The band formed in December of 1996, originally consisting of Skiba, Rob Doran (bass/vocals), and Glenn Porter (drums/vocals). 1997 saw the release of the band's first EP, Sundials. This was followed shortly after by the departure of Doran. He was replaced by Andriano, who had been the singer for Tuesday and bassist for the ska band Slapstick. The band released their second EP, entitled For Your Lungs Only, in 1998, which began to build them a sizable fan base in the American Midwest. Later that year, they released their first full-length album, Goddamnit, followed by Maybe I'll Catch Fire in 2000. Both were released on Asian Man Records. Also in 2000, the band released a collection of their previously-released EPs on a self-titled album.
Following the success of their Asian Man releases, Alkaline Trio signed to Vagrant. Joined by new drummer Mike Felumlee (previously of the Smoking Popes), From Here to Infirmary was released in 2001. It was their first album to see any interest from alternative radio and the mainstream media, with the semi-hit punk single "Stupid Kid" and the inclusion of the song "Armageddon" on the Tony Hawk's Underground as well as Tony Hawks American Wasteland video games. Their cover of "Over at the Frankenstein Place" was included in the compilation The Rocky Horror Punk Rock Show, an album made to pay tribute to the movie The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
After the release, Felumlee left the band too and was replaced by Grant, previously of The Suicide Machines.
Their next full-length album was Good Mourning, released in 2003, with the album's launch single "We've Had Enough" seeing a considerable amount of commercial success. The album was a significant departure from earlier works, featuring greater production value and a noticeable move toward a more mainstream sound.
The band has also appeared on various compilation albums, notably Plea for Peace Vol. 1 and Rock Against Bush Vol. 1. Skiba and Andriano have both independently recorded split records, Skiba with Kevin Seconds on Asian Man Records and Andriano with Mike Felumlee on Double Zero Records, as well as jointly performing backing vocal duties on the album This is Unity Music by Common Rider. They have also recorded two split EPs with bands who are no longer together: one with Hot Water Music in 2000 and the other with One Man Army in 2004.
Alkaline Trio released their fifth studio album on Vagrant Records, entitled Crimson, on May 24, 2005, which featured the single "Time to Waste." The single for this song also included bonus tracks produced by Mass Giorgini. The tracks "Mercy Me" and "Burn" have also been released as singles from the album.
In 2004 Andriano became a member of The Falcon, a super-group of consisting of The Lawrence Arms' bassist/co-vocalist Brendan Kelly (with who he had played with in Slapstick), and Neil Hennessy, drummer from The Lawrence Arms. The band released a 5-song EP in 2004, and its first full-length Unicornography in September of 2006.
In 2006 Matt Skiba collaborated with Josiah Steinbrick for the band Heavens.
In 2008 Alkaline Trio released Agony & Irony on Epic Records. The album charted at #13 on the Billboard 200.
Alkaline Trio's 7th studio album, This Addiction,was released on February 23rd 2010. This was their first album under their own label, Heart & Skull, an offshoot of Epitaph, and the album debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200, making it the highest the band has ever charted to date.
Alkaline Trio's eighth studio album, Damnesia,, was released July 12, 2011. Consisting of "a selection of beloved fan favorites selected from the group's extensive catalogue and presented in an intimate semi-unplugged format", the album also included two new songs, "Olde English 800" and "I Remember a Rooftop", as well as a cover version of the Violent Femmes' "I Held Her in My Arms".
On April 2nd, 2013, Alkaline Trio released "My Shame Is True".
On August 31st, 2013, Alkaline Trio released "Is This Thing Cursed?".
On June 8th, 2023, longtime drummer Derek Grant left the band due to mental health reasons and intentions to pursue music production as well as graphic design. He was replaced by Atom Willard, formerly of bands such as Rocket from the Crypt and Against Me!. The band then released the single, "Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs" on October 17th, 2023, and announced an album of the same name due for a release date of January 26th, 2024.
Love Love Kiss Kiss
Alkaline Trio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's black and white except the blood's a little richer
Down in the corner I gave it my signature
And then I titled it this one's for the winter
Check it out you see it's just a big disaster
I dedicate it to the fact that it's so hard for you to dream
A million heartbeats around you make it hard to sleep
All you want is someone there and all you'll say is "so what?"
