Alkaline Trio veers from their usual gruesome imagery a bit on My Shame Is True and adds a splash of pop to their variable punk vibe that adds more variety into their already diverse collection. “She Lied To The FBI” starts the album off with catchy lyrics, unforgettable harmonies and an overall bouncy feel. Fans of the band’s older, lyrically more colorful songs may sit on the fence when it comes to My Shame Is True. The follow-up number, “I Wanna Be A Warhol,” has a rougher and raw sound that is similar to what was heard on 2005’s Crimson. A steady drum roll and flavorful “oh ohs” lead up to the final chorus of the second song. After the first two cuts, it seems that the group switches gears back to a sound and lyrical sincerity that die-hard fans are used to, compared to the openers which had a slight dishonesty to them.
My Shame Is True hits its peak when “The Temptation Of St. Anthony” rolls in. The strongest number on the release paves the way for the raspy “I, Pessimist.” The contrast between Matt Skiba’s harsh vocals and Dan Andriano’s silkier voice in this two-minute thriller picks up the energy of the whole release. Much of Skiba’s focus throughout the release seems to be on a former flame, but instead of a breakup-type album, it’s almost as if the collection of songs serves as an apology. As “One Last Dance” and “Young Lovers” start to wind down the release, it becomes more evident where Skiba’s heart is.
My Shame Is True puts Skiba in likely his most vulnerable position musically and by doing so, created one of Alkaline Trio’s strongest releases to date.
In A Word: Powerful
