Blog: Idolator

Alkaline Trio stuck out amongst their peers on Asian Man and Vagrant in the early '00s, and I had some friends who were really into the Chicago band back in college. They had big hooks, a speedy punk sound, and Matt Skiba screaming like Ian MacKaye if he wasn't above presenting himself as a broke, miserable drunk with girlfriend issues. I tuned out after Goddamnit and Maybe I'll Catch Fire , but it seemed like the band was continuing to entertain their cult and I was happy for everybody. Recent events, though, have been less than encouraging. [...]