[Chorus: ]
Love love, kiss kiss.... blah blah blah
You're making me sick
I wish you'd just stop showing off
For the rest of us that no one wants to love.
It's hard enough trying to drink another winter all alone
Love love, kiss kiss.... blah blah blah
Well do you find you like to fall in love with people that you're never gonna meet?
It's easier then breaking up and crying in the street
Do you curse the happy couple?
Do you cringe at wedding bells?
Do you drink up all the punch while you wish 'em all to hell
[Chorus: ]
You can't escape this fatal case of melancholia
It's in your face, in every place you go it's stalking you
And there are days when we all say we feel we just can't go on
But you've felt this way all along
[Chorus: ]
The song Love Love Kiss Kiss by Alkaline Trio is a melancholic reflection of unrequited love and loneliness during the winter season. The first verse describes a painting that the singer has created for their lover, which is full of blood imagery and their signature in the corner. The chorus sarcastically dismisses the typical expressions of love and affection, as the singer is too jaded and heartbroken to take them seriously. The second verse explores the idea of falling in love with people who are unattainable, as it is easier than dealing with the pain of breaking up. The bridge acknowledges that everyone can feel hopeless and lost sometimes, but the singer has been feeling this way all along.
The painting described in the first verse is a metaphor for the singer's feelings. Just as the painting is bloody and chaotic, their emotions are messy and overwhelming. The title of the painting, "this one's for the winter," reflects the cold, bleak feeling that pervades the song. The chorus uses the phrase "love love, kiss kiss" to mock the trite expressions of love that the singer can't relate to. The rest of the chorus shows their bitterness towards happy couples and their unwillingness to join in with their celebration of love. The second verse displays a bit of self-awareness, as the singer considers why they keep falling for people who they know will never love them back. The bridge emphasizes the depth of the singer's sadness, as they feel like they can't escape it no matter where they go.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a look you see I painted you a picture
I made a representation of my feelings towards you
It's black and white except the blood's a little richer
It's a simple image with dark undertones
Down in the corner I gave it my signature
I personalized it with my unique touch
And then I titled it this one's for the winter
I dedicated it to the feeling of loneliness associated with winter
Check it out you see it's just a big disaster
It's a tragic and chaotic portrayal of emotions
I dedicate it to the fact that it's so hard for you to dream
The painting represents how difficult it is for you to find happiness
A million heartbeats around you make it hard to sleep
The noise of the world around you makes it impossible to rest
Doesn't help you're freezing in your bed, your blankets aren't enough
You feel physically and emotionally cold and vulnerable
All you want is someone there and all you'll say is "so what?"
You desire companionship, but you are afraid to admit it
Love love, kiss kiss.... blah blah blah
The cliches of love and affection do not help ease your pain
You're making me sick
Your inability to overcome your sadness is affecting the people around you
I wish you'd just stop showing off
Your constant self-pity is becoming a spectacle
For the rest of us that no one wants to love.
You are not the only one feeling lonely and rejected
It's hard enough trying to drink another winter all alone
Enduring another cold and lonely season is a daunting task
Well do you find you like to fall in love with people that you're never gonna meet?
You are drawn to unrealistic and unreachable romantic interests
It's easier then breaking up and crying in the street
Fantasizing about impossible relationships is safer than experiencing real heartbreak
Do you curse the happy couple?
Seeing others in love makes you resentful
Do you cringe at wedding bells?
Happy occasions like weddings remind you of your own loneliness
Do you drink up all the punch while you wish 'em all to hell
You indulge in negativity and bitterness towards happy couples
You can't escape this fatal case of melancholia
Your sadness feels like a terminal illness
It's in your face, in every place you go it's stalking you
Your despair follows you everywhere you go
And there are days when we all say we feel we just can't go on
Everyone has their moments of hopelessness
But you've felt this way all along
For you, it's a chronic condition
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DANIEL ANDRIANO, DEREK GRANT, MATT SKIBA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind