The Alcatraz Wars (1999 - c. 2002) have long since settled into an uneasy truce, with both sides more or less agreeing to disagree and to try to get along together as best they can. It's an intractable problem, but in the end most people reached the conclusion that there are more important things to worry about in this sad, short life, and it's hard to disagree with them.
So it's ancient history, but the debate has arisen again in the comments to the last few items. The defeated Alcatraz partisans are no doubt over-represented among my readers; or they're polite enough not to mention their anti-Alcatraz philosophy in mixed company. Anyway, here's an elaborate apologia from one of the partisans, from one of the MTX message boards. I'm sure one of the Alcatraz Sucks Brigade folks could make an equally convincing case to the contrary. The market has rendered a verdict, but History has not.
Posted by Dr. Frank at February 20, 2004 03:31 PM | TrackBackDr. Frank,
Thanks a lot for the phone interveiw on 2/15. It aired on wednesday 2/18 at 10 pm. I gave away the new cd "yesterday rules" as a prize on my show. I had a bunch of callers who called in and said they will be at the show tonight in pittsburgh. I am looking forward to the show tonight. Club Laga has an awesome bar, so I look forward to drinking quite a bit of "newcastle, brown ale" tonight, and enjoying the show
Alcatraz was a welcome change from "Revenge Is Sweet..." in my opinion. You guys reached the absolute peak of all that three-chord ramones rock could possibly be, and even though "Revenge" was a solid album, you couldn't help but be a bit dissapointed in it after a complete masterpiece like "Love Is Dead". "Alcatraz" was the much needed step forward. I think it's your best record to date, and I wish a few other bands that had reached the peak of their powers with a certain style would have taken note. I throw my cap on the Pro-Alcatraz side of the fence.
Posted by: JJ at February 20, 2004 03:44 PMPersonally I had no idea that there were people who had both heard Alcatraz, and considered it something short of a gem.
Posted by: Blixa at February 20, 2004 03:55 PMI never heard MTX until I picked up the new one. Yesterday Rules is really good. My original reason for picking it up was just stumbling across this tortured studio diary. A terrific daily read for anyone.
Reading all these Alcatraz/Revenge is Sweet/Love Is Dead/my dead bassist is better than the new guy rants makes me laugh because I have no idea what anyone is talking about.
Posted by: Johnny Glue at February 20, 2004 04:06 PMholla! I can't wait for the show tonight at Club Laga. I missed MTX last time the band came through (which was 2000 or 2001?). Anyways, I just wanted to express that Alcatraz is my favorite MTX release. So intricate and complex, while at the same time beautiful and rocking. Like the other comment said, it was the necessary step forward for MTX. Yesterday Rules is no different!
-Stove
Posted by: Stove at February 20, 2004 04:06 PMDr. Frank,
I know youre really busy on tour and everything, but i was wondering if there would be anyway i could do an interview with you for my zine? Maybe through email or something. Wouldnt be very long, just a few questions...
Hey Emily,
Yeah, go ahead and email me some questions.
Posted by: Dr. Frank at February 20, 2004 04:14 PMDear Frank,
For starters, please, please, please rock our socks off in pittsburgh tonight. And as for the whole Alcatraz debate, I am proud to say that album is BY FAR my favorite MTX album. The craftsmanship (all the subtle, stupid things i pick up on during each and every new listen) can truely define what it takes to be a near perfect album (and that includes the fact that it made people hate IT and YOU).
Upon Alcatraz's release (being the usual MTX stalker that I am) i hunted you down at a show in pittsburgh, offered you a beer and proceeded to slobber all over you and Jym with my dimwitted remarks about your latest effort. Now it's almost 5 years later and be prepared for me to (again, somewhat stalker like) blab on and on about how freaking great yinz guys newest album is.
