I am saddened to hear the reviews of "they sold out" or "their sound has finally become pop" and the similar cries of embittered fans. The simple fact of the matter is the band has improved their production quality and softened their music a little - although nowhere near enough to justify a "sellout" accusation.

In past albums, Goddamnit!, for example, there was a raw, young punk feeling to the band. Compare, if you will, to Taking Back the Covers or many of the bands on the Springman label. Bands grow up. Punk doesn't *inevitably* lead to pop, but when the angst that starts creativity leads to intelligent songwriting, harmonies and more complex chord work, the hard edge that sometimes brings us to punk gets lost.

But, listen to The Poison on Crimson, or Back to Hell, and you'll realize that it's the same band that recorded Goddamnit! and From Here to Infirmary.

People have said that the star of the album is really Mercy Me. I'm also a complete sucker for harmony, and Mercy Me has harmonies that almost evoke Brian Wilson. However, listeners will also find a real treat in the next track, Dethbed, which has the same harmonies with a more morbid, darker overtone to it, which is frankly more reminiscent of their earlier recordings (which listeners seem to be looking for).

The songwriting is so intelligent, the composition of the music itself is intelligent itself, and what Alkaline Trio has produced in Crimson is a damn good album.

Bitter "we knew them first" fans should realize that bands grow, and that sometimes their fans don't grow with them as quickly. The good news is for these fans is that there *are* bands out there right now cutting their teeth on punk, like Amazing Transparent Man, who will do more than enough to satisfy when "The Trio" goes "pop."