Matt Skiba: Demos

Matt Skiba is the founder and co front man of Chicago emo pop-rock threesome Alkaline Trio. Plagued by an early life of drug abuse, alcoholism and a self professed faith in the Satanic church, his lyrics have never failed to be creative in the most hauntingly melancholic ways. It is undoubtedly his ability to write wholesome songs in a variety of styles that makes Matt Skiba so loveable and such a success in the punk genre today.

His new album ‘Demos’ compiles efforts from different stages of his song writing career – songs that were recorded into his computer whilst on tour with his various bands. It’s not an ideally easy listen due to its varied and minimally produced feel but fans will note how perfectly it conveys Skiba’s original melodic style without punk influence. And this is exactly what it aims to do.

On first listen it could sound sloppy and bizarre without a drum accompaniment, but once listeners grasp the alien sounds of Angel of Deaf and I Can’t believe you - the latter’s eclectic notes overlap to create a strange musical acid trip – it’s easy to accept Demos as an album in its simplest state. There are times songs feel unfinished and lazily crafted but that’s what demos are. Bands are too often accused of over-producing and selling out and what Demos provides are raw, unreleased examples of Skiba’s song writing ability - some of which would be lost on a modern Alkaline Trio album.

Matt Skiba is a lyrical genius and uses metaphor like a second tongue. Haven’t You conveys a hopeful acoustic sadness which hasn’t been heard since Trio classics Blue in the Face and Sorry About That and SOS has a punk melody we’ve definitely heard before.

This is not Alkaline Trio. Sceptical fans will look to this album as if it were written for the punk scene and in a way it’ll always be compared to his work in 14 years with the Trio. But ultimately this is all Skiba; a clear release of experimentation that wouldn’t fit in either Trio or Heavens which sets him apart from anything else in the genre. Because of this, Demos has the potential to be simply sublime if given the chance.

My favourite lyrical moments from Matt Skiba:

My Friend Peter- Alkaline Trio, ‘Goddamnit’ (1998)

Bleeder- Alkaline Trio, ‘Alkaline Trio’ (2000)

Next To You- Matt Skiba and Kevin Seconds, ‘Split EP’ (2002)

Blue in the Face- Alkaline Trio, ‘Good Mourning’ (2003)

Demons Away- Matt Skiba, ‘Protect: A Benefit for the National Association to Protect Children’ (2005)

Queen of Pain- Alkaline Trio, ‘Remains’ (2007)

Dead on the Floor- Alkaline Trio, ‘This Addiction’ (2010)

Didn’t Feel A Thing- Demos (2010)