CHUCKLES AND MR. SQUEEZY

Although I like more melodic and mellow side of Prog at times, there are some limits even I feel difficult to Cross. Like when you get THIS. At first, I was like "Hahahaha!", because even I didn't like Dredg's reportedly masterpiece album (El Cielo), I couldn't deny it its qualities (which earned it so high rating from so many reviews). But this is rock bottom in terms of complexity, but also it's big departure in terms of enjoyability. I liked their last album a bit, but Chuckles shows most of symptoms what I hate about today's music. This is a doomed album, move on.

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Posted Wednesday, January 11, 2012 | Review this album | Report (Review #607494)

It looks like a lot of people were shocked at the sudden change of direction of this album compared to dredg's other albums. I believe what they were trying to achieve here was a more popularized alternative feeling with this album, more electronic and almost hip-hop feeling like Gorillaz or Minus the Bear. Those bands have utilized those sounds quite effectively and well. Unfortunately, this attempt by dredg just feels flat. That is a good way to describe the sound here. However, I think if they choose to continue in this particular direction, they might be able to come up with a better album than this if done right. We already know what kind of excellent music dredg can achieve from the masterpiece albums they have released in the past; namely "El Cielo" and "The Pariah, the Parrot and The Delusion". There is no doubt that if instead they decide to return to form that they can release more great albums. Time will tell I guess.

In this album, all the rough edges and hard guitar are gone. The vocals are good on some songs and sort of flat-lined on others. The lyrics are sometimes interesting, and sometimes repetitive. The electronic drums that are used from time to time seem to drain life out of the songs. The guitars are pushed to the back and electronics are given the lime light. Emotion seems to be missing on these songs.

As much as I love dredg's music from past efforts, I try so much to pull something good out of this album, but it is just so hard to do so after the amazing music that I have heard them produce. I can't even see them winning over more fans by popularizing their music in this way because it just sounds too plastic. Maybe I can help you understand how bad this sounds by comparing this to Styx with their albums "The Grand Illusion" and "Cornerstone". The first was a masterpiece and the other was a miserable failure at attempting to popularize their sound. The main difference is I feel I could rate "Cornerstone" at 3 stars. I'm afraid I can only settle for 2 stars here because of a couple of okay songs like "Kalathat" and "Sun Goes Down" that show a little hope, but even that hope seems watered down compared to their amazing work from the past.

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Posted Tuesday, November 18, 2014 | Review this album | Report (Review #1312031)

When "The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion" came out I was a little frightened. There's a reason people say, "I like their early stuff" when talking about almost any band. It's because 90% of the time it's true. With early albums the sound is fresh, a band is able to explore and experiment as th ... (read more)

Report this review (#2171181) | Posted by thesimilitudeofprog | Thursday, April 4, 2019 | Review Permanlink

I do not hand out 5-star reviews lightly and without consideration. But Imperfecta's first review for this site had to be this album, partly because how much I adore it is in stark relief to how maligned it is. I love it, and most everyone else hates it. So be it. I love that Dredg have upset s ... (read more)

Report this review (#550425) | Posted by Imperfecta | Friday, October 14, 2011 | Review Permanlink

What the heck, I might as well throw in my 2 cents in about this HIGHLY controversial release from Dredg. EL CIELO was wonderful. CATCH WITHOUT ARMS was good. And THE PARIAH was really good. However, the cycle is broken with CHUCKLES AND MR SQUEEZY. It is not wonderful, good, really good, or a ... (read more)

Report this review (#493126) | Posted by mohaveman | Saturday, July 30, 2011 | Review Permanlink

Following the absolutely terrific The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion, dredg followed it up by releasing an album of mostly forgettable wanna-be electronic rock. I will give them credit for trying something different, but they failed pretty badly in their attempt to pull a U2 or Radiohead, a ... (read more)

Report this review (#480219) | Posted by Biff Tannen | Monday, July 11, 2011 | Review Permanlink

Rating this album by Dredg has not been an easy task for me. There were very high expectations regarding that much anticipated new release of a band capable of producing in the past a masterpiece like "El Cielo" and others highly enjoyable and solid works like "The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delu ... (read more)

Report this review (#442321) | Posted by Avtokrat | Tuesday, May 3, 2011 | Review Permanlink

Zero Stars What in god's name happened. Dredg was one of my favorite bands in the world, and I have loved everything they have released up until this point, but this is a bizarre and radical change. Now don't get me wrong, I don't mind change, and I don't care what direction a band goes in, ... (read more)

Report this review (#440527) | Posted by Phoenix87x | Friday, April 29, 2011 | Review Permanlink

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