Charlatans(UK) C/D

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One of those bands that's huge over dere, but sorta beneath the radar over here. I never thought too much of them until their self-titled album from '95, which I thought was pretty fantastic. Each album subsequent to that one has been great, in my opinion. Not groundbreaking or anything, but good. Classic in my black book.

They're not the Beatles or anything, but they look like it next to Starsailor...

― ham on rye (ham on rye), Thursday, 18 September 2003 06:45 (9 years ago) Permalink

If "Only One I Know" was called "Only One You Need To Know" that would be the perfect title. The rest is just side 2 of 'Exile', except with Bill Wyman singing

― dave q, Thursday, 18 September 2003 07:55 (9 years ago) Permalink

dave q, have you heard "Between 10th & 11th"?

i don't really care for their output after that one, haven't really bothered with later albums at all. classic rock does not fit them well, imo.

― willem (willem), Thursday, 18 September 2003 08:26 (9 years ago) Permalink

dudder than dud. Spent most of the 90s peddling one shite Britpop semi-tune over and over again, briefly became halfway decent when Tim Burgess buggered off to LA ('Love Is The Key'), have probably relapsed into shite again.

― The Lex (The Lex), Thursday, 18 September 2003 08:33 (9 years ago) Permalink

i think they did good indie, then good Britpop/Britrock - maybe not amazing, but good

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 18 September 2003 11:01 (9 years ago) Permalink

Rubbishness personified. Not bad, not evil, not crap, not shit, just rubbish.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Thursday, 18 September 2003 11:04 (9 years ago) Permalink

I have a soft spot for "Forever." Every other song of theirs I've ever heard has so little identity I've forgotten it before it's finished...

― M Specktor (M Specktor), Thursday, 18 September 2003 12:31 (9 years ago) Permalink

i love them. revisionism at it's best. north country boy, s/t album, forever and one half of 'wonderland'...

tim burgess solo is odd. linus of hollywood is a genius soft-pop dude from l.a. it's not really country as it's more or less a countrified millennium or the free design.

― st tremaine, Thursday, 18 September 2003 13:10 (9 years ago) Permalink

a source of great embarrassment to me when once caught reading John Robb's book on the band, out of a sort of amused fascination with something so removed from my own general aesthetics (in my semi-defence, this was *just* before Robb joined Collins and Maconie in the TV nostalgia punditry game). Jerry the Nipper (among other names) told me off for reading "a bad writer writing about a bad band". I have no defence. I did find "North Country Boy" amusing, though, if only because it's almost the sort of song title Brian and Michael might have used for a B-side or something.

― robin carmody (robin carmody), Thursday, 18 September 2003 13:31 (9 years ago) Permalink

I really liked "Us and Us Only". That was a good album and surprisingly inventive.

― dog latin (dog latin), Thursday, 18 September 2003 17:38 (9 years ago) Permalink

The greatest hits has a number of good tracks, but after hearing Telling Stories I've never felt compelled to listen to anything more.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Thursday, 18 September 2003 18:13 (9 years ago) Permalink

Solid, but samey. Track by track, there's good stuff on all of their albums, but nothing that stands out like "The Only One I Know." "Up To Our Hips" actually has a number of good-not-great tunes. I listen to them when I want background rock music that's good but not overly distracting. So, um, neither C nor D, but somewere in between.

― dlp9001, Thursday, 18 September 2003 18:41 (9 years ago) Permalink

Indie Guilt

― Hoodie, Thursday, 18 September 2003 18:55 (9 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

I am reviving this because songs like "Opportunity" and "Then" and "Flowers" are just brilliant beyond belief. (NOTE: I only have the first album but MAN do I love it!)

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 6 November 2003 16:16 (9 years ago) Permalink

Mm, "Sproston Green."

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 6 November 2003 16:34 (9 years ago) Permalink

That first album is consintently underrated by everyone on the planet except for me, I think.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 6 November 2003 16:35 (9 years ago) Permalink

Hmm?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 6 November 2003 16:38 (9 years ago) Permalink

You only gave it four stars! Ergo, you underrated it.

This album is EASILY on my top 100 of all time, probably in the top 10.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 6 November 2003 16:40 (9 years ago) Permalink

"Polar bear" - groovy!

How great a line is "Have you seen my polar bear? / It's that white one over there"?

