Good Mourning Explained

Good Mourning
Type:Album
Artist:Alkaline Trio
Cover:Alkaline Trio - Good Mourning cover.jpg
Recorded:November 2002–January 2003
Studio:Cello
Genre:
Length:39:07
Label:Vagrant
Producer:Joe McGrath, Jerry Finn
Prev Title:Alkaline Trio / Hot Water Music
Prev Year:2002
Next Title:BYO Split Series Volume V
Next Year:2004

Good Mourning is the fourth studio album by American punk rock band Alkaline Trio, released May 13, 2003 on Vagrant Records.

Background and production

Towards the end of May 2002, the band recorded their next album; they "decided that waiting until after Warped Tour would be too long."[1] Recording sessions were held at Cello Studios with producers Joe McGrath and Jerry Finn. The album marks the first appearance of drummer Derek Grant, described by vocalist/guitarist Matt Skiba as "a whole new influence."[2] During recording, both Skiba and vocalist/bassist Dan Andriano were ill.[2] Alkaline Trio had planned a tour with One Man Army in early 2003,[3] but the tour was cancelled due to Skiba having strained vocal chords; the album's recording was subsequently delayed.[4] Brian Gardner mastered the recordings at Bern Grundman Mastering. Skiba describes the album as sounding "bigger, deeper and rawer" than its predecessor, From Here to Infirmary.

In a 2003 interview, Matt Skiba gave his thoughts on the album:

[''Good Mourning''] is pretty good. I mean it took us a long time to do and I think most of the people that I talk to that make records and stuff, there's always stuff that you wish you did better or maybe a little differently. I've never been able to avoid that, even with this. There's things that I wish I had done maybe a little differently. But that also comes with just listening to it and living with it for so long that until it's done you won't really hear things in that way until it's like too late I guess. But I would say for the most part that I'm really happy with it.[2]

Composition

Good Mourning has been described as a punk rock,[5] [6] pop-punk,[7] and hardcore punk record, with a focus on aggression.[8] Discussing the title, Skiba said he was having breakfast near the studio, and his waiter said good morning' to me and it's just kinda like the double meaning/spelling kinda registered and I just called everyone and I was like, 'How about Good Mourning with a U?' and everybody liked it equally as much so we used it."[2] He said the Ramones and the Damned served as big influences on the album. "We've Had Enough" features backing vocals from Keith Morris of Circle Jerks.

Release

On January 23, 2003, the album's title was revealed as Good Mourning.[9] On February 11, Good Mourning was announced for release in three months' time; alongside this, the album's track listing was posted online.[10] On March 18, the album's artwork was revealed.[11] Between April and June 2003, the band toured across the US and Canada, with One Man Army, Pretty Girls Make Graves, and Avoid One Thing.[11] [12] [13] Good Mourning was made available for streaming on May 1, 2003, before being released through Vagrant Records on May 13. The UK version of the album included two bonus tracks: "Dead End Road" and "Old School Reasons". Also on May 13, the band appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.[14] "We've Had Enough" was released to radio on May 20; the song's music video was posted on MTV's website nine days later.[15] [16] In August and September, the band toured Europe as part of the Reconstruction Festival, and appeared at the Terremoto Festival.[17] Following this, the band went on a tour of the UK with Hot Water Music.[18] Between October and December, the band went on the Vagrant Tour 2003, which featured several acts on the label.[19] The stint included appearances on IMX and Late Show with David Letterman.[20] [21] In February 2004, the band went on an Australian tour with Thrice and Hot Water Music.[22] In March and April, the band toured the West Coast as part of the Punkvoter.[23]

Reception

The album debuted at number 20 on the Billboard 200, selling 40,000 copies on its first week of release. By August 2008, the album had sold 258,000 copies.[24] Reception from critics was mixed to positive.[25] Within the band, the retrospective reception of Good Mourning varies. When asked to rank Alkaline Trio's first eight studio albums, Dan Andriano put Good Mourning in the top spot whereas Matt Skiba ranked it second to last in place 7.[26] [27] Alternative Press ranked "We've Had Enough" at number 100 on their list of the best 100 singles from the 2000s.[28]

Track listing

Original release

All songs written and performed by Alkaline Trio.

