There are two ways of looking at a B-sides album: one is that these are songs that weren't good enough to go on previous releases, and have all been put on one collection to cash in on mediocrity. The other is to believe that this is a record that documents a different side of the band, featuring tracks that while being of a good quality, maybe didn't fit in with the style of previous albums. In Aklaline Trio's case, Remains is a bit of a mixture of both of these statements, but fortunately, the content is mainly good here.
In fact some songs here count among Trio's best songs. The punky yet anthemic
Jaked On Green Beers, and ode to Satan
Hell Yes in particular are as good as anything they've ever released before. Few songs stray far from the classic ALK3 sound, but the album doesn't become repetitive or tiresome, and that's down to some great songwriting and strong cover songs. Influences and contemporaries alike get the cover treatement by Alkaline Trio and The Damned's
Wait For The Blackout shines most out of the three covers on Remains.
While Alkaine Trio specialise in fast punk, there are also top-notch slower songs here. Sadie which has now featured on three albums, is as great as always. Although due to it having a place 'Crimson' maybe it should be disqualified from appearing it on this album. Anyway, that version is better than the one here. The way
Queen Of Pain explodes at the end after a sombre, yet interesting couple of verses and choruses makes it a live-favourite, and hard to believe that it was never on a 'proper' ALK3 release, considering it's quality.
Throughout the album, there is quite a bit of variation, although each track is undeniably an Alkaline Trio song, with their trademark lyrics about topics mainly consisting of alcohol or death. For the first time there is a Trio song that uses synth (and uses synth very well may I add)
Don't Say You Won't may be one of the shortest songs on the album, but is one of the best. At the end of the album there are three live tracks-
Dethbed, My Standard Break From Life, and
I'm Dying Tomorrow, the last is a very powerful composition live and this is really shown here, as Dan Andriano spits out his words as though they were venom.
In conclusion, Remains is a very good album, but when most if not all of the songs here can be found on EP's or split series you have to ask: Is this really worth my money?
