by Mike DaRonco
Alkaline Trio added some extra gloom to pop-punk with their almost perfect debut, Goddamnit! Spinning tales of doomed romance, this Chicago three-piece hit too close to home with its stories of obsessive crushes, messy breakups, and alcoholism. Lyrically, Maybe I'll Catch Fire follows in the footsteps of Goddamnit!, while staying true to the elaborate but emotional tone of aggressive pop-punk. Not as essential as the Trio's previous efforts, but it would be difficult for any band to follow up an album like Goddamnit!