Another Alkaline Trio/Lawrence Arms Contest...Sort Of...

[CellarGhosts]

Okay, so the last one was great fun, so here's another, shorter one. I'll probably post anoter two-band album tournament soon, but for now...here's something else...

From both bands, which singer do you prefer? As in, do you prefer Matt or Daniel's songs in Alk3? Also, do you prefer Brendan or Chris' songs in the Larry Arms?

Personally, Im having an incredibly hard time deciding. As far as Alk3 are concerned, since I'm so uncertain right now, I'm gonna have to say I love the songs where they trade off lines (Mercy Me, Old School Reasons, etc.)

And I'm not sure about the Larry Arms either...for right now, my vote is probably for Brendan, but I'm not sure...

soooo...discuss...

[Tom Good]

Matt for Alk3 definitely.

The Lawrence Arms are a little harder for me because I love when they trade off. I would have to say Brenden

[The Revisionist]

It's so hard to say for both bands, because both Matt and Brendan has many more songs available than the other... at the same time, my favorite Alk3 song is by Dan and my favorite Larry Arms song is by Chris.

Ugh, I'm really not sure I can choose.

[CellarGhosts]

Yeah, me too. I love Dan's songs, and his voice is great, but Matt really is my favorite, now that I think about it.

And yeah, I'd have to agree on Brendan for TLA. It really kind of depends on the mood I'm in, you know? anyway, for the hell of it:

Favorite Daniel Andriano song?
Favorite Chris song?

(just since these two guys seem to have the more positive songs...well, Dan does anyway. Chris has his share of downer tunes.)

[CellarGhosts]

It's so hard to say for both bands, because both Matt and Brendan has many more songs available than the other... at the same time, my favorite Alk3 song is by Dan and my favorite Larry Arms song is by Chris.

Ugh, I'm really not sure I can choose.
Like I said in response to Tom, I'd have to agree.

Out of curiosity, what are the songs you mentioned?

[The Revisionist]

Dan: "Every Thug Needs A Lady"
Chris: "Brickwall Views"

[CellarGhosts]

Dan: "Every Thug Needs A Lady"
Chris: "Brickwall Views"
Great tune, for Alkaline. Definatley one of my favorites too. My fave Dan song would have to be either that one, "If You Had a Bad Time", or "Hating Every Minute". Toughie.

I haven't heard Brickwall Views, as I don't have Apathy and Exhaustion yet, but I ordered it, and its on its way.

[animmortalsoul]

Alkaline Trio is my favorite band, so I'm bad with picking favorites out of their songs...that said...

My 5 favorite Dan songs - "Every Thug Needs A Lady," "Smoke," "You've Got So Far To Go," "Another Innocent Girl," and "I Lied My Face Off."

[CellarGhosts]

Alkaline Trio is my favorite band, so I'm bad with picking favorites out of their songs...that said...

My 5 favorite Dan songs - "Every Thug Needs A Lady," "Smoke," "You've Got So Far To Go," "Another Innocent Girl," and "I Lied My Face Off."
Ah, yeah, great choices. Smoke is amazing, and You've Got So Far To Go is another favorite of mine. And I forgot all about Another Innocent Girl, great, great song.

Major props on Alkaline Trio being your favorite band, btw haha.

[The Revisionist]

For not liking Crimson much as an entire album, I do really like "Smoke".

[Wobbie]

With The Larry Arms, i used to think Chris's were the best to start off with, but now Brendan's songs are my faves overall. But you know, they are both amazing.

With Alkaline Trio, Matt for their pre-Good Mourning stuff, Dan for post Good Mourning stuff. But all of Dan's older stuff was still amazing. Some of Matt's newer stuff is a little lacking, i think. Dan's newer stuff still shines brightly in my opinion. I think his voice suits their more mature new style a lot better. 'If You Had a Bad Time...' off their One Man Army split is a great example of a fucking amazing Dan vocal performance in a newer song.

As for fave songs from Dan and Chris in each band...

Dan: Message From Kathlene
Chris: 100 Resolutions

And i may as well do Matt and Brendan...

Matt: My Little Needle
Brendan: Drunk Mouth Kitchen Smile

[CellarGhosts]

For not liking Crimson much as an entire album, I do really like "Smoke".
Smoke is an amazing song. And I really do like Crimson as an entire album, so I guess Im the odd one out in that matter haha.

