CHUCKLES AND MR. SQUEEZY

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.