― Rob M (Rob M), Thursday, 6 November 2003 16:52 (9 years ago) Permalink

Hang on Ned - NORWICH?

― Rob M (Rob M), Thursday, 6 November 2003 16:53 (9 years ago) Permalink

Wasn't that where they were from originally? I'm wrong, corrections will be made.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 6 November 2003 17:05 (9 years ago) Permalink

Er, if I'm wrong, etc. Which is entirely possible.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 6 November 2003 17:06 (9 years ago) Permalink

it was Northwich

― stevem (blueski), Thursday, 6 November 2003 17:10 (9 years ago) Permalink

Thorry.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 6 November 2003 17:11 (9 years ago) Permalink

I've always thought the first couple of albums were sort of lightweight, and that they didn't really fill their own shoes until Up To Our Hips or the self-titled album.

Tim Burgess has always been my favorite singer to come out of that scene, though -- even more than Ian Brown. I'm sort of anxious to hear his solo record if it's ever finished.

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 6 November 2003 18:55 (9 years ago) Permalink

I thought it had just been released?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 6 November 2003 18:57 (9 years ago) Permalink

'a man needs to be told'. absolutely fantastic song. great great singles band anyway (just looking, then, indian rope etc) but that track is like nothing they ever did before. the kind of track you'd least expect from them. sweet messsage, high pitced falsetto vocal, wondrous tune, ace use of paper and comb...christ where have you lot *been* ?

every hayta has to download 'a man needs to be told' at once !
only then can you say you definitely dont like them.

― piscesboy, Thursday, 6 November 2003 19:35 (9 years ago) Permalink

Oh, has it? I haven't been keeping up I guess...

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 6 November 2003 19:49 (9 years ago) Permalink

Classic -- had an old casstte dub of Some Friendly and Stone Roses; yeah, i shredded it. Their sound is a bit dated - but it's still a great album; so's 97's Tellin' Stories.

― christoff (christoff), Thursday, 6 November 2003 20:23 (9 years ago) Permalink

Bought Between the 10th and 11th on a fluke, in my tinyhood (cause of Wierdo, initially). Not their best; I still blast Tellin Stories and irritate the neighbours. Seen them 3 times so far [incl. one of their last shows with Rob Collins]. Down to earth bunch of lads.

So, Classic.

― Nichole Graham (Nichole Graham), Thursday, 6 November 2003 20:32 (9 years ago) Permalink

Us and Us Only totally turned my head, hadn't paid any attention to them before (or since, really), but that album song for song flows really well.

― Shakey Mo Collier, Thursday, 6 November 2003 20:35 (9 years ago) Permalink

Oh god, classic, definitely - the only band out of that whole Manchester scene (or indeed the whole 1996 blokerock scene) not to exude that whole air of offputting boorish masculinity and/or arsenumbing earnestness.

Of course, like most people in this country, I have only heard all the singles, but they're still great pop singles.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Thursday, 6 November 2003 21:32 (9 years ago) Permalink

"Then" is completely godlike and really is the best song off of the debut.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Thursday, 6 November 2003 21:44 (9 years ago) Permalink

give me back my brain!

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 7 November 2003 11:26 (9 years ago) Permalink

Up To Our Hips is brilliant from start to finish. Although I no longer own it :-(

― CharlieNo4 (Charlie), Friday, 7 November 2003 12:09 (9 years ago) Permalink

this thread s a bloody nightmare.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 7 November 2003 12:36 (9 years ago) Permalink

Really folks, they're horrible. Plodding 4th div dullards - and you know it really.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Friday, 7 November 2003 13:05 (9 years ago) Permalink

Dr. C is being nice here.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 7 November 2003 13:25 (9 years ago) Permalink

I pity you both.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 7 November 2003 14:37 (9 years ago) Permalink

if they're 4th division who is 1st division in their league?

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 7 November 2003 14:37 (9 years ago) Permalink

If you say Happy Mondays, I really pity you.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 7 November 2003 15:39 (9 years ago) Permalink

''I pity you both.''

same here dan.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 7 November 2003 15:41 (9 years ago) Permalink

i don't pity you i just hate you

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 7 November 2003 15:43 (9 years ago) Permalink

with hate I grow stronger.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 7 November 2003 15:45 (9 years ago) Permalink

See, that's why I'm going for the pity. Aw bless.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 7 November 2003 15:49 (9 years ago) Permalink

bah.

well if you wanna like post-dylan cobblers then fine mista perry.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 7 November 2003 16:02 (9 years ago) Permalink

Happy Mondays are sooooo much better than the Charlatans it's not even funny.

