Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy

[Hi-Fi]

Re: Album Discussion: Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy

Can someone who received/bought the album so far describe me how the editions look? I'm thinking which version to buy so I'm interested which one is a better packaging, digipak or jewel case? Which one have/not have booklet and other stuff?

Thanks!

Could someone answer my question, please? I wonder which version to buy because now I have money for one edition only.

Thanks!

[Gnomad]

Re: Album Discussion: Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy

If no one answers you, I'll post pictures of the UV digipack when I get home.

[Hi-Fi]

Re: Album Discussion: Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy

If no one answers you, I'll post pictures of the UV digipack when I get home.

Cool! Thanks!

[Morpheus]

Re: Album Discussion: Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy

Ok, here is my take on the album. I intentionally waited a couple of weeks until I would write a review. I knew i would need a couple of spins.

So, I'll go song by song:

Another Tribe: Interesting synthies, kinda early 90s style I'd say. Catchy chorus, good verse, great bridge. Structure is quite simple but suits the song imo.

Upon Returning: Really grown on me. Again simple structure but great lyrics. Catchy but at the same time not very mainstream.

The Tent: Well, controversy comes with the song but honestly, I don't care. The verse is just amazing, best verse on the album. The chorus took me a while to get into but it's fine with me now. 3 repetition would have done it for me though.

Somebody is Laughing: I really like the verse, a bit more uptempo. The chorus falls off a little, nothing to special imo. Lyrics are good, so is the song.

Down without a fight: Again great verse, good chorus. I like the bass on it, really groovy, still has a lot of 'original' dredg feeling to it despite the electronics, but rather from the vocals. 'Believing positivity breeds positive happenings', great line.

The Ornament: For me this a little bit of a downer. Little changes from the live version we know and I really don't like the drums on this one. Worked much better without em imo. I prefer the simplicity of the live version, way more intense.

The Thought of Losing you: I read somewhere here that it was the 'Information' of CAMS. Well, I agree to a certain extend. It's catchy, probably the most radio friendly song. I still like it. The Drums are a bit, simple for my liking but I guess it fits the song.

Kalathat: Well, probably the song i had the most trouble to get warm with. Right now I'd say that the first half of it is ok, but the second half is great. Like when the 'humming' sets in after the second chorus.

Sun Goes Down: I really like the verse, the chorus is good too, but well nothing special. Bridge is alright. A bit repetitive all in all, but again somehow fits the song.

Where I'll End up: Same as with The Ornament. I prefer the live version. It somehow isn't as cheesy as the album version. I dunno, the album version sounds like a cheesy folk song. Maybe it's the drumming and the lack of a solo guitar.

Before it began: Has an ambient vibe to it. Could be used in a Western or sth. Didn't really grow on me but it's an ok song.

All in all I realised that I prefer most of the verses to the chorus which is really unusual for me. I think they really stand out. When I think of where I would put this album among the other I'd probably put it a little higher than Leitmotif which is at the bottom of my list of dredg albums. I definitely like it but it's not up there with Pariah and El Cielo in my list. Still, I get what the bands wanted from this album and I accept it.

[DforDrums]

Re: Album Discussion: Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy

Good insight on the album! I pretty much agree with everything you said, although Kalathat was an instant favorite of mine. That's an interesting oberservation about the verse/chorus relationship. I like what you said about The Tent, those verses are really, really great. The chorus gets a little repetitive, but honestly it doesn't take anything away from the song for me. I don't think this is going to be a popular statement, but honestly I hear some El Cielo in the Tent. Not that I think it would fit on that album, but the thought sits in the back of my mind when I listen to it. Maybe the Scissor Lock of CAMS.

[penguinintheroom]

Re: Album Discussion: Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy

Talked to Gavin after the Cleveland show and found it interesting that he also wrote all the guitar for Kalathat. I'm always wondering who writes which guitar parts because it seems Gavin has written at least a few of the chords that Mark plays (Planting Seeds).

[lotsofface]

Re: Album Discussion: Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy

wow that's cool. This is a very Gavin record, lol.

[sangreal314]

Re: Album Discussion: Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy

wow that's cool. This is a very Gavin record, lol.

i wouldn't be surprised to find out gavin writes a lot of the guitar parts. pretty sure he's a better guitar player than mark.

[lotsofface]

Re: Album Discussion: Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy

well I might have my doubts about that. He's a huge talent, but Mark is fantastic.

[Gnomad]

Re: Album Discussion: Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy

I can't remember who or where, but I do remember someone saying that Mark has said that Gavin is a better guitarist than him. Don't know if it's true or not.

[Hi-Fi]

Re: Album Discussion: Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy

I listened the whole album a couple of times, and I must say that the album is great, from start to finish. I like every song on it. Dredg once again showed that they are very talented and creative musicians. I'm glad that they proved that they can be creative in different music genres.

Great intimate lyrics by Gavin is also a highlight on this record. And I like the artwork also.

For me, this album stands high and equal with all other Dredg releases. 5 original journeys they made with each one album.

10/10

[Awakenings420]

Re: Album Discussion: Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy

No way in hell is Gavin a better guitarist than Mark! What are we talking about here people? Mark is a legend!

[Gnomad]

Re: Album Discussion: Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy

Cool! Thanks!

Hey, sorry I didn't post pictures. It's just that I haven't seen the sun in a while and you kind of need the sunlight... so...

[AnewKINDofFEELING]

Re: Album Discussion: Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy

No way in hell is Gavin a better guitarist than Mark! What are we talking about here people? Mark is a legend!

I'm sure Gavin is a solid guitarist. We all know how dredg started, but Mark has been a professional guitarist for 10 years. I'm sure with all that he has played, he's better than Gavin at this point. Now, Gavin may play better lead. I really don't know. If that's the case, I could see it, but it still doesn't mean Gavin is a better guitarist. Lead and rhythm are totally different animals and require much different skill sets.

Max Cavallera, for example, very rarely plays lead or solos. He is still one of the best guitarists around. Some people recognize that James Hettfield deserves major recognition, even though Kirk did all the noodling. Robert Fripp v. Adrian Belew. Several of the Mothers of Invention have said that Frank Zappa had to be taught to play lead. He was a sick rhythm guitarist, but couldn't wrap his head around soloing for a while.

I just know that the strumming speed that Mark possesses is very impressive. I really doubt Gavin could pull that off. The only faster right hand I have seen is on Tab Benoit and that guy is a straight-up legend in my books. That alone puts Mark in very select territory as a guitarist. And he does it with layers and layers of delay, which is tricky for strumming.

I think Lightswitch is another riff that seems more Gaviny (made it up myself). Considering that he plays live on it, I could see it. Anyway, it appears Gavin spends a lot more time on an acoustic than Mark. Maybe he's a better "acoustic guitarist." I could see that. Acoustic and electric are totally different beasts. I feel so weird playing an electric guitar. It just seems wrong.

[efpdwd]

Re: Album Discussion: Chuckles and Mr. Squeezy

^ I don't know. Mark always sounds great and natural on his acoustics when he plays them live from time to time. I'm sure that it's a collaborate effort when they write. I've been in quite a few bands playing drums and even I wrote a guitar riff for one of our songs though I didn't play it live - I played the drums. I would say Mark is more seasoned as a guitar player and gets to play the guitar more often and as a result probably has more refined skills although I'm sure Gavin is a stellar player as well.

AnewKINDofFEELING: Gavin plays the solo in "Quotes" so he can shred too.