Alkaline Trio: Damnesia (2011)

When bands make acoustic cover albums of their own songs it's generally little more than a contractual obligation that's only going to appeal to hardcore fans . Alkaline Trio's latest, Damnesia, is no exception. It's a wholly enjoyable album for anyone already know's each one of these songs by heart but there's little here to give newcomers a good idea of why those hardcore fans are so hardcore. Of course if you haven't discovered Alkaline Trio by now, you probably never will and those hardcore fans will undoubtedly buy Damnesia without hesitation and won't be disappointed. Pulling songs from every one of their studio albums, Alkaline Trio give most songs the straight acoustic transfer (with "We've Had Enough," "Mercy Me" "Radio" and "Nose Over Tail" working really well) but there are a few songs that get radically different arrangements. "This Could Be Love" is slowed down considerably and is a more haunting rendition than the one on Good Mourning. "Private Eye" is also much slower and string laden but lacks the immediacy and urgency that makes the version on From here To Infirmary so memorable. There are also a couple new tracks in the salute to malt liquor "Olde English 800" and the lackluster "I Remember a Rooftop". Rounding out the album is a rousing cover of the Violent Femme's "I Held Her In My Arms" which is the most joyous song on Damnesia and one of the best. While it's far from a necessarily album, Damnesia is sure to please the legions of fans Alkaline Trio has accumulated over the years. It's a good placeholder until their next full length is ready to go.

Rating: 3

Track Listing:

1. "Calling All Skeletons" (3:31)
2. "Nose Over Tail" (2:42)
3. "This Could Be Love" (4:26)
4. "Every Thug Needs a Lady" (3:42)
5. "Clavicle" (2:39)
6. "Mercy Me" (3:02)
7. "The American Scream" (3:16)
8. "We've Had Enough" (2:49)
9. "Olde English 800" (1:37)
10. "I Held Her In My Arms" (2:42)
11. "Blue in the Face" (3:41)
12. "I Remember a Rooftop" (3:39)
13. "Private Eye" (3:47)
14. "You've Got So Far To Go" (3:12)
15. "Radio" (5:23)