Alkaline Trio is 'Good' at 'Mourning'

Alkaline Trio's horror-based notions are based in their two favorite colors: black and a very bloody crimson. I could say they eat other punk bands for lunch, but I don't want to give them any ideas.\nForming an exciting blend of punk-pop with a lot more sophistication and emo with a lot less Wellbutrin, the band on Good Mourning has everything going for it except consistently great hooks. The musicians can all play their instruments, especially Daniel Andriano and his insistent bass. Punk, though, is about songs and not musicianship, and at best, their batting average is right around, er, Al Kaline's, good for a ballplayer, not quite great enough for a punk band.\nLyrically, Alkaline Trio is about death, not as a matter of philosophizing about making the most of life but as a way the scene ends in a horror flick. The band's catchiest song mentions the cutting of fingers "one by one" in the chorus. The trios means truly lead to an end.\nThe song that mentions signing a Dear John letter in blood is for the punk who doesn't believe it when Simple Plan says it'll do anything. For Alkaline Trio, relationships are literally messy and driven both by chainsaws and chainsaw guitars.