― Ricardo (RickyT), Friday, 7 November 2003 16:16 (9 years ago) Permalink

Actually Ricky it is quite funny.

― Tim (Tim), Friday, 7 November 2003 16:22 (9 years ago) Permalink

Happy Mondays

You know the person at work who *always* comes out with the most *obvious* jokes, always parrots the standard line on the issue of day, always gives you 'fun' advice like 'don't do anything *I* wouldn't do'? They're not hateful, quite amiable even, but ultimately.....you'd rather do anything than have to converse with them. Well that's the Charlatans. Standard issue. Ordinary. Does What It Says On The Tin. Fuck them.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Friday, 7 November 2003 16:52 (9 years ago) Permalink

they are quite different bands for fuck's sake. the Charlatans basically started off sounding a between the Stone Roses and Inspiral Carpets, then made the organ their own before going more Dylany/Stonesy for the third album, ending up as more Oasis on 'Tellin' Stories'. dunno what you'd compare them to now but i quite liked what i heard of 'Wonderland' - yep even Tim's falsetto.

the Charlatans are nothing like that Dr C, you're thinking of Travis or Athlete perhaps.

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 7 November 2003 17:03 (9 years ago) Permalink

Standard issue. Ordinary. Does What It Says On The Tin.

ah re-assurance and reliability...

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 7 November 2003 17:05 (9 years ago) Permalink

does le pinefox like them?

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 7 November 2003 17:06 (9 years ago) Permalink

Have you even heard "Then" recently? Or "You're Not Very Well"?

This is a context/ubiquity issue, isn't it? The Charlatans were never shoved down our throats over here and we weren't inundated with 800 bands doing the same thing unless we wanted to be, ergo some of us in the US have developed very different attitudes towards "the obvious targets".

Also, I think I can count the number of Happy Mondays album tracks that I've liked on two fingers, only I don't actually have any recollection of them. For a good long while Primal Scream and Happy Mondays were duking it out for Most Overrated Singles Band In The UK in my mind, but then I realized that outside of "Slip Inside This House" I thought that _Screamadelica_-era PS was irredeemable shit across the board.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 7 November 2003 17:06 (9 years ago) Permalink

now you are being just as much a mentalist as the haterz Dan ;)

― stevem (blueski), Friday, 7 November 2003 17:08 (9 years ago) Permalink

the Charlatans are great, and they continue to release fantastic singles. Bless 'em.

― Gear! (Gear!), Friday, 7 November 2003 18:09 (9 years ago) Permalink

''You know the person at work who *always* comes out with the most *obvious* jokes, always parrots the standard line on the issue of day, always gives you 'fun' advice like 'don't do anything *I* wouldn't do'? They're not hateful, quite amiable even, but ultimately.....you'd rather do anything than have to converse with them.''

the one charlatans fan i met was a very nice guy. he liked ocean colour scene, paul weller and so on but i conversed with him though i lost touch after college...for me its not to do with the fans but the music just relies so much on that organ and i never feel the others are contributing too much to the sound (this is from listening to a handful of singles, which after listening to them neevr encouraged me to go any further with it).

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Friday, 7 November 2003 19:21 (9 years ago) Permalink

I think the first album is all about the interplay between the organ and the rhythm section; neither one works without the other.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 7 November 2003 19:24 (9 years ago) Permalink

**the Charlatans are nothing like that Dr C, you're thinking of Travis or Athlete perhaps**

No, I'm thinking of the Charlatans.

I think it is a context thing, Dan, but not an ubiquity thing. Certainly a very useless thing.I mean they're not vile like Primal Scream, they're just not....anything. A bit baggy, a bit Roses-y THEN whooo! Timmy discovers Blonde on Blonde and Sticky Fingers and we get a youth club version of The fucking Rolling Stones fronted by Booby Zimmertwat. I mean did we ever need them? Why aren't people more fucking critical? They didn't even come from Manchester properly. Hell - even the Inspiral Carpets were better.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Friday, 7 November 2003 20:41 (9 years ago) Permalink

I cannot fathom the vitriol you're levelling at _Some Friendly_ (that being the album I really know). I'm not a huge fan of the stuff I've heard after they stopped being baggy, but for at least one album I think they were amazing, certainly more consistent than PS, SR or HM.

― Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Friday, 7 November 2003 21:25 (9 years ago) Permalink

I'm (maybe overly) harsh on bands that meekly follow the market and I(maybe over-)aggressively champion bands like HM who are different, unpredictable and awkward.

It's my way of weeding out the wheat from the chaff. The 'classic or dud' conundrum is how I have always viewed music. Snap decisions, good or bad, in or out. I don't want 'average'. I'll come down harder on 'average' than 'crap'. It's just my way - it's of no importance what I think anyway.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Saturday, 8 November 2003 13:36 (9 years ago) Permalink

so to you conventional, accessible pop rock with slight nods to indie, dance music and occasionally second-hand soul/blues is either a) average by definition i.e. too much of a diluted process or b) done much better by other bands than tha Charlatans (but who?)

― stevem (blueski), Saturday, 8 November 2003 15:44 (9 years ago) Permalink

I'm not much interested in any kind of conventional, accessible pop-rock whatever it nods to, but I'm talking about the Charlatans here, not a general *thing*.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Sunday, 9 November 2003 20:22 (9 years ago) Permalink

I had a friend in high school who liked the charlatans more than stone roses & happy mondays and I found it bizarre then and find it bizarre now. now it just seems odd that they are or were even mentioned in the same breath or that they actually got more press stateside at the time.

― cinniblount (James Blount), Sunday, 9 November 2003 20:38 (9 years ago) Permalink

5 months pass...

I'm downloading their new album, and so far all I can say is that "High Up Your Tree" is the most gorgeous song they've ever written.

― turkey (turkey), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 02:03 (9 years ago) Permalink

i agree with above 'then' is the best thing ever. i used to like them more when i thought 'the only one i know' was the stone roses. 'can't even be bothered' is probably better than that new song too. after the seocnd album they became the worst thing ever.

― keith m (keithmcl), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 03:09 (9 years ago) Permalink

Dr C is OTM throughout this thread. I quite like the eponymous album, or a couple of tracks off it at least, plus "Sproston Green", but apart from that they're shite.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 4 May 2004 08:15 (9 years ago) Permalink

stevem otm

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 02:40 (9 years ago) Permalink

I dislike them for personal reasons.

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 03:59 (9 years ago) Permalink

*intrigued...*

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 04:11 (9 years ago) Permalink

dude probably sees Burgess all the time at his local shop, stinkin' up the place

― stevem (blueski), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 09:09 (9 years ago) Permalink

3 months pass...

I'm listening to the eponymous album right now and wondering why I played it a couple of times in 1995 when I bought it then quietly forgot about it. There are a few duff tracks at the beginning, but "Bullet Comes" and "Here Comes A Soul Saver" are terrific.

― MarkH (MarkH), Sunday, 29 August 2004 11:43 (8 years ago) Permalink

6 months pass...

Dan and I will defend the first album forever, I know. And "Sproston Green," once again. The live versions I've heard have always been better; pretty much that track will always justify their existence.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 17 March 2005 00:03 (8 years ago) Permalink

Although I do wonder at the personal reasons Spencer cites, though I suspect Stevem is onto something.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 17 March 2005 00:05 (8 years ago) Permalink

2 years pass...

I was at an upscale bar tonight that I didn't willfully choose to be in with some people I wasn't particularly interested in knowing and I managed to identify after a long period of thought that the song I heard played over the PA in there was one of their absolutely classic b-sides "Occupation H. Monster". Unbelievable. Thank goodness it was finally released on CD years later in the US otherwise...

― Bimble, Friday, 13 July 2007 05:59 (5 years ago) Permalink

theme from the wish!

― f. hazel, Friday, 13 July 2007 08:41 (5 years ago) Permalink

I did hear "Weirdo" a couple of weeks ago and felt inexplicably happy.

― Alfred, Lord Sotosyn, Friday, 13 July 2007 14:46 (5 years ago) Permalink

Up To Our Hips sounds awfully fresh lately. I think I underrated it upthread.

