REVIEW: Cheem's "Guilty Pleasure" (deluxe edition) via Lonely Ghost

During last year's annual best of month, Cheem’s Guilty Pleasure was the first we talked about when we broke down the top twenty-five albums of the year. We never actually reviewed it though and now, a year later, the band has dropped a deluxe edition. Five new songs, two remixes and nearly twice the runtime.

I have to admit, out of the gate, I didn’t really understand the nu metal tag on Cheem until looking at this record with a critical eye and I sort of feel foolish. On Guilty Pleasure Cheem captures the bass-centric sound and heavy instrumentation that the genre is known for. The difference is they also sound like they’re having fun doing it and offer these smooth, almost poppy vocal melodies that are so easy to sing along to. There are of course some deviations; the song “Snag” does have the nu metal feel but also manages to sound like a pop punk track straight out of 2000s radio. Of course, they’re far from emo, and even call out those who would fit them into that box on “Mango.”

I’ve got a grievance to air, well maybe more than a few

SIck of the stage that I’m stuck in, no signs of passing through

We tried to make a tape to end it all, but everywhere they still compare us to American Football

Cheem aren’t afraid to call out, not only people who misread them, but also people who try to use the scene they’re from for their own gain. On “Clueless” they tackle a guy we’ve all met if we’ve been involved in our local scene; hates all the bands and says they don’t make “real music,” yet cannot get anyone to enjoy his own. Or on “Pay2Play” where they call out the culture that bands are forced to live in where their bank accounts matter more than their ability to actually perform. All of this to say; I really respect how they’re an active part of this DIY sphere while being critical of it and confident enough to not hide it behind a metaphor.

As said above, this is a discussion of both the original and deluxe editions of Guilty Pleasure and the separation between the two feels gigantic though I’m not sure if that’s a good thing. In fact where the base record ends and the bonus tracks begin feel like jumping to a different project entirely. “Migraine” manages to blend both a profound sadness with something that still feels pretty huge and grand and when I listen to it without “Emerge” leading into it I enjoy it quite a bit but in sequence find it goes over a little clunky. From there we get “EOE,” which has a really cool riff and compelling chorus but the verses are sort of far from memorable. The song “Eject” is by far my favorite of the new cuts for its ability to blend into the spirit of Guilty Pleasure while having its own, totally unique, heavy undertone.

The record ends with two remixes, one of “Snag” and one of “Mango.” “Snag” is reimagined as more classic nu metal and remixed by DJ Re:Code. Here we find heavier riffs, harsher tones but still with an electronic ground work. While I do like this different approach to the whole thing I think the original works on me just a little more. “Mango” is remixed by Glitch Gum and comes off as more of a hyperpop track that comes off as equally effective compared to the original.

Overall I do like the new songs, however as a deluxe edition I feel like these two worlds feel forced fit together as opposed to working in unison. If I think of side A as the record and side B as an EP it makes me feel a little better about the whole thing but I cannot ignore the fact that the intended listening experience doesn’t go over for me personally. Still, I always feel guilty cutting into bands that I believe in so much so I’ll leave you with this; This is a great record. It was great last year and it still is now. I still listen to these songs as part of my regular rotation, and it still deserves as much of your attention as it always has.

Our rating - 8/10

1. Virtual Boy
2. Snag
3. Clueless
4. Cheem Szn
5. Overload
6. Pay 2 Play [feat. Bobby Woody]
7. Mango
8. Worldstar
9. Emerge
10. Migraine
11. EOE
12. Speed Bump
13. Eject
14. Bios
15. Snag [DJ Re:Code remix]
16. Mango [Glitch Gum remix]

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