Alkaline Trio - Goddamnit

1998: before emo was a household name, and as such became a shadow of its former self, Chicago's Alkaline Trio brought out their debut album, Goddamnit. Its re-release ten years on is a reminder of how the genre used to be, with opener Cringe kicking in with a burst of energy. The Trio work best when their sound conveys a sense of urgency, rather than the slower, quieter acoustic sound found on such tracks as Enjoy Your Day; luckily, most of the album delivers a steady diet of adrenaline-fuelled tunes to get stuck in your head. These, combined with the angst-ridden lyrics, make the album suitable for dancing or for being a big sobbing mess on the floor, depending on what you feel like. Sure, some of the lyrics are cheesy, but what did you expect? [Nine]