With The Larry Arms, i used to think Chris's were the best to start off with, but now Brendan's songs are my faves overall. But you know, they are both amazing.

With Alkaline Trio, Matt for their pre-Good Mourning stuff, Dan for post Good Mourning stuff. But all of Dan's older stuff was still amazing. Some of Matt's newer stuff is a little lacking, i think. Dan's newer stuff still shines brightly in my opinion. I think his voice suits their more mature new style a lot better. 'If You Had a Bad Time...' off their One Man Army split is a great example of a fucking amazing Dan vocal performance in a newer song.

As for fave songs from Dan and Chris in each band...

Dan: Message From Kathlene
Chris: 100 Resolutions

And i may as well do Matt and Brendan...

Matt: My Little Needle
Brendan: Drunk Mouth Kitchen Smile
Nice choices. I'd say another favorite Dan tune of mine would be "Buried"

[The Revisionist]

Brendan: Drunk Mouth Kitchen SmileI'm pretty sure that "Drunk Mouth Kitchen Smile" is primarily performed by Chris.

[CellarGhosts]

I'm pretty sure that "Drunk Mouth Kitchen Smile" is primarily performed by Chris.
Yeah, I think you're right...although Brendan does have some amazing lines in there "raise the sail..." ..man I wish I could sing like that haha...

[TheOtherAndrew]

Brendan: The Disaster March
Chris: Lose Your Illusion I


Skiba: Blue In The Face
Dan: Emma

[CellarGhosts]

Excellent tunes, Andrew. Some of my favorites there. My friend George had his acoustic guitar in US History class on Friday, (which was our last day before Spring Break)...anyway, I dunno why he had it in there, but I ended up playing "Blue In the Face" on it to my class of about 9 kids. It was fun haha.

And a quick question for everyone here, after the instrumental passage in "the Devil's Takin' Names", is that Brendan singing clean, like he does on "Another Boring Story?"
Because I always thought it was Chris, even though it didn't sound like him...but I got "Cocktails and Dreams" the other day, and heard "Another Boring Story", and the liner notes acknowledged that Brendan was the one singing clean there...and it sounded like the clean vocals on "..Takin' Names"

There's some other spots on "Oh! Calcutta!" that sort of confuse me, vocally.

[TheOtherAndrew]

And a quick question for everyone here, after the instrumental passage in "the Devil's Takin' Names", is that Brendan singing clean, like he does on "Another Boring Story?"
Because I always thought it was Chris, even though it didn't sound like him...but I got "Cocktails and Dreams" the other day, and heard "Another Boring Story", and the liner notes acknowledged that Brendan was the one singing clean there...and it sounded like the clean vocals on "..Takin' Names"

There's some other spots on "Oh! Calcutta!" that sort of confuse me, vocally.
Yeah that is kinda confusing

Brendan: You can fly with us or hang on to the wall
Chris: But the Devil's takin' names when the last curtain falls!
Brendan: I got a deep sick worry and I don't know why...

Brendan singing clean really sounds like Chris...haha oh well. I thought it was Chris singing on Warped Summer Extravaganza for the longest time too.

[DroppedUrPocket]

I love Dan.

[CellarGhosts]

I love Dan.
Don't we all? hahaha

Yeah that is kinda confusing

Brendan: You can fly with us or hang on to the wall
Chris: But the Devil's takin' names when the last curtain falls!
Brendan: I got a deep sick worry and I don't know why...

Brendan singing clean really sounds like Chris...haha oh well. I thought it was Chris singing on Warped Summer Extravaganza for the longest time too.
Confusing indeed. Thanks for clearing that up. I always though that Chris was singing that entire verse, and Neil was the one who did the "but the devil's takin names when the last curtain falls" part for some reason haha.

And Chris isn't singing on Warped Summer Extravaganza? Haha wow, I always thought he was. But I thought maybe it was Brendan, after yesterday. But thanks for letting me in on that one too haha. I feel slightly less ignorant now haha.

[Wobbie]

I'm pretty sure that "Drunk Mouth Kitchen Smile" is primarily performed by Chris.
You're right, haha. I was thinking Chris for the last one, hahaha. Even though i'd done him earlier, and it says Brendan X-) I totally confused myself.

Well because i didn't even put a Brendan one, i'd say my fave right now is...

