Alkaline Trio's re-release of Crimson offers little to those who already own the album, but far more for those who don’t.

            A two-disc set includes the original 13-track album as well as an additional disc of demo and acoustic versions of the previous disc's songs.  This package is very similar to Weezer's re-release of The Blue Album - only Weezer waited 10 years, while Alkaline Trio waited roughly eight months.

            But aside from the obvious ploy for profits, the two-disc set is a definite asset for anyone who hasn’t yet heard the band or, more importantly, the original Crimson.  As I’ve reviewed the original before, I’ll briefly restate that the 13 tracks provide incredibly catchy and dark pop-punk with mostly meaningless lyrics about death, vampires and Charlie Manson's girlfriend.  However, songs like “Sadie” and “ I Was a Prayer,” filled with awesome guitar lines by Matt Skiba and smooth vocals by Skiba and bassist Dan Andriano, give listeners something to think about besides what the songs mean.  And songs like “Mercy Me,” which do have meaningful lyrics in addition to great instrumental and vocal parts (especially by drummer Derek Grant), well, they’re simply amazing.

            The second disc, on the other hand, lacks substance in comparison.  Though some of the demos offer new sounds, like a techno-y “Back to Hell” compared to the much harder original, most just sound exactly like what’s on disc one - only worse.  The acoustic versions seemed like a genuinely innovative idea; however, the trio’s delivery is far from satisfactory.  Rather than re-recording the songs acoustically in a studio, they simply had them recorded at a live show.  The bad quality is obvious from the unequal levels, as Skiba’s voice, which sounds tired, drowns out the guitars.

            Regardless, I highly recommend the album for anyone who hasn’t yet heard it or anything else by the band.  The first disc offers countless hours of enjoyable listening, especially to those sick of the same high-pitched, punk-rock bands still floating around.  Skiba’s deep, resounding voice and Andriano’s ability to hit every note right on give the band a kind of solidity that is rare these days.

            For those who already like the trio, I’d say stick to the original.  There’s nothing to be gained from the second disc, except the knowledge that you just wasted another 14 bucks.