Alkaline Trio / Hot Water Music
Split EP
Jade Tree
After touring together several times, Hot Water Music and Alkaline Trio team up for this seven-song release of all new material, as part of Jade Tree’s split EP series.
While Alkaline Trio have always been a shade too pop for me, I appreciate their talent, and they bring the goods here with two contagious originals. The gem on this record, though, is their cover of Hot Water Music’s “Rooftops.” I would never have guessed Alkaline Trio would do such a good job covering a Hot Water Music song, especially with Matt Skiba’s clean vocals leading the way, but AT’s treatment gives the song new life.
Hot Water Music open things up with one of the most angular riffs I’ve ever heard from them in the intro to “God Deciding.” It’s good to see these guys trying some new things, exploring new sounds. Next is another new original, “Russian Roulette,” which fits nicely into their anthemic, post-punk repertoire.
The last time I saw these bands play together, I think everyone in the building knew the words to Alkaline Trio’s “Radio,” and sang along at full volume. It was great. Imagine the same song with Hot Water Music’s dual husky shouting attack. Yup, it’s pretty awesome. To wrap the CD up, Chuck Ragan delivers an impassioned vocal on another AT cover, “Bleeder,” a stark acoustic song with a subtle cello in the mix.
Kudos to Jade Tree for bringing these two bands together on tape.
Jade Tree: http://www.jadetree.com