I've broughten many people into the weird, wonderful MTX world, and tonight as with the last time you came here for an accoustic set, i'll be there rockin out with my mom, YES MY MOM, a HUGE MTX fan.
can't wait till the show. Love the new album.
mike
Posted by: pghpunk at February 20, 2004 04:14 PMIt almost seems silly delving back into the Alcatraz debates, but I feel the need to comment. MTX has been one of my favorite bands for years. When I was a bit younger my favorite type of music was pop-punk. I grew up on Green Day, Screeching Weasel, The Groovie Ghoulies and on and on. As I grew older, however, my musical tastes grew. I suppose the correct word would be "matured." Not to take away anything from pop-punk(because I do still enjoy it) but my musical tastes expanded. MTX is one of the only bands that seemed to mature with me. On it's release Alcatraz hit me like a ton of bricks. I wonder now if Alcatraz was the main catalyst for my growing interest in music that isn't as simple(I'm having a hard time expressing what I mean exactly)as pop-punk.
Anyway, Alcatraz is one of my favorite albums of all time, and I have not been disappointed in any way by "The Miracle of Shame" or "Yesterday Rules."
Frank, I'd be interested to know what feelings you have on your complete past albums. Looking back on it now, what do you think of Alcatraz.
I'm sorry for rambling on like so, but I felt it was important to get my thoughts down.
I'll be at the show on Monday and I can't wait.
awesome, i will do that when i get out of class today! What email address should i send them to?
Posted by: Emily at February 20, 2004 04:32 PMwell fuck me. i've been persuaded to listen to alcatraz a few more times. maybe something will grab me.
for the record, i think the "Alcatraz Wars" is an awesome concept. I missed it the first time around and I'm glad someone instigated it again. Like all good wars (World War, Gulf War) it deserves a sequel.
sure, there are more important things to argue about - but i don't care about them!
Posted by: mr afternoon at February 20, 2004 05:27 PMAlcatraz Rules.
Posted by: Matt Riggle at February 20, 2004 07:27 PM"Hey Emily" hehe. Alcatraz, Alcatraz the endless debate continues. To me its definatly not my favorite MTX album (but probably bringing up the rear of my top 3) but I cant see how someone would be able to say "this sucks" and not apprieciate at least some of it. Songs like "I wrote a book..", "Naomi", "I feel for you" are timeless classics that anyone who digs "Love is dead" should have no trouble getting there heads around. Most of the rest of the album should still appeal. I have a pretty broad (and kind of bad) taste in pop music (Slayer to Snoop to The beach Boys) yet even to someone with my incredibly interesting and interlectual taste some of the album is pretty stylisticly strange and I will readily admit I dont really "get" it. "Reactivate your heart" and "shes my alcatraz" would fall into this category. A good 2/3 rds of the songs are nothing short of genius tho. Also that reviewer guy whos favorite word is "mediocrity" needs to be kicked down a couple of flights of stairs and if theres no takers I will gladly do the job.
alcatraz is such a great album. i can see why people dont like it though, but at the same time, i listen to it just as often as the other MTX albums. ill see you tonight in boston.
Posted by: joe at February 22, 2004 06:47 PMi remember being confused by alcatraz when i first picked it up. but, i really dig it now. in fact every time i listen to it, i find myself humming something from it a few days later on my way to work or something. can't wait to see you guys on tuesday - day after my birthday. will only be my second show. the first was at a closed down prison in clearfield, PA back in like 1997 or 8.
cheers
Posted by: david at February 22, 2004 08:56 PM
yes...confused...that's what i felt about it.
kind of hmmmm....this is kinda different but kinda
of interesting and it could diffently grow on me.
this may be common knowledge to true music fiends
but its kind of like some albums are really catchy
and hooky and then you get sick of them and some
are just the opposite. you're not sure what you
think,that's how alcatraz was for me.
beth
Posted by: just me at February 23, 2004 10:13 PMalcatraz may not have been the best mtx album (by a wide margin), but it was certainly a welcome step forward after "revenge is sweet...", as per my now-very-dated popmatters.com review of the album: http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/m/mrtexperience-alcatraz.html
Posted by: petey at February 25, 2004 06:35 PM