Is This Thing Cursed?
Alkaline Trio · 2018
39 min · 13 tracks · alternative rock
A polished blend of punk rock vigor and introspective lyrics, capturing the essence of adulthood's uncertainties.
Top tracks — play these first
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Is This Thing Cursed? — The title track encapsulates the album's theme of existential dread while maintaining a catchy melody, setting the tone for the entire record.
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I Can’t Believe — This track combines poignant lyrics with an anthemic chorus, highlighting the emotional weight that defines much of the album’s lyrical content.
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Goodbye Fire Island — With its introspective narrative about fleeting moments and nostalgia, this song showcases the band's ability to balance personal reflection with engaging instrumentation.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album combines polished production with mature songwriting, balancing energetic tracks and introspective moments.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album maintains a steady tempo with driving rhythms, while the second half introduces more varied pacing and introspective themes.
- Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies that enhance the emotional weight of the lyrics, particularly in 'Goodbye Fire Island' and 'Heart Attacks'.
- The album closes with a track that features a gradual fade-out, creating a sense of unresolved tension.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo reflective moments
- raw energy with melodic introspection
- emotional release through short tracks
- thoughtful lyrics for deep listening
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of instant gratification
- prefer long, sprawling albums
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and relevance after a four-year hiatus.
- Career context
- Released in 2018, Is This Thing Cursed? marks Alkaline Trio's ninth studio album, arriving after a four-year hiatus since 2013's My Shame is True. The band was re-establishing their sound while navigating personal changes, including lineup stability with founding members Matt Skiba and Dan Andriano. This album reflects their evolution as they faced new challenges in both music and life.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Wonder Years· Brand New· Taking Back Sunday
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Is This Thing Cursed? 2:43
- 2 Blackbird 3:20
- 3 Demon and Division 3:16
- 4 Little Help? 2:23
- 5 I Can’t Believe 4:01
- 6 Sweet Vampires 3:23
- 7 Pale Blue Ribbon 2:00
- 8 Goodbye Fire Island 3:31
- 9 Stay 3:29
- 10 Heart Attacks 2:20
- 11 Worn So Thin 2:35
- 12 Throw Me to the Lions 3:18
- 13 Krystalline 3:29
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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