Agony & Irony

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Agony & Irony
Alkaline Trio - Agony & Irony cover.jpg
Studio album by
Alkaline Trio
ReleasedJuly 1, 2008
GenrePop punk,[1][2] pop rock[2]
Length39:42
LabelEpic
ProducerJosh Abraham
Alkaline Trio chronology
Remains
(2007) 		Agony & Irony
(2008) 		This Addiction
(2010)
Singles from Agony & Irony
  1. "In Vein"
    Released: April 8, 2008
  2. "Help Me"
    Released: April 28, 2008
  3. "Calling All Skeletons"
    Released: June 13, 2008
  4. "Over and Out"
    Released: October 21, 2008

Agony & Irony is the sixth studio album and major label debut by American rock band Alkaline Trio, released July 1, 2008 on Epic Records.

Background[]

On October 12, 2006, the band announced they had signed with major label V2 Records. In addition, it was mentioned that the band was working on new songs, and was aiming to record a new album in early 2007.[3] However, in January 2007, V2 went through a restructuring process which left the fate of its acts unknown.[4] Drummer Derek Grant said the band had 18 songs, which they were in the process of demoing in Los Angeles, California. Though, they were expecting to record their next album in April 2007,[5] each member was focused elsewhere: Skiba with Heavens and touring with Chuck Ragan, Andriano as a studio musician, and Grant writing R&B songs while constructing a studio.[6][7] On May 28, 2007, the group announced they had signed to another major label, Epic Records.[8] Three days later, "Fire Down Below" was posted on the band's Myspace profile.[9] They performed on that year's Warped Tour for two weeks; they debuted a new track, titled "In Vein".[10][11] Following these dates, the band entered the studio to work on their next album.[12]

Composition[]

Regarding this album, vocalist and guitarist Matt Skiba stated that the band set out to record an "anthemic hard rock record."[13] Regarding the record's sound and influences, Skiba states that he was "listening to a lot of Pat Benatar, Def Leppard and a lot of the 80’s MTV music that I grew up with. So that was a big influence in the writing process, bands like The Cars". Norwegian experimental band Ulver contributed strings, programming and vocals on "Lost & Rendered" and "In My Stomach." Douglas P. of English neofolk group Death in June contributed a spoken word introduction to "I Found Away". "Help Me" was inspired by the Joy Division film Control (2007).[14]

In an interview promoting the album, Matt Skiba cites that:

there’s a theme of duality on the record, it’s sort of a spin on ‘ebony and ivory’ which of course represents black and white. The songs on the new album sort of represent a struggle between good and evil, light and dark, and despair and hope. We felt Agony and Irony was appropriate, I mean we fancy ourselves as being pretty clever, and we felt a play on words was also fitting for the new record. It's also a lyric from 'Flagpole Sitta' by Harvey Danger, so we thought we earn double points for that.[13]

Release[]

On April 4, "In Vein" was made available for streaming through the band's Myspace profile. It was mentioned that the band's untitled next album would be released in July. through Epic Records.[11] The following day, the band appeared at the Bamboozle Left festival.[15] On April 7, the album's title Agony & Irony and track listing was revealed.[16] On April 22 an "In Vein" EP was released on iTunes. The EP featured two tracks which had already been heard by fans and a new song entitled "Into the Night". "Help Me" was released to radio stations on April 22.[17] In May and June, the band participated in the Zumiez Couch Tour[18] alongside Kandi Coded, Our Last Night and Dr. Manhattan.[19] Agony & Irony was made available for streaming on June 27 on their Myspace.[20] Three days later, a music video for "Help Me" was released. According to Alternative Press, the video "features 100% less on-the-road and concert footage and 100% more Matt Skiba dressed up as someone from Young Guns flying with a jetpack."[21]

Agony & Irony was released on July 1 through Epic Records.[22] In October and November, the band supported Rise Against on their headlining tour of the US.[23] Due to Rise Against vocalist Tim McIlrath becoming ill, Alkaline Trio performed two shows with another band on the tour, Thrice.[24] "Over and Out" impacted radio on October 21.[25] In January and February 2009, the band went on a tour of Europe with the Audition and Broadway Calls.[26] In February and March, the band toured Australia as part of the Soundwave festival.[27] Also in March, the band launched a contest for fans to remix "I Found Away" that would be included on a digital release titled Remix EP.[28] In April, the band went on a tour of the east coast and Midwest with Saves the Day[29] and were supported by Death in the Park.[30] Further dates were added, extending the tour into mid-May.[31] Following this, the band supported the Offspring on their Shit Is Fucked Up Tour in May and June.[32] In June 2013, independent label Shop Radio Cast released the album as a two-LP set with a booklet and additional recordings.[33]

Reception[]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk.net(76%) [34]
AllMusic [2]
The A.V. ClubB+ [35]
Blender [1]
IGN8.3/10 [36]
Melodic [37]
Rolling Stone [38]

By August 2008, the album sold 57,000 copies.[39]

Track listing[]

All Tracks by Alkaline Trio.

