This Addiction (song)

"This Addiction" is a song by the punk rock band Alkaline Trio, released as the first single from their 2010 album This Addiction. The single was released as a digital download through online retailers on January 12, 2010, and as a 7" single exclusively through Hot Topic stores on February 9, 2010.

"This Addiction"
The cover art used for the digital single.
Single by Alkaline Trio
from the album This Addiction
Released	January 12, 2010
Recorded	2009 at Atlas Studios in Chicago
Genre	Punk rock
Length	2:35
Label	Heart & Skull / Epitaph
Songwriter(s)	Matt Skiba, Dan Andriano, Derek Grant
Producer(s)	Alkaline Trio, Matt Allison
Alkaline Trio singles chronology
"Love Love, Kiss Kiss" (2008) "This Addiction" (2010)
Alternative cover
The cover of the 7" version of the single, using the "7" logo designed by drummer Derek Grant.

Background

"This Addiction" was written by singer and guitarist Matt Skiba (though the album credits all songs to the band as a whole)[1] and was first performed live by Alkaline Trio during their Spring 2009 tour.[2][3][4][5] It was recorded, along with the rest of the album, in July 2009 at Atlas Studios in the band's hometown of Chicago, where they had recorded much of their early material including their first two albums, 1998's Goddamnit and 2000's Maybe I'll Catch Fire.[3] The sessions were engineered, co-produced, and mixed by Matt Allison, producer of both of those albums as well as 2001's From Here to Infirmary and much of the band's other early material.[3][6][7][8] The band's decision to record in Chicago and to work with Allison reflected a desire to return to the punk rock roots of their early albums.[3]

Thematically, "This Addiction" uses heroin and methadone addiction as a metaphor for love.[9] Skiba remarked that "It's a human condition that I think we all, in one way or another, fall victim to. It's not to say that people can't be happy or find bliss in a relationship. It's just amazing to me how unhappy most people are and they can't shake it and can't fix it, much like an addiction."[9]

Release and music video

"This Addiction" was made available for listening as streaming audio through a dedicated website on January 5, 2010, using a marketing technique in which listeners were required to post an advertisement about the album to Facebook or Twitter in order to access the song.[10][11] It became available as a download through digital retailers on January 12, and was released as a 7" single exclusively at Hot Topic stores on February 9.[10] The 7" version includes "Dine, Dine My Darling", also from the album, as a B-side.[12]

The music video for "This Addiction" premiered February 8.[13][14] The video was filmed in a mountain field in Ventura County, California, described by Epitaph Records as "an open battlefield where two sides of the heart collide in a vibrant burst of color."[14] It depicts the band performing the song in the center of the field, while on either side a number of children are gathered wearing black, white, and grey school uniforms. On one side the children are clean-cut, while on the other they are disheveled, wearing kerchiefs, face paint, and patches bearing the band's "7" logo (designed by drummer Derek Grant to commemorate This Addiction as the band's seventh album). The two groups charge across the field at each other, and as they collide in front of the band they explode as bursts of colorful confetti.[14] The song impacted radio on March 2, 2010.[15]

Reception

Critical reaction to "This Addiction" has been mixed. Corey Apar of AllMusic complemented it as one of the album's strongest songs, and Drew Beringer of AbsolutePunk remarked that Skiba "sounds awesome" in it.[4][8] Scott Heisel of Alternative Press, however, criticized Skiba for falling back on his "well-worn" lyrical theme of drugs, stating that "It's moments like these where it feels like he's trying too hard to keep up appearances with his band's more fairweather fans."[2]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Matt Skiba, Dan Andriano, and Derek Grant

Digital version

No.	Title	Length
1.	"This Addiction"	2:35
Total length:		2:35

U.S. 7"

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"This Addiction"	2:35

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Dine, Dine My Darling"	2:58
Total length:		5:33

U.K. 7"

[16]

Side A

No.	Title	Length
1.	"This Addiction"	2:35

Side B

No.	Title	Length
1.	"This Addiction" (acoustic)	2:37
Total length:		5:12

Personnel

[1]

Band

• Matt Skiba – guitar, lead vocals
• Dan Andriano – bass, backing vocals
• Derek Grant – drums

Production

• Matt Allison – producer, engineer
• Ted Jensen – mastering
• Matthew Reeves and Tyler Curtis – cover photography

References

1. This Addiction (Deluxe Edition) (CD booklet). Alkaline Trio. Los Angeles: Epitaph Records. 2010. 87077-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
2. Heisel, Scott (March 2010). "Review: This Addiction". Alternative Press. Cleveland: Alternative Press Magazines Inc. 24 (260): 89. ISSN 1065-1667.
3. Reilly, Dan (2009-11-30). "Alkaline Trio Emulate Punk 'Forefathers' on New Album". Spinner.com. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
4. Beringer, Drew (2010-01-27). "Review: This Addiction". AbsolutePunk. Retrieved 2010-01-28.
5. Benson, John (2009-05-12). "Alkaline Trio Get Back to D.I.Y. Roots". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
6. Zaleski, Annie (December 2009). "In the Studio: Alkaline Trio". Alternative Press. Cleveland: Alternative Press Magazines Inc. 24 (257): 36. ISSN 1065-1667.
7. "Alkaline Trio to work with Matt Allison". Punknews.org. 2009-08-06. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
8. Apar, Corey. "Review: This Addiction". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-02-19.
9. Reilly, Dan (2009-12-07). "Alkaline Trio to Tour with Cursive in Support of This Addiction". Spinner.com. Retrieved 2009-12-07.
10. "Alkaline Trio Form Heart & Skull Label; New Album To Be Released Early 2010 On Epitaph/Heart & Skull". Epitaph Records. 2009-11-18. Retrieved 2009-12-04.
11. "Thisaddiction.org". Retrieved 2010-01-05.
12. This Addiction (single) (record sleeve). Alkaline Trio. Los Angeles: Epitaph Records. 2010. 87080-7.CS1 maint: others (link)
13. Paul, Aubin (2010-02-08). "Videos: Alkaline Trio: "This Addiction"". Punknews.org. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
14. "Alkaline Trio Premiere New Music Video For "This Addiction"". Epitaph Records. 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-02-08.
15. "AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly". AllAccess. February 23, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2016.
16. This Addiction (Record sleeve). Alkaline Trio. Hassle Records. 2010. HOFFO915.CS1 maint: others (link)