This Addiction can't be kicked

Alkaline Trio's latest album, This Addiction, is just that; an addiction.

Since I consider myself a Trio fanatic, and purist, I was a bit nervous when the release date for their new album was announced. After all, the last two albums with new songs were overproduced, bubble-gum punk nonsense with sub-par, cliché lyrics.

Thankfully, my fears were not realized.

With This Addiction, the band goes back to their roots. Smooth punk rock guitar and mind-numbing bass lines had me listening to this album from start to finish and then starting over again.

From the first song and title track "This Addiction," the band lets listeners know they are embracing their old talents. With powerful lyrics comparing love to a heroin addiction, and the perfect voice of guitarist Matt Skiba, the first track of the album was an instant hit for me. It sets the tone for the whole album and successfully tells listeners that Alkaline Trio is going to pay homage to bands like The Smiths and The Misfits.

Though the band managed to bring back the sounds of old, they still worked in some new styles. The third track of the album, "Lead Poisoning," sounds like a type of punk with big band influence called ska. As I listened to this track, I found myself thinking all this needs is a trumpet to be perfect. And to my surprise, just as this thought had left my mind, a trumpet entered. The horn instrument is not overused, though. It's not all over the place and random. The brass is in the song for all of 20 seconds, but it's a wonderful 20 seconds, which manages to bring this song to perfection.

One vehicle, which has always brought the Trio luck, is the use of two lead vocalists. Although Skiba is the definitive front man of the band, bassist Dan Andriano has always provided back up vocals while singing lead on several songs with him since their debut album. This Addiction does a wonderful job of mixing up the vocalists. There are almost an equal number of Skiba-led songs as Andriano tracks. This keeps the album varied and will keep new fans interested and replaying the record.

Lastly, there is the length of This Addiction. With a deluxe edition available, which I highly recommend, fans will get six extra songs, a grand total of 18 brand new songs, making it well worth the three dollar increase in price. In addition to getting two more fast-paced punk gems, those who buy the deluxe edition will be rewarded with four acoustic versions of different songs from the album. This is not new, as Alkaline Trio's acoustic music has been a staple and fan favorite in their music since debuting.

The only downside to This Addiction is it may alienate some mainstream fans who got into the band after their 2005 release, "Crimson." This potential risk is worth it, though, as the new album will bring old fans of the band running back.

All in all, This Addiction is a drug I will be hooked on for some time. Congratulations boys, you have rekindled my love for your music.