― dlp9001, Friday, 13 July 2007 15:18 (5 years ago) Permalink

'flower' is a terrific song

― Charlie Howard, Friday, 13 July 2007 18:52 (5 years ago) Permalink

Do you know why I don't have the Some Friendly album anymore? BECAUSE I AM A DUMBASS, that's why!

― Bimble, Saturday, 14 July 2007 05:34 (5 years ago) Permalink

No! I'm wrong! I just found it in my CD stacks!!!!! WOOOHOO! POLAR BEAR IS FIRST!!

― Bimble, Saturday, 14 July 2007 05:35 (5 years ago) Permalink

Charlie Howard is OTM.

― HI DERE, Saturday, 14 July 2007 13:07 (5 years ago) Permalink

7 months pass...

Whoa

Download the new Charlatans album for free

― Davey D, Monday, 3 March 2008 19:35 (5 years ago) Permalink

Yikes, four songs in and feeling like this is gonna be worse than Simpatico.

― Davey D, Monday, 3 March 2008 19:52 (5 years ago) Permalink

Ned you promised to change Norwich to Northwich 5 years ago. sorry to nag and all that :-)

― Thomas, Monday, 3 March 2008 20:03 (5 years ago) Permalink

It's a shame the Charlatans haven't produced a truly great album - or at least one that is worthy of the accolade and reissue treatment that some of their 90s contemporaries have received.

But as others have said, they were more than just a good singles band. Most of their albums are patchy but have more good tunes on them than just the single releases.

Can't imagine there's much inspiration left in them now...but always good fun live

― Toucan3000, Monday, 3 March 2008 21:40 (5 years ago) Permalink

This album isn't bad at all, though it doesn't much sound like any particular band (i.e. it's a little bit genericly "English" sounding). Was worth the download, and includes a couple of semi-memorable tracks.

― dlp9001, Tuesday, 4 March 2008 20:04 (5 years ago) Permalink

I came to the realization a couple albums ago that The Charlatans haven't been any good at all since Rob Collins died. I don't know if that's a causal link, but it definitely makes sense.

― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 4 March 2008 20:16 (5 years ago) Permalink

2 months pass...

I don't think anyone is going to agree, but I find myself playing "You Cross My Path" with surprising frequency. It's not great or anything, but is pretty solid all the way through and makes for a good default play when I'm sick of all my usual favorites. Faint praise maybe, but the play count is mounting. Possibly the closest to classic rock (in terms of consistency, etc.) that I've been able to find of late. Definitely a lot of New Order in the genes.

― dlp9001, Wednesday, 28 May 2008 18:59 (4 years ago) Permalink

1 year passes...

So I'm utterly burned out on the whole "play your album complete" schtick, but I'd would like really like to see this one.

The Charlatans have announced they will play their debut album Some Friendly in its entirety later this year.
The band will perform at The Roundhouse on May 31 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the LP's release.
Tickets will be available from February 5.

― Elvis Telecom, Wednesday, 3 February 2010 01:05 (3 years ago) Permalink

4 months pass...

man I love Some Friendly a lot

― Damn these skinny jeans' pockets. (HI DERE), Tuesday, 15 June 2010 18:37 (2 years ago) Permalink

Like, there are some obviously awesome songs here (the singles, "Sproston Green"), and then there are tracks like "Opportunity" and "Flower" that just sneak up on me with awesomeness every time I come back to them.

― Damn these skinny jeans' pockets. (HI DERE), Tuesday, 15 June 2010 18:41 (2 years ago) Permalink

Most of the time you are happy – you're a weirdo.

― Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 15 June 2010 18:51 (2 years ago) Permalink

Like the earliest two, LOVE the middle three, HATE everything that came after those.

I came to the realization a couple albums ago that The Charlatans haven't been any good at all since Rob Collins died. I don't know if that's a causal link, but it definitely makes sense.
― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, March 4, 2008 3:16 PM (2 years ago)

I still stand by this.

― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 19:05 (2 years ago) Permalink

I think they were good through Up To Our Hips, then they went shit.

― brotherlovesdub, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 19:24 (2 years ago) Permalink

But I absolutely love the first 2 albums.

― brotherlovesdub, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 19:24 (2 years ago) Permalink

I consistently forget about the song "Weirdo", because I never got the second album.