"I'll Take What's In The Box Monty"

[CellarGhosts]

You're right, haha. I was thinking Chris for the last one, hahaha. Even though i'd done him earlier, and it says Brendan X-) I totally confused myself.

Well because i didn't even put a Brendan one, i'd say my fave right now is...

"I'll Take What's In The Box Monty"
Dammit, another Apathy and Exhaustion tune. I ordered that one...it should be coming soon. I hope haha.

[Wobbie]

Dammit, another Apathy and Exhaustion tune. I ordered that one...it should be coming soon. I hope haha.
You'll love it. A very good album.

[CellarGhosts]

Oh, I'm sure I will hahaha. Much like the Bouncing Souls, the Larry Arms could do no wrong haha.

[animmortalsoul]

Smoke is an amazing song. And I really do like Crimson as an entire album, so I guess Im the odd one out in that matter haha.

Crimson had more filler than normal for an AK3 cd, and there is a definite missing edge, but I still think it's a solid effort as a whole.

[CellarGhosts]

Yeah, that's true. I see what you're saying.

[animmortalsoul]

Nice choices. I'd say another favorite Dan tune of mine would be "Buried"

Oh my God. I bought Remains a week ago or so but hadn't listened to all the stuff till today..."Buried" is not only my favorite Dan song; it may well be my favorite Alkaline Trio song.

[AP_Punk]

Haha, I honestly cannot decide between both singers/both bands.

[cooltobeyou]

I'm not a huge fan of Alkaline Trio, but thats probably because the only albums I have heard by them are "Good Mourning" and "Crimson." Judging by those two albums I can't really make a decision....

As far as The Lawrence Arms go, I greatly prefer Brendan's vocals to Chris'. Brendan is the main reason I got into The Lawrence Arms in the first place, and it took me a long time to get used to the Chris songs. For the longest time I always felt that his songs drained the energy out of the albums. After a while though, I grew to really appreciate Chris' songs but I still like Brendan better.

Although, if I'm allowed to go into side projects, I'd have to say that I like Sundowner a lot more than The Falcon......which is saying a heck of a lot because I put The Falcon's "Unicornography" right behind "Oh Calcutta!" on my favorite albums list last year.

[decom_poseur]

Dammit, another Apathy and Exhaustion tune. I ordered that one...it should be coming soon. I hope haha.


This album gets nowhere near the love it deserves. I like it as much as The Greatest Story....

[CellarGhosts]

Oh my God. I bought Remains a week ago or so but hadn't listened to all the stuff till today..."Buried" is not only my favorite Dan song; it may well be my favorite Alkaline Trio song.
Nice haha. Remains is a great comp. and I love all the bonus stuff on the DVD that came with it. And Buried is indeed one of my favorite Alk3 songs ever.

Haha, I honestly cannot decide between both singers/both bands.
It is a tough call, isn't it? haha

I'm not a huge fan of Alkaline Trio, but thats probably because the only albums I have heard by them are "Good Mourning" and "Crimson." Judging by those two albums I can't really make a decision....

As far as The Lawrence Arms go, I greatly prefer Brendan's vocals to Chris'. Brendan is the main reason I got into The Lawrence Arms in the first place, and it took me a long time to get used to the Chris songs. For the longest time I always felt that his songs drained the energy out of the albums. After a while though, I grew to really appreciate Chris' songs but I still like Brendan better.

Although, if I'm allowed to go into side projects, I'd have to say that I like Sundowner a lot more than The Falcon......which is saying a heck of a lot because I put The Falcon's "Unicornography" right behind "Oh Calcutta!" on my favorite albums list last year.
Hmm...I atually love those two Alk3 records, and Good Mourning is my favorite of theirs, yet it seems to be not as popular with everyone else. For their older records, I'd suggest either Goddamnit or Maybe I'll Catch Fire. But the S/T and From Here to Infirmary are great as well.

And I see where you're coming from there, but I've always enjoyed Chris' songs/vocals, but I still do enjoy Brendan's work more. However, I still prefer the Falcon to Sundowner, but both are still excellent.

This album gets nowhere near the love it deserves. I like it as much as The Greatest Story....
It is an amazing album, and I give it as much love/respect as I can, however, I still prefer the Greatest Story...and Oh! Calcutta. But still, it is an incredible record.

[CellarGhosts]

True story.

