Alkaline Trio - Blood, Hair and Eyeballs (January 26, 2024) • Page 35

Maybe I just don’t have a discerning ear, but I don’t even hear the supposed pitch correction error in Scars, or the one in Goodbye Fire Island that the Reddit post references as well.

 

Didn't even read that reddit post lol I'm so sick of that shit

 

I’ve had to come across some people like them because of my job and they’re just so… off-putting. Even condescending!

Like, it’s one thing to be really in tune with that sort of thing because you work in audio and it’s your career or something like that, but if you’re doing what those Reddit guys are doing, come on…

I have a few friends that are audio people, that do it as a hobby and/or a career and none of them are like that lmao.

 

This album is full of moments. Riffs, lyrics, sections. Continues to crush and every listen I pick up another part that I love.

 

I see this man's face whenever I click 'play' on the record. Thank you.

 

Break has my 20 year streak of Continental as my favorite Trio song in real jeopardy

 

I think Break is my favorite here as well, but the entire thing whips ass. Can’t stop spinning it

 

Interesting, I think the more I listen the more it's trending towards the lower end of my ranks for this album. That one and Hot For Preacher are probably my least favorites so far, and I don't dislike them...in fact I really love the lyrics to Break, and the riff in Hot for Preacher...but for me they've got two of the weaker hooks. The hook on Break isn't bad but not as catchy as a lot of the rest of the songs on here.

 

Meet Me, title track, and Versions of You are still tops for me right now. And Broken Down in a Time Machine, really wish that was the single/video.

 

Those two are probably both in my top three or four. That’s what I love about this album lol

 

I can’t get “With that fire in your eyes, little starling, what’s with you?” out of my head

 

I think if anything this is the most divisive Trio record I have felt... Plenty of opinions, plenty of songs people agree on and plenty of unique takes. I love it. That means its a good piece of art, imo.

 

I love the album but man do I hate Hot For Preacher. The riff annoys me and the song is way too long. Easily their worst album opener.

 

^insert Matt Skiba wtf gif that doesn’t exist^

 

Rocking this right now as I am working late.

A lot of great moments on this, but man, the fucking high I get when Matt comes in on Versions of You and then when Dan comes in on Shake With Me. Woo boy.

 

Hot For Preacher is such a fantastic opener. Riff is stuck in my head.

 

I joined an Alk3 FB group because I’m a dummy and man do those folks not like the new album.

 

Echoing the Hot for Preacher love. Riff rules, and I think the song kicks this off perfectly

 

I genuinely can’t imagine liking this band and not liking this lol

 

Well, they are on Facebook, so … gotta be like 60.

 

I don't want to live in a world where somebody thinks This Addiction or She Lied To The FBI are better than Hot For Preacher. Those are literally the two laziest songs Matt ever wrote. Like I can enjoy them, but no lol

 

For me the title track and Versions Of You are my bottom two. And I love those songs haha. Nothing I don't love on here.

 

My only gripe on this whole album (aside from wishing there were 2-3 more Dan songs) is the pre-chorus of Meet Me. The repeating lines with the falsetto backing vocals are just kind of grating to me. One of those odd moments where I completely understand and respect what they're going for but it just doesn't work for me.

 

Also Reddit nerds suck but this site is pretty quick to pile on people for production critiques. I mentioned studying it in school when I got flamed for a mixing take in the Blink thread and people were dicks about it.

The "lo-fi" production on this album was clearly intentional and reminds me of the sound of their older albums because of how warm and together it is. I really feel strongly that it fits Trio way better than the shiny, in your face mix of ITTC?

In summary, it is perfectly valid to criticize the mixing/production/mastering of a recording but please do so intelligently. There's a difference between a bad choice vs a choice you don't agree with.