― Damn these skinny jeans' pockets. (HI DERE), Tuesday, 15 June 2010 19:36 (2 years ago) Permalink

"Then" is great too! I can do without two or three of the songs on it but o/w I like the album a lot.

I listened to the 2-disk Some Friendly recently, and the alt. tracks were nothing special. Also seems weird that there is a special edition of this album.

― Euler, Tuesday, 15 June 2010 19:39 (2 years ago) Permalink

The second album is the only one I owned, and it's pretty colorless.

― Filmmaker, Author, Radio Host Stephen Baldwin (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 15 June 2010 19:40 (2 years ago) Permalink

"Then" is a full-on monster

― Damn these skinny jeans' pockets. (HI DERE), Tuesday, 15 June 2010 19:43 (2 years ago) Permalink

"most shaggable band"

― brotherlovesdub, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 00:12 (2 years ago) Permalink

Really dug these guys a lot circa 97-01, and I would rep for all the albums up to Wonderland. I do think "Some Friendly" is underrated - I like it the most out of the first four records. "Tellin' Stories" is brilliant though. I once had "Rob's Theme" on loop for like a half-hour.

― Michael F Gill, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 00:45 (2 years ago) Permalink

I'm by no means a huge fan of the band: love Some Friendly and Up To Our Hips. But you know, You Cross My Path is sneakily very very good. Easy to overlook, and doesn't break any new ground, but very solid.

― dlp9001, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 00:55 (2 years ago) Permalink

Kind of wonder how the new one is? I never hear about them in the news, so have to remember to check websites...

― dlp9001, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 00:56 (2 years ago) Permalink

Martin Blunt = incredibly underrated bass player. For all that's deservedly written about Rob Collins, it's Blunt and drummer Jon Brookes that I love most about the Charlatans.

― Elvis Telecom, Wednesday, 16 June 2010 00:57 (2 years ago) Permalink

i like to love their first six albums including Tellin' Stories. their self titled and debut album both have excellent singles and the best album tracks "Feeling Holy," "White Shirt," "Toothache" and "Sproston Green."

― Boo Radley (Bee OK), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 04:33 (2 years ago) Permalink

Not my favourite ever, but this band were always relegated to "second-tier drab Northern band" status by the British press when in fact they were a lot more exciting than this. I love "Weirdo" (especially that organ break), "Then", "The Only One I Know" and th Us & Us Only album which I really should dig out again soon.

― village idiot (dog latin), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 08:43 (2 years ago) Permalink

this band were always relegated to "second-tier drab Northern band" status by the British press when in fact they were a lot more exciting than this.

nah, that's about right

― ultra nate dogg (history mayne), Wednesday, 16 June 2010 08:54 (2 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

New single sounds really promising (to me, at least).

y/n?

― Johnny Fever, Monday, 19 July 2010 17:54 (2 years ago) Permalink

That new single is great, the best they've done since A Man Needs to be Told.

I always think I don't like this band that much but I always end getting their latest albums somehow. You Cross My Path was a bit over the top with the New Order influence but had a few great moments especially Bird/Reprise. Wonderland was their last really good album, I never get bored of him singing in that ridiculous high voice.

Overall The Charlatans is my favourite album of theirs, they've never come close to topping Crashin' in.

― Kitchen Person, Tuesday, 20 July 2010 04:42 (2 years ago) Permalink

Yeah, I love the s/t one as well. It's probably a tie between that and Up to Our Hips for me.

― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 20 July 2010 05:20 (2 years ago) Permalink

that new song sounds like Sloan.

― chromecassettes, Tuesday, 20 July 2010 11:35 (2 years ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

