The album was produced by Bill Bottrell, Baerwald, and Dan Schwartz.[7] Baerwald was open to different musical styles and tried not to limit the music to any specific genre.[8] Many of its songs were influenced by politics and conspiracy theories.[9] The album is dedicated to politicians and government officials disliked by Baerwald.[5] The album cover is a photograph of bloody hands on top of the American flag; the liner notes contain photos of the FBI file on Baerwald's father.[10][11]
Herb Alpert played trumpet on "A Secret Silken World"; due to its theme of sadism, Joni Mitchell allegedly counseled against recording the song.[12][13] "Nobody" was written after Baerwald tagged along with members of the LAPD gang division.[14] "A Bitter Tree" addresses adultery.[1] The voices of Jim Jones and George Herbert Walker Bush are sampled on "The Postman".[15] The closing two songs incorporate more optimistic sentiments.[16]
The New York Times wrote that the album "leavens its juicy dollops of depravity and paranoia with just enough humor to keep from being an apocalyptic bore."[21] The Calgary Herald noted that Baerwald's "voice—singing, mumbling and shouting those powerful lyrics—carries Triage, with the music pushed down to a subtle supporting role."[17]
The Chicago Tribune concluded that "it's an ambitious work, but heavy-handedness has often been Baerwald's bane."[18] The Los Angeles Times opined that, "like Roger Waters' recent work, Baerwald's well-crafted sonics fail to clothe his ambitious lyrical ideas in sufficient pop appeal."[19]The Philadelphia Inquirer considered Triage to be "ponderous, self-obsessed singer-songwriter indulgence."[22]
AllMusic rated Triage 4.5 out of 5 stars, deeming it "a bumpy ride."[23]
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