Depends how old you mean though, by TLA. If by old you mean their first two albums, then yes, but if you mean Apathy & Exhaustion/the Greatest Story Ever Told, I'd have to disagree.

But I think I know what albums you're referring to there.

[the thread]

Old Alkaline Trio > Old Lawrence Arms
New Alkaline Trio < New Lawrence Arms.

i agree with this. the fact that TLA has just gotten better and ALK3 just blows now pretty much cements which band is better, in a sense. ALK3 has been stale and old for these past 3 cds, nothing new, groundbreaking or anything, just recycled bullshit. while TLA went and recorded the greatest story ever told, which both lyrically and musically set the bar for them, and then oh calcutta, which was a very solid release as well.

[CellarGhosts]

I agree with your sentiments on TLA, yet I still really like all the Alk3 albums. For my favorite, it's actually a tie between Goddamnit and Good Mourning. But if that's your opinion of their past few albums, I'll respect it. But I do have to disagree.

[the thread]

i dont see how anyone can say that. ive been listening to ALK3 since they released their first full length, maybe thats why. but lyrically and musically, Goddamnit is raw and gritty punk, and contains some of their most memorable songs. Good Mourning is watered down bullshit and a bunch of generic, forgettable songs and is basically Matt coming up with morbid vocals to match his hero, Glenn Danzig. Continental was perhaps the only song on that cd which had any merit. Goddamnit showcased a young Chicago punk band writing a formidable first release, you would have thought they would have moved up from there and showed some promise, but during and after From Here to Infirmary, it pretty much all went downhill like crazy.

[animmortalsoul]

...ALK3 just blows now pretty much cements which band is better, in a sense. ALK3 has been stale and old for these past 3 cds, nothing new, groundbreaking or anything, just recycled bullshit.
i dont see how anyone can say that. ive been listening to ALK3 since they released their first full length, maybe thats why. but lyrically and musically, Goddamnit is raw and gritty punk, and contains some of their most memorable songs. Good Mourning is watered down bullshit and a bunch of generic, forgettable songs and is basically Matt coming up with morbid vocals to match his hero, Glenn Danzig. Continental was perhaps the only song on that cd which had any merit. Goddamnit showcased a young Chicago punk band writing a formidable first release, you would have thought they would have moved up from there and showed some promise, but during and after From Here to Infirmary, it pretty much all went downhill like crazy.

Goddamnit's got some completely stupid stuff on it, my friend. It's got a great feel, but songs like "As You Were"...have you listened to those lyrics? They're some of the most pointless in the world. "Cop" is random at best and drivel at worst, "Enjoy Your Day" pales in comparison to songs like "Blue Carolina" and "Every Thug Needs A Lady", and, while it's my favorite song on Goddamnit, and I don't like to insult it, "Sorry About That" just can't convey nostalgia as well as "Blue In The Face" conveys heartfelt bitterness. Dan's writing improved so much from Goddamnit to Good Mourning. Goddamnit was groundbreaking? They knew how to play like four chords. They weren't even lyrically masterful often; in fact, the drunk ballad on the cd, "My Little Needle," doesn't even stand up to "Cooking Wine."

Don't get me wrong -- I love Goddamnit with a passion. Including all the songs I just denounced as inferior. But an affection for bad production value and gritty sound shouldn't lead us to insult a band getting not just different, but better. The old sound doesn't own all -- "Sundials" is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. (And I know that's not on Goddamnit, but it's definitely old.) "Continental" is probably my one favorite Alkaline Trio song if I had (and you'd have to force me) to pick. If we're going by most memorable songs, From Here To Infirmary has "Private Eye," "Mr. Chainsaw," "Another Innocent Girl," "You're Dead," "Armageddon," "I'm Dying Tomorrow," "Bloodied Up," "Crawl," and in some countries, "Hell Yes." Ftw.

This is all, of course, my personal opinion, but I think there's some merit in it. You are, of course, free to have your own opinion of the matter. If you say that you can't understand why someone would say that, that's why.

[CellarGhosts]

Goddamnit's got some completely stupid stuff on it, my friend. It's got a great feel, but songs like "As You Were"...have you listened to those lyrics? They're some of the most pointless in the world. "Cop" is random at best and drivel at worst, "Enjoy Your Day" pales in comparison to songs like "Blue Carolina" and "Every Thug Needs A Lady", and, while it's my favorite song on Goddamnit, and I don't like to insult it, "Sorry About That" just can't convey nostalgia as well as "Blue In The Face" conveys heartfelt bitterness. Dan's writing improved so much from Goddamnit to Good Mourning. Goddamnit was groundbreaking? They knew how to play like four chords. They weren't even lyrically masterful often; in fact, the drunk ballad on the cd, "My Little Needle," doesn't even stand up to "Cooking Wine."