From Amazon:
With a career that has already spanned two decades, The Charlatans - Martin Blunt (bass), Jon Brookes (drums), Tim Burgess (vocals), Mark Collins (guitar) and Tony Rogers (keyboards) - release their new album Who We Touch, on September 6th 2010. Their eleventh studio album, Who We Touch was produced by Youth (Paul McCartney, Primal Scream and The Verve) and was recorded at Britannia Row in London, on the desk that New Order's 'Blue Monday' was recorded on. Featuring eleven tracks, the album must surely rank as their boldest to date radically broadening, in places, their aesthetic remit. It is, says Burgess, "a soulful voyage", a journey through moods uplifting and profound, dark and delirious, ultimately concluding in blissful optimism. Its sound is inspired by many heroes, yet always sounds like no-one other than The Charlatans themselves. Opener, 'Love Is Ending', is the first single to be taken from the album, released on August 2nd. 'Oh!' is a beautiful song of reconciliation, as complex as its shifting time signatures (one section is in 3/4 waltz time), and then 'You Can Swim', an exquisite ooze of ambience, reminiscent of 'Another Green World'-era Eno, with whose creative ideas the album began. Lurking at the end of the album is hidden track 'I Sing The Body Eclectic' featuring Crass's Penny Rimbauld on vocals. Gee Vaucher who did the iconic artwork for all of Crass's releases, also provides Who We Touch with it's eerie collaged cover image.

Disc: 1
1. Love is Ending
2. My Foolish Pride
3. You're Pure Soul
4. Smash The System
5. Intimacy
6. Sincerity
7. Trust In Desire
8. When I Wonder
9. Oh
10. You Can Swim
11. On The Threshold (Hidden Track)
12. Sing The Body Electric (Hidden Track)

Disc: 2
1. Love Is Ending (Early Version)
2. Intimacy (Early Version)
3. Smash The System (Early Version)
4. These Things (Studio Out-take)
5. Your Pure Soul (Early Version)
6. Sincerity (Early Instrumental Version)
7. Trust In Desire (Alternate Take)
8. My Foolish Pride (Early Version)
9. Lips That Would Kiss (Early Version)
10. Who We Touch Don't Mind (Early Version)
11. Don't Know Where Or When (Studio Out-take)
12. Intimacy (Alternate Mix)
13. Throbbing Genesis (Studio Out-take)

― Bee OK, Monday, 6 September 2010 00:19 (2 years ago) Permalink

this is actually going to come out in America one week later. it will be released on September 14, 2010 on The End Records, both the single and two disc set.

― Bee OK, Monday, 6 September 2010 00:31 (2 years ago) Permalink

Is that a Durutti Column cover on disc 2?

― brotherlovesdub, Monday, 6 September 2010 03:02 (2 years ago) Permalink

Guessing the desk "Blue Monday" was recorded on is probably well-drained of hit-making nectar.

― cee-oh-tee-tee, Monday, 6 September 2010 11:28 (2 years ago) Permalink

Listening to this now. Unexpectedly great... "Love Is Ending" could be a Prisoners/Thee Milkshakes track.

― Elvis Telecom, Thursday, 9 September 2010 06:09 (2 years ago) Permalink

Yeah I just finished playing this, first impressions are this might be their best album in a very long time. I'm just addicted to Love is Ending but there isn't really a bad track.

― Kitchen Person, Thursday, 9 September 2010 12:04 (2 years ago) Permalink

I love the Crass connections going on -- I remember Burgess talking about being a fan of theirs back in interviews from 1990/91 so talk about flying the flag still!

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 9 September 2010 12:42 (2 years ago) Permalink

Yeah, I love the s/t one as well. It's probably a tie between that and Up to Our Hips for me.

― Johnny Fever, Tuesday, 20 July 2010 05:20 (1 month ago) Bookmark

Yeah

― sawan, Friday, 10 September 2010 00:54 (2 years ago) Permalink

It's been bugging me over the last 24 hours what the second track My Foolish Pride reminds me of and it just hit me, the verse where he sings "I wander streets belonging but to no one" sounds exactly like the verse of Open your heart by The Human League. Anyone else noticed this?

I have been playing this a lot and I can't help but think it might be their best album since the self titled one. I really didn't have much interest in this album until Johnny Fever put up the new single earlier in the thread but I'm so glad I bought it, great production, songs and Tim's voice has never sounded better.

― Kitchen Person, Friday, 10 September 2010 13:16 (2 years ago) Permalink

2 weeks pass...

Pete Salisbury fills in

The Verve drummer Pete Salisbury has joined The Charlatans as a temporary replacement for brain tumour victim Jon Brookes.
Brookes collapsed onstage during the band's Philadelphia gig earlier this month (September 15), and has now flown back to the UK to receive further treatment for a brain tumour.
Speaking to NME, frontman Tim Burgess said Brookes's ordeal had been "a lot to take in" for the band.
"We were having the best American tour we've done for a long, long time and it was going so well and then this happened," he explained.
The band play their first show with Salisbury to launch Oxfam's Oxjam festival on Monday (September 27) at a charity shop in London. He will also perform with them on their forthcoming UK tour.

