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Chuck (out since 10/12/04)
The Band:
Deryck Whitbley (Bizzy D) - Vocals, Guitar, (Piano, keyboards, and mellotron...???)
Dave Baksh (Brownsound) - Lead Guitar
Jason McCaslin (Cone) - Bass
Steve Jocz (Stevo32) - Drums
Track Listing:
1. Intro (0:46)
2. No Reason (3:04)
3. We're All To Blame (3:39)
4. Angels With Dirty Faces (2:23)
5. Some Say (3:26)
6. The Bitter End (2:51)
7. Open Your Eyes (2:44)
8. Slipping Away (2:29)
9. I'm Not The One (3:34)
10. Welcome To Hell (1:56)
11. Pieces (3:01)
12. There's No Solution (3:18)
13. 88 (4:38)
Total: 37:55
Pre-Review:
Ever since the dawn of the new millenium, these four jackasses from Ajax has broken into the music scene with their devilish riffs and catchy pop-punk tunes. Being '80's metalheads during their high school years has started to catch up to their pop-punk sound and transforming them into what they've become now. In four years, Sum 41 is argueably one of the most popular and changing bands in a while. Chuck, their fourth album, is their most influencial and most metallish album produced, changing from their pop-punk beginnings to the punkish-metallish sounds that we hear today.
The album has some of the lightest and heaviest stuff Sum 41 fans will hear, and clocking at over 30 minutes, lasting effects won't last, but at least it takes you on a journey through the twisting minds of the band.
*The album is named after Chuck Pelletier, a Victoria, BC native who saved the lives of 40 people during a mission in Congo in May of 2004. Without him, Sum 41 would cease to exist, and this album would never been produced.
Track-By-Track:
1.
Intro - An interesting intro that leads to "No Reason". Heavy effects along with simple chords and melody starts off the album and the next song.
Unrated.
2.
No Reason - A good song to begin the album. Heavy and anthem-themed, the chorus is catchy while the verses and heavy riffs are somewhat interesting. This would be the equivalent of "The Hell Song" from DTLI, but has less impact.
8/10.
3.
We're All To Blame - Once it grows on you, this song won't go away. Like the previous first single "Still Waiting", this will be the reason why this album will become very successful. Catchy metal riffs and slow but heavy choruses makes this song. An interesting acoustic ending at the end wraps up a very successfully written song.
9/10.
4.
Angels With Dirty Faces - A fast-paced song with incredibly catchy metallish riffs and fast verses. The fast pace leaves you with a dazzled but forgettable feeling.
7/10.
5.
Some Say - This is one of the lighter songs on the album. Starting off with interesting background effects while Deryck is singing some good stuff, then it blasts into a heavily distorted chorus while the acoustic guitar continues playing in the background. This song sounds like a song that Avril Lavigne would write and play (and some Treble Charger influence, too), but more heavier and mature. Watch out for the "Handle This" style solo in the middle of the song. Ends off as a seque to the next song.
8.5/10.
6.
The Bitter End - This would possibly be the best song on the album. You'll have to listen to it yourself to see why. The only thing that brought this down was the verses. I'm not saying that they shouldn't be there, but they just don't connect the song as perfectly as they could've been.
9.5/10.
7.
Open Your Eyes - A heavily anthemed theme song with a ton of backing vocals that pulls this song through to the end. I wouldn't call the solo a "solo", but at least it brings the song together enough for a lasting effect.
7/10.
8.
Slipping Away - A nice little slow song that splits the album in half. Very few words with many effects in the background, with a bonus studio recording of them doing stuff. All this song does is to break things down a bit before it hits off with another song and the rest of the album.
6.5/10.
9.
I'm Not The One - Also known as "Bleed", this would be the song that best resembles Linkin Park. Nearly every part of this song as a Linkin Park element and song structure, including the screaming lyrics.
7/10.
10.
Welcome To Hell - The shortest song on the album, it would seem likely that this would be another under-a-minute song that Sum 41 always puts near the beginning of the alum. But this song is put near the end of the album, another big move from Sum 41. This song would probably be just another filler with riffs, this opinion after listening for 20 minutes of nearly the same thing of heavy riffs and average-timed songs. Look out for the killer bass solo from Cone!
6.5/10.
11.
Pieces - This song would be a lighter version of DTLI's "Thanks For Nothing". The thing that sets this apart from the other two slow songs on this album would be the light clean guitar sounds and a warm sound throughout the song. This would be a great song to jam with acoustic buddies.
9/10.
12.
There's No Solution - Just like DTLI's "Hyper-Insomnia-Para-Condroid", this is another great song that follows the wake-up call of "Pieces". The song is also lighter than "H-I-P-C", but incredibly catchy and distorted. This would be an improvement from "I'm Not The One" as it has some elements of Linkin Park on it. Nonetheless another brilliant song by Sum 41.
8.5/10.
13.
88 - Why not skip "Billy Spleen" altogether and get on with the greatest song on the album? Possibly the longest song ever that Sum 41 has recorded, this song is split into three parts, each unique with its own feelings and images. Half-way through the song, Dave bashes out two awesome solos backed by metallic palm muting riffs. In the end, a slow Linkin Park style ending finishes the album off with original awe. Nothing else to say about this song!
10/10.
Post-Review:
Apart from the Linking Park similarities and some failures, this album is the best that Sum 41 has produced yet. They successfully pull out their mission to lash out punkish and metallish songs while at the same time stay true to their nature of writing simple but awesome songs. :D :D :D :) :evil:
*This is my first review (seriously). I hope you enjoy this album as much as I did.