UK edition

Bonus tracks
  1. "Dead End Road" – 3:09
  2. "Old School Reasons" – 2:52

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.[29]

Alkaline Trio
Additional musicians
Production

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Alkaline Trio In Studio, New Album This Fall. Punknews.org. White, Adam. May 13, 2002. February 21, 2021.
  2. Web site: chorus.fm. 7 November 2023 .
  3. Web site: One Man Army / Alkaline Trio Winter Tour. Punknews.org. White, Adam. December 12, 2002. March 3, 2021.
  4. Web site: Alkaline Trio cancels tour. Punknews.org. Heisel, Scott. January 15, 2003. March 3, 2021.
  5. Web site: Alkaline Trio - Good Mourning . Sputnik Music . March 2, 2023.
  6. Alkaline Trio: Crimson : Music Reviews . https://web.archive.org/web/20080521013126/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/alkalinetrio/albums/album/7331036/review/7349117/crimson . Rolling Stone . Hoard, Christian . June 2, 2005 . May 21, 2008 . February 15, 2017 . dead .
  7. Web site: Alkaline Trio, 'Good Mourning' (Vagrant) . Tinnitist . 23 May 2023 . May 25, 2023.
  8. Web site: Alkaline Trio defies popular punk trend with new album. September 15, 2022. 28 May 2003 .
  9. Web site: Alkaline Trio title upcoming record. Punknews.org. Heisel, Scott. January 23, 2003. March 4, 2021.
  10. Web site: Alkaline Trio Track List, Keith Morris Guest Appearance. Punknews.org. White, Adam. February 11, 2003. March 4, 2021.
  11. Web site: A Few Trio Updates. Punknews.org. White, Adam. March 18, 2003. March 4, 2021.
  12. Web site: Full Alkaline Trio Tour Dates. Punknews.org. White, Adam. March 9, 2003. March 4, 2021.
  13. Web site: Avoid One Thing Plan Next Album. Punknews.org. White, Adam. April 15, 2003. March 5, 2021.
  14. Web site: Upcoming Alkaline Trio Events. Punknews.org. White, Adam. April 10, 2003. March 5, 2021.
  15. Web site: FMQB Airplay Archive: Modern Rock . Friday Morning Quarterback Album Report, Incorporated . October 30, 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130322142732/http://www.fmqb.com/Article.asp?id=16771 . March 22, 2013 .
  16. Web site: Watch new Alkaline Trio video. Punknews.org. Heisel, Scott. May 29, 2003. March 8, 2021.
  17. Web site: European Dates: Reconstruction, Terremoto and more. Punknews.org. White, Adam. July 26, 2003. March 10, 2021.
  18. Web site: Hot Water Music / Alkaline Trio In The UK. Punknews.org. White, Adam. July 25, 2003. March 10, 2021.
  19. Web site: Vagrant Tour 2003 Bands & Dates. Punknews.org. White, Adam. August 28, 2003. March 10, 2021.
  20. Web site: Bands on TV - week of 11/3/03. Punknews.org. Heisel, Scott. November 3, 2003. March 14, 2021.
  21. Web site: Alkaline Trio drops off Vagrant Tour for Letterman. Punknews.org. Heisel, Scott. December 5, 2003. March 14, 2021.
  22. Web site: Thrice / Alkaline Trio / Hot Water Music Australian tour. Punknews.org. White, Adam. December 12, 2003. March 19, 2021.
  23. Web site: Punkvoter Tour dates released. Punknews.org. Heisel, Scott. March 11, 2004. March 23, 2021.
  24. Ask Billboard: Robin Sparkles, Garbage, Alkaline Trio, Bayside. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Caulfield, Keith. August 1, 2008. January 30, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160516135523/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1044600/ask-billboard-robin-sparkles-garbage-alkaline-trio-bayside. May 16, 2016.
  25. Web site: Classic Album Review: Alkaline Trio - Good Mourning . SPIN . June 15, 2003.
  26. Web site: Rank Your Records: Bassist Dan Andriano Rates All Eight Alkaline Trio Albums. 16 July 2015 .
  27. Web site: Rank Your Records: Matt Skiba Plays Favorites with Alkaline Trio's Albums. 25 January 2018 .
  28. Web site: At The Drive-In's 'One Armed Scissor' tops AP's 'Haircut 100' singles countdown. Punknews.org. Paul, Aubin. November 20, 2009. October 13, 2022.
  29. Good Mourning . . 2003. Booklet. Vagrant. 980 123-8.