In the last 10 years since starting to follow Alkaline Trio, I’ve had my ups and downs with them.  I wasn’t too thrilled with Crimson, and Agony and Irony was more “meh” for me than anything else, so I was a bit skeptical when they announced their seventh album release This Addiction.

I got the chance to take a listen to some of the new songs on the new album and I must say, I was impressed.  This Addiction is definitely a none-too-soon throwback to the early days of Alkaline Trio.  The title track, which you can listen to here, sounds like a more mature Matt Skiba giving nods to his first album Goddamnit.  Even Dan Andriano has evolved and matured his sound with tracks like “Dine, Dine My Darling.”

This Addiction will be released by Epitaph/Heart & Skull on February 23.  You can currently get any number of pre-order bundles with exclusive merch as well as a deluxe edition of the album including a DVD and six currently unreleased songs here.  The Trio is also headed back out on tour with Cursive on February 16th,  so check out the list of tour dates.

*By Karen, who remains fitfully fighting winter to the bitter end.

Maybe the end of a decade seems anti-climatic after the end of the millennium. Maybe the end of a decade seems less important than the march of time that continues on my own age, as well as humanity’s. Maybe the end of this particular decade is overshadowed by the end of a particularly crappy 2009 and I don’t really want to be bothered with extraneous and unnecessary observances.

But a decade is a good, healthy amount of time, and it does make for interesting retrospection. I started this decade as a senior in high school and will end it far away in New York (though just for a visit), a city that was far from my imagination while ringing in 2000. One constant has been the music, which first became important in my life around the time we were all storing bottled water in fear of Y2K.

Which got me thinking about my decade in music and the many genres and bands that have shaped the 2000s for me. This is a blog, not a dissertation, so I’ll spare you the lengthy list I came up with, but here are my top 5 musical highlights.

5) Titus Andronicus at the Market Hotel in Brooklyn (2009)

An amazing show, great energy, and my very first crowd surf (yes, I was a late bloomer).

It wasn’t nearly this well lit, though.

4) Thais starring Renee Fleming at the Lyric Opera of Chicago (2003)

Fleming is a commanding soprano, and even in the worst of the worst nosebleed seats, I felt like her voice could have knocked me over.

3) “From Here to Infirmary” by Alkaline Trio (2001)

One of my favorites from a band I will never be too old to listen to.

2) “I Miss You” by Amy Gerhartz (2007)

The realization my friend had such tremendous talent was quite a shock, but this song was a especially meaningful at a time when it hit particularly close to home. And I still cry when I hear it.

1) Airborne Toxic Event at Mercury Lounge for CMJ (2007).

My first CMJ show, my introduction to a band I still love, and the beginning of my hunt for fun indie experiences.

Your turn. What song, band, show inspired you this year, decade, life? All entries welcome!

*By Jesy, who is wondering where this Bears offense was all year… especially now that it doesn’t matter.

With that said, some idiots on their myspace page are complaining about the new material and think the band sold out and will now be followed by 14-year-old girls.

The band did not sell out or dramatically change their sound at all. If you listen to their catalog from Goddamnit to Crimson, you’ll see a natural progression and evolution that they’re simply continuing on Agony & Irony.

One gal bitched via comment, “Now I have a tattoo that I’m not proud of anymore!” Boo-fucking-hoo, seriously. If you’re immature enough to think so selfishly (and if your taste is as bad as this broad’s), you probably shouldn’t even consider getting inked in the first place.

It’s agonizing and ironic that some kids who love a band so much are so quick to ditch them once they’re poised for popularity. I’m sure they’d rather have loyal 14-year-old girls at their shows than their fickle older sisters.

*By Jess, who lives young.