Don't get me wrong -- I love Goddamnit with a passion. Including all the songs I just denounced as inferior. But an affection for bad production value and gritty sound shouldn't lead us to insult a band getting not just different, but better. The old sound doesn't own all -- "Sundials" is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. (And I know that's not on Goddamnit, but it's definitely old.) "Continental" is probably my one favorite Alkaline Trio song if I had (and you'd have to force me) to pick. If we're going by most memorable songs, From Here To Infirmary has "Private Eye," "Mr. Chainsaw," "Another Innocent Girl," "You're Dead," "Armageddon," "I'm Dying Tomorrow," "Bloodied Up," "Crawl," and in some countries, "Hell Yes." Ftw.

This is all, of course, my personal opinion, but I think there's some merit in it. You are, of course, free to have your own opinion of the matter. If you say that you can't understand why someone would say that, that's why.
I agree 100%. Except for your opinion of "As You Were", as I love that song, and it's one of my favorite Alkaline Trio songs. But all in all, I definatley see what you're saying, and totally agree. I've always thought that my love for all their later work comes partly from the fact that I didn't follow them/their career from the beginning, as many people here seem to have done. And I do agree that "Cop" is one of the only Alkaline Trio songs that I really don't care for. It is pretty 'random' as you said.

And good call on your favorite Alk3 songs. "Continental" is one of my top favorites, as well as "Mr. Chainsaw", "Armageddon", "Hell Yes", and one you forgot to mention off From Here to Infirmary, "Another Innocent Girl". I've just never understood why so many people seem to write off not just Alkaline Trio, but other bands as well, when they "go big" or "change their sound" etc. People complain about Skiba being all "goth" on the later albums, but if you read interviews with him, and whatnot, you'll notice he's been pretty morbid all his life, and he's said the reason that they (Alk3) abandoned their "drunken" lyrical style is that, according to Matt "those nights hurt too much to think or write about anymore" (Not sure if those are his exact words, but it was something very close to that.) So naturally, muscial evolution is going to happen.

Anyway, I'm sure this argument could continue forever, and honestly, I'd prefer it didn't, and we just let it rest as a case of "to each their own" or "having to agree to disagree."
So anyways....I'm thinking of starting an official Alkaline Trio thread...I'm sure it'd get its fair amount of hate,, but oh well...what can you do...

[animmortalsoul]

I agree 100%. Except for your opinion of "As You Were", as I love that song, and it's one of my favorite Alkaline Trio songs. But all in all, I definatley see what you're saying, and totally agree. I've always thought that my love for all their later work comes partly from the fact that I didn't follow them/their career from the beginning, as many people here seem to have done. And I do agree that "Cop" is one of the only Alkaline Trio songs that I really don't care for. It is pretty 'random' as you said.

And I love "As You Were" and, well, don't love "Cop," but like it well enough. They're just not lyrical genius -- but that doesn't at all make them bad songs! And I agree -- my first AK3 cd was Crimson and my second was Good Mourning. Around the time I found it, Crimson was one of my top five favorite cds. No longer so, but I refuse to believe that all works after Maybe I'll Catch Fire suddenly suck when much of their best work is there simply because the band wrote better hooks, better lyrics, and had cleaner production. This is just my opinion.

Anyway. Yeah. We weren't going to talk about this anymore, haha.

[CellarGhosts]

And I love "As You Were" and, well, don't love "Cop," but like it well enough. They're just not lyrical genius -- but that doesn't at all make them bad songs! And I agree -- my first AK3 cd was Crimson and my second was Good Mourning. Around the time I found it, Crimson was one of my top five favorite cds. No longer so, but I refuse to believe that all works after Maybe I'll Catch Fire suddenly suck when much of their best work is there simply because the band wrote better hooks, better lyrics, and had cleaner production. This is just my opinion.

Anyway. Yeah. We weren't going to talk about this anymore, haha.
Exactly. I really could not have said it better myself.
And we weren't going to talk about this? oh well...haha. I dunno...