Blackbird (Alkaline Trio song) explained

Blackbird
Type:single
Artist:Alkaline Trio
Released:July 19, 2018
Studio:The Lair, Culver City, California
Genre:
Length:3:20
Label:Epitaph
Prev Title:She Lied To The FBI
Prev Year:2013
Next Title:Is This Thing Cursed?
Next Year:2018

"Blackbird" is a song by American rock band Alkaline Trio. It was released on July 19, 2018, as the first single from their album, Is This Thing Cursed? (2018). The song was written by Matt Skiba, Dan Andriano, and Derek Grant.

Background

Much of the band's activities had been put on hold since their 2013 album, My Shame Is True, which had primarily been due to Skiba becoming lead guitarist and vocalist for Blink-182. When the members reconvened however, "Blackbird" was the first song they wrote together. Andriano had initially composed the song's music, and had written politically-inspired lyrics for it. However, these lyrics were scrapped when he sent the music to Skiba, who rewrote the lyrics about a "lady friend of mine".[2]

"There were just a lot of parallels with someone who I felt was a great love of my life and probably always will be. But I wrote it for her. The end." - Matt Skiba

The name of the song comes from the film, Public Enemies, in which John Dillinger refers to his love interest, Billie Frechette as his "blackbird". Additionally, a song of the same name is also featured in the film:

Release and reception

"Blackbird" was released alongside the announcement of Is This Thing Cursed? on July 19, 2018.

The song was met with mainly positive reviews. Israel Daramola of Spin praised the song's melodies, calling it "a glossy, pristine pop-punk record that's anthemic and a bit catchy in its breezy melodies". Billboard's Connor Whittum called the song "fast paced" and "guitar heavy".[3] Ian Winwood of Kerrang! praised the lyrics, calling them "haunting, but as usual, there is a dark sense of humour at work here, too".[4] Ryan Wyness of PunkNews compared it to the band's 2003 album, Good Mourning, feeling that it shared "the same dark, macabre aura".[5]

Personnel

Alkaline Trio

Production

References

  1. Web site: 2018-07-19. Alkaline Trio Announce New Album Is This Thing Cursed?, Release "Blackbird". 2022-02-22. SPIN. en-US.
  2. Web site: Norris. Chelsey. Ahead of Alkaline Trio's Dallas Tour Stop, Matt Skiba Shares His Recipe for a Good Life. 2022-02-22. Dallas Observer. en.
  3. Web site: Whittum. Connor. 2018-07-19. Alkaline Trio Announces First Album in Five Years, Drops Lead Single ‘Blackbird’. 2022-02-22. Billboard. en-US.
  4. Web site: Album Of The Week: Alkaline Trio's Is This Thing Cursed?. 2022-02-22. Kerrang!. en.
  5. Web site: Punknews.org. Alkaline Trio - Is This Thing Cursed?. 2022-02-22. www.punknews.org. en.