― Fsck Washing Ong's Hat (Elvis Telecom), Friday, 24 September 2010 17:55 (2 years ago) Permalink

Yeesh, sad news (but good guy to have fill in). Wanted to go to the Tuesday night show down here but a cold has tripped me up this week.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 24 September 2010 18:00 (2 years ago) Permalink

i almost went Tuesday night as well. the problem was i only found out about it on Tuesday and wasn't able to get everything organized and ready to go in time.

i do hope to see these guys soon as i have had fun at their gigs.

― Bee OK, Saturday, 25 September 2010 01:05 (2 years ago) Permalink

Yah, I was going to go to the Wednesday show at the El Rey. Hope they can reschedule the west coast dates eventually

― Stockhausen's Helicopter Quartet (Elvis Telecom), Saturday, 25 September 2010 01:32 (2 years ago) Permalink

5 months pass...

Yes, that's Kevin Shields.

― James Mitchell, Thursday, 17 March 2011 08:39 (2 years ago) Permalink

Cool.

That's Tim on the mic, right? My eyes are telling me that doesn't look a bit like him.

― Johnny Fever, Thursday, 17 March 2011 11:29 (2 years ago) Permalink

Yes, his hair was long and tied back. He came out on stage wearing sunglasses and looked disturbingly like late-stage Michael Jackson until he took them off.

― James Mitchell, Thursday, 17 March 2011 11:53 (2 years ago) Permalink

11 months pass...

The weirdest Charlatans-related story you'll read this week: http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/kellogg-creates-totes-amazeballs-cereal-response-single-tweet-138447

― A Full Torgo Apparition (Phil D.), Wednesday, 22 February 2012 23:11 (1 year ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

Meanwhile R. Stevie Moore just posted this photo:

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 2 April 2012 14:30 (1 year ago) Permalink

I listened to Up To Our Hips for the first time in at least ten years the other day.

― Trip Maker, Monday, 2 April 2012 14:37 (1 year ago) Permalink

3 weeks pass...

― Algerian Goalkeeper, Thursday, 26 April 2012 11:53 (1 year ago) Permalink

I'm definitely not digging David Cross's new wig.

― Turkey, Thursday, 26 April 2012 12:02 (1 year ago) Permalink

Anyone hear Tim Burgess's version of Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)? He hits the notes pretty well IMO.

― Scary Move 4 (dog latin), Thursday, 26 April 2012 15:53 (1 year ago) Permalink

one for the sticker

― seapunk run. run punk run! (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 26 April 2012 16:08 (1 year ago) Permalink

hah

― Scary Move 4 (dog latin), Thursday, 26 April 2012 16:14 (1 year ago) Permalink

"one for the sticker" remains one of my favorite snarks of all-time, I don't think there's a context where it isn't hilarious

― I'M THAT POSTA, AAAAAAAAAH (DJP), Thursday, 26 April 2012 16:17 (1 year ago) Permalink

so, at last we begin to learn about the long-term effects of ecstasy

― Roberto Spiralli, Thursday, 26 April 2012 16:24 (1 year ago) Permalink

wait, is that last picture actually not David Cross in a wig? i swear i've only just realised

― seapunk run. run punk run! (Noodle Vague), Thursday, 26 April 2012 16:26 (1 year ago) Permalink

yeah the David Cross thing is kind of uncanny

― heavy is the head that eats the crayons (Shakey Mo Collier), Thursday, 26 April 2012 16:33 (1 year ago) Permalink

1 month passes...

odd, acoustic versions of North Country Boy and The only one I know

but with new tunes

― Mark G, Saturday, 23 June 2012 17:32 (11 months ago) Permalink

on Sky's coverage on the IOW festival

― Mark G, Saturday, 23 June 2012 17:32 (11 months ago) Permalink

8 months pass...

― afriendlypioneer, Wednesday, 6 March 2013 16:54 (2 months ago) Permalink

― a phenomenological description of The Eagles (Noodle Vague), Wednesday, 6 March 2013 16:59 (2 months ago) Permalink

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