MTV sure knows how to beat a dead horse. In the late 1980’s, MTV came out with UnPlugged, a television show that gave artists a chance to sit down, and play their favorite songs to a very small crowd of people. Bands like Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and most infamously Nirvana, have all graced the MTV stages and played some great music. Now that it’s “back,” MTV has invited everybody to come play for some “fans”, including Adele, Katy Perry, and Lil Wayne (which was probably the most “plugged” concert I’ve ever seen).

One group that hasn’t been invited to Music Television’s show is Alkaline Trio. Actually, I think the last time I have heard them on MTV was back in 2005, when the single “Time To Waste” from their album Crimson. Helping celebrate their fifteenth anniversary, Alkaline Trio released a semi unplugged album, entitled Damnesia. This includes fifteen of fan favorites, and two new songs in a 50 minute package, spanning their entire career thus far. But are their acoustic sessions any good?

Yes and no. “Clavicle” (off of Goddamnit) is an incredibly positive sounding song, while Matt Skiba’s lyrics sink inside, almost giving you a creepy feeling (“I wanna wake up naked, next to you/kissing the curve in your clavicle.) “Calling All Skeletons” (off of Agony & Irony) is a great lead-off song, catchy and fast, which is something that isn’t really in any acoustic sessions anymore. “Radio” (from Maybe I’ll Catch Fire) is a very sad song of loneliness, where Skiba croons “Taking your own life with boredom/I’m taking my own life with wine/it helps you to rule out the sorrow/it helps me to empty my mind.” “Mercy Me” (off of Crimson) is still an incredible catchy, though not truly acoustic.

As a side note, I do like “Mercy Me,” but I would’ve loved to hear “Burn” or “Time to Waste” instead. Still good though.

There are two new songs to the album are very good additions to the semi-best of collection. “Olde English 800” is a fun ode to alcohol, which although incredibly short, is very catchy. While “I Remember a Rooftop” is an easily forgettable sonnet, which is something that I address to later.

There are a couple of problems throughout this album. “The American Scream” (from This Addiction) is a little too dramatic for an album like this. Same goes for “This Could Be Love” (from Good Mourning), which starts with a piano part reminiscent of the Halloween theme song, but eventually makes up for the boring opening.

The biggest problem with this album, which shouldn’t be any surprise, is the redundancy of the album. Each song sounds somewhat like the others, which makes listening to the album something of a guessing game. The song “I Remember a Rooftop” is something that was tucked into the album so well, that I even forgot that it was there to begin with.

New fans of Alkaline Trio should be pleased; what sounds new to them will, I would believe, get them into the extensive back catalog. However, older fans might seem disappointed. Although they do indulge in their fan favorites, it doesn’t necessarily grab you like their previous work. Regardless, this is a nice way to celebrate the bands fifteenth anniversary. The Trio’s unplugged session is a good addition to their ever growing library; it just might not be for everybody.

Final Grade: C

Go Download: “Clavicle”