No.TitleLength
1."Calling All Skeletons"3:19
2."Help Me"3:44
3."In Vein"3:57
4."Over and Out"3:14
5."I Found Away"4:01
6."Do You Wanna Know?"3:36
7."Live Young, Die Fast"4:14
8."Love Love, Kiss Kiss"3:25
9."Lost and Rendered"3:23
10."Ruin It"3:36
11."Into the Night"3:23
Bonus tracks
  • "In My Stomach" – 3:53 (iTunes bonus track)
  • "Love Love, Kiss Kiss (acoustic)" – 3:08 (Australian bonus track)
  • "Fire Down Below" – 3:43 (Japanese bonus track)
Deluxe edition bonus disc
  1. "Burned Is the House" – 4:26
  2. "Maybe I'll Catch Fire (acoustic)" – 3:04
  3. "Live Young, Die Fast (acoustic)" – 3:19
  4. "Into the Night (acoustic)" – 3:12
  5. "Over and Out (acoustic)" – 2:47
  6. "Lost and Rendered (acoustic)" – 3:13

References[]

  1. ^ a b Blender review
  2. ^ a b c Agony & Irony at AllMusic
  3. ^ Roth, Kaj (October 12, 2006). "V2 Records Signs Alkaline Trio". Melodic. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  4. ^ Solarski, Matthew (January 15, 2007). "V2 Closes Shop on New Releases, White Stripes Are Free". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  5. ^ Paul, Aubin (February 5, 2007). "Updates from Alkaline Trio: still recording, no label yet". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  6. ^ Paul, Aubin (March 21, 2007). "Alkaline Trio writing, demoing new material". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  7. ^ Paul, Aubin (April 6, 2007). "Matt Skiba / Chuck Ragan". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
  8. ^ Moran, Chris (May 28, 2007). "Alkaline Trio signs to Epic Records". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  9. ^ Paul, Aubin (May 31, 2007). "Alkaline Trio post new track from Warped compilation". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
  10. ^ Paul, Aubin (March 19, 2007). "Alkaline Trio confirmed for Warped". Punknews.org. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "Alkaline Trio post new song, set release date for new album". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. April 4, 2008. Archived from the original on 2017-08-07. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  12. ^ Wippsson, Johan (July 31, 2007). "Alkaline Trio Signs To Epic Records". Melodic. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  13. ^ a b "Archived copy". www.bombshellzine.com. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ Winberg, Pär (June 27, 2008). "Online Alkaline Trio Listening Party..." Melodic. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  15. ^ "Blaqk Audio, Hot Water Music, H2O added to Bamboozle Left". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. February 15, 2008. Archived from the original on July 28, 2017. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  16. ^ Roth, Kaj (April 7, 2008). "Alkaline Trio Releases New Album On July 1". Melodic. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  17. ^ "AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly". AllAccess. April 15, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  18. ^ "Alkaline Trio, Scary Kids Scaring Kids on Zumiez Couch Tour". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. April 2, 2008. Archived from the original on 2017-08-07. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  19. ^ "Bayside, Dr. Manhattan, more added to Zumiez Couch Tour". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. April 30, 2008. Archived from the original on 2017-08-07. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  20. ^ "Alkaline Trio launches full stream of 'Agony And Irony'". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. June 27, 2008. Archived from the original on 2017-08-07. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  21. ^ "Alkaline Trio release official "Help Me" video". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. June 30, 2008. Archived from the original on 2017-07-30. Retrieved July 10, 2017.
  22. ^ "Alkaline Trio unveil title, tracklist for upcoming album". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. April 14, 2008. Archived from the original on 2017-08-07. Retrieved July 9, 2017.
  23. ^ "Rise Against announce fall tour routing". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. July 28, 2008. Retrieved July 23, 2017.
  24. ^ "Rise Against cancel TX shows due to illness; Alkaline Trio and Thrice reschedule". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. October 26, 2008. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
  25. ^ "AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly". AllAccess. October 14, 2008. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  26. ^ Paul, Aubin (November 13, 2008). "Alkaline Trio / Broadway Calls (Europe)". Punknews.org. Aubin Paul. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  27. ^ Hutton, Sarah (September 23, 2008). "Soundwave Line-up 2009". FasterLouder. Junkee Media. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  28. ^ Remix Alkaline Trio's "I Found Away"!. Noise Press. Retrieved on 2009-03-21
  29. ^ "Alkaline Trio / Saves The Day tour announced". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. March 10, 2009. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  30. ^ "Death In The Park (ex-Hot Rod Circuit) added to Alkaline Trio / Saves The Day tour". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. April 4, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
  31. ^ "Alkaline Trio/Saves The Day tour extended into May". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. March 13, 2009. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  32. ^ "Offspring plan tour with Alkaline Trio, Dropkick Murphys, Sum 41". Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. March 23, 2009. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  33. ^ Wippsson, Johan (April 16, 2013). "Alkaline Trio 'Agony And Irony' 2xlp (deluxe Edition) To Be Released June 4 Via Shop Radio Cast". Melodic. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  34. ^ Absolute Punk review
  35. ^ The A.V. Club review
  36. ^ Thompson, Ed (July 1, 2008). "Alkaline Trio – Agony & Irony Review". IGN. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  37. ^ Roth, Kaj (June 22, 2005). "Alkaline Trio - Agony and Irony". Melodic. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  38. ^ Rolling Stone review
  39. ^ Caulfield, Keith (August 1, 2008). "Ask Billboard: Robin Sparkles, Garbage, Alkaline Trio, Bayside". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on May 16, 2016. Retrieved January 30, 2018.

External links[]

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