Alkaline Trio
May 13, 2003
Vagrant
“Good Mourning” is commercially attractive with several potential radio songs (This Could Be Love, We’ve Had Enough, Every Thug Needs A Lady) and some harder tracks that thrive on the band’s intensity and energy (Emma, Fatally Yours, Donner Party).
This mix of songs leads to a well-balanced album that has a lot to offer musically. I do think the production of the album could’ve been a bit stronger but overall the songs are strong enough to make that only a minor issue. The band sounds cohesive and the gritty album closer Blue In The Face is a good example of how this band is able to keep its songs interesting.
“Good Mourning” is a somewhat dark album thematically, but musically the band is still able to create a mood that feels lighter and the songs are generally a lot of fun to listen to. The ability to create such a dichotomy in the songwriting shows that this band has a lot to offer.