peaks and valleys are the biggest problem with Maybe I’ll Catch Fire. While there are no bad songs on this album, some just don’t live up to the others (“Tuck Me In” & “Sleepyhead” being prime examples). While it’s not to the point where one must reach desperately for the skip button, I sometimes find waiting for the best tracks to come along and tuning out others. But overall it’s not a huge problem, and the album does keep you coming back for more.
Review Score: 8.3
*Originally posted on my old blog, Muss, on May 14, 2007*
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