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Sum 41

Chuck
2004
Island

Sum 41 - Chuck (Cover Artwork)

Review by: TheMarc
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Published on October 15th 2004

Does This Look Infected? caught me a little by surprise: Here was a band that was best known for rapping, synch-jumping, and showing up on MTV every five seconds putting out a record that was fast, loud, and considerably metal-sounding (not like Morbid Angel or Mastodon metal, but you can imagine). At the same time, it was still poppy, overproduced, and melodic more in the vein of tour mates Good Charlotte and New Found Glory. The result was practically entertaining, and it wasn’t hard to see this band evolving into their own fairly unique niche of pop metal.

That being said, their newest album Chuck is somewhat disappointing, and a significant regression from their last album. It starts off with a bang as “No Reason” and the lead single “We’re All To Blame” burst out of the gate with energy, rapid-fire guitars, and the love-it-or-hate-it (or think it’s okay) melodicism of lead vocalist Deryck Whibley. An early miscue in the oddly Oasis-sounding and built for radio “Some Say” is quickly rectified with the “The Bitter End”. This song may not only be the best song they’ve ever written, but a good example of what can make this band so interesting: breakneck speed, heavy riffage, and Metallica-influenced yelling (also, 3 out of 5 metal fans agree: the guitar solo shreds). However, the acoustic intro to the awkward “Slipping Away” starts the downward spiral of the second half of the album. The songs are slower, and the band can’t seem to decide what direction they want to go in, both musically and vocally. Mid tempo, low key sections bog down “Pieces” and “There’s No Solution”. Whibley’s voice works best at full throttle, and comes up short in the more mellow parts of “Pieces” and the also-somehow-Oasis-sounding intro to “88”. The fact that there are mellow parts at all really takes away from the true strength of this band.

Lyrically, the mood is more somber than the smart-alecky themes we’ve come to expect. “We’re All To Blame” is the obvious standout, and is the only song on the album inspired by their recent hostile experience in Congo. It also should be mentioned that the title of the album is a big “thank you” to Chuck Pelletier, because, as stated in the liner notes, “without him, we’d be dead.” Chuck sports some pretty nice artwork as well, with camouflage colored images of kids and weapons.

If you are still under the impression that Sum 41 is a joke band or a Beastie Boys-wannabe, give some of these songs a try, and you may be pleasantly surprised. No one can deny the band’s musical talent, and the more serious lyrical themes are a definite improvement, but the lack of consistency kills this album. The highlight of Sum 41’s discography is going to come when they fully embrace their metal influences and make a straight-up metal album, and sadly Chuck misses the mark.

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Posted by jimmyjjackamoose on 2007-06-10 14:23:16
My Score:

well, this shit got me into better music, but i still can't believe i ever liked it. its basically a rippoff of Strung Out, Rise Against, Pennywise with a little metallica thrown in for metal cred. these are the same fucks who rapped about having a small conscience, yet suddenly they're singing about social concerns. comeplete bullshit.

Posted by sexy_face on 2006-11-17 17:43:01

yea...this cd is good i guess.....

Posted by sexy_face on 2006-11-17 17:42:54

yea...this cd is good i guess.....

Posted by sexy_face on 2006-11-17 17:42:51

yea...this cd is good i guess.....

Posted by etwiels88 on 2005-11-28 18:36:16

chubby

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 5, 2005 at 5:11 PM (EST)
My Score:

Amazing album, with sauch a great song, i think 88, Some say & Pieces r 3 all my favourite songs ever.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, November 5, 2005 at 5:08 PM (EST)
My Score:

Such a great album! is just amazing, i think is the best of the band, good job guys! keep on rocking'

Posted by crazytoledo on 2005-07-05 16:12:57

Me clapping my hands together out of pace is better music than hawthorne heights...

Posted by md40_07 on 2005-07-05 10:37:04

this isn't better than MCR (or HH in my opinion) the only problem with MCR is that they are all over the place now and i wish they wern't, i hate it and thats the only thing that sucks about them

Posted by crazytoledo on 2005-07-04 21:13:18

Better than Hawthorne Heights and My Chemical Romance by a landside... And they still suck.

Posted by md40_07 on 2005-07-03 21:02:27
My Score:

come on! this CD was a joke, i would have just put it below average, but since i was expecting a lot since they were Sum i thought it would be great! it blew horribly...

Posted by Joe_The_Gurl_aka_Sam on 2005-06-03 03:13:16
My Score:

this cd is pretty damn good...i like it fucking listen to it when i go to bed...they may be trying to go a differnt direction with slipped away and peices..but hey..its not bad angels with dirty faces is awesome...i like em i like em alot..i wanna touch em...SUM41 ROCKS!!

Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, April 24, 2005 at 9:59 PM (EDT)
My Score:

This is an amazing cd. 88 could possibly be my favorite song of all time, and all you morons who are deciding how many bands you can add together to get Sum 41, just realize that theyre fucking unique. Yes, they've changed a lot since Does This Look Infected, but its a change for the better. More mature and more unique sounding. Good stuff, I can't wait for the tour. June 2nd baby.

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 10, 2005 at 1:28 AM (EST)
My Score:

Way to take up the half the page, jackhole.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 25, 2004 at 2:58 PM (EST)
My Score:

chubby chubby chubby chubby chubby chubby chubby chubby chubby chubby chubby chubby chubby chubby chubby chubby chubby chubby chubby chubby chubby yes that means unnormally large (fat) i am back (the guy which filled up half the page)

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, November 25, 2004 at 2:58 PM (EST)
My Score: