England's Charlatans U.K. have grown considerably since they surfaced in 1990 as part of the Manchester dance scene. The band members have become solid songwriters and soulful, bluesy musicians who hint at what the Rolli... more »ng Stones might sound like today if they hadn't become such pathetic geezers. Unfortunately, the band's self-titled album hasn't generated much excitement at home, and the group hasn't made an impact in the U.S. since its debut single, "The Only One I Know." It's a strong effort nonetheless, and a lot more satisfying than contemporaneous outings by kindred spirits the Stone Roses and Primal Scream. --Jim DeRogatis« less
England's Charlatans U.K. have grown considerably since they surfaced in 1990 as part of the Manchester dance scene. The band members have become solid songwriters and soulful, bluesy musicians who hint at what the Rolling Stones might sound like today if they hadn't become such pathetic geezers. Unfortunately, the band's self-titled album hasn't generated much excitement at home, and the group hasn't made an impact in the U.S. since its debut single, "The Only One I Know." It's a strong effort nonetheless, and a lot more satisfying than contemporaneous outings by kindred spirits the Stone Roses and Primal Scream. --Jim DeRogatis
"I purchased this album in '95 on the strength of the single 'Just Lookin', with its opening riff straight outta Sgt Pepper's, a great tune. That's not even nowhere the best cut on this album though. 'Feeling Holy' is a nicely paced rock cut, 'Crashin In' is driven beautifully by the late, great Rob Collins' organ playing, and 'Bullet Comes' builds and builds like all the best songs do, up to that refrain 'baby, it's not where you are'.I knew little about this group outside of a couple of songs from their early '90s output. They gained a reasonable amount of press stateside for those albums, but now they're at best a cult band over here, with little recognition from rags like Rolling Stone, who'd rather give a cover story to Creed than review a Charlatans CD. I heard this album, and it's one of my favorites from this period in my life. A great, grooving rock joint."
The Best Charlatans Album
sixtymilesmile | 12/04/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Most Charlatans fans believe that, song for song, the self-titled 1995 album is their finest to date. It's hard for me to disagree. This album is filled with classic songs such as Feeling Holy, Just Lookin', Crashin' In, Bullet Comes, Here Comes A Soul Saver, and Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over. This is the only Charlatans album which has no dips in quality whatsoever."
I like "Up to our Hips" much better
E. Becker | Los Angeles, CA USA | 07/30/2003
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I saw the Charlatans back in '92 with Catherine Wheel opening up for them and bought all the new releases as they came out.I dragged this cd out for a listen after it gathered dust for a long while and realized why it mostly sat on the shelf--it is much weaker than their other material. The main reason I gave it a spin recently was all the rave reviews I read on the Net and had to have another listen in case I missed something. Nope, can't get into it."
Their First Masterpiece of an Album
Sakos | United States | 09/28/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"With their 4th album, this self-titled one, the Charlatans produced their first outright gem. While the previous album, Up to Our Hips, is nearly as good, I feel this album is where everything gelled and the band really started to hit its stride. Nine Acre Court, a grooving instrumental, opens the album, and from there one it's just one classic after another: Feeling Holy, Crashin' In, Just When You're Thinking Things Over, No Fiction, See It Through, Bullet Comes, Here Comes a Soul Saver...I've literally listed almost the entire album, that's how good it is. If you're a fan of the Charlatans or just starting to get into them, this is essential. A modern classic in British Rock."
Parallel to the Stone Roses "Second Coming?"
trainreader | Montclair, N.J. | 02/13/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"In 1994, the Stone Roses released the fine album "Second Coming," in which, I believe, the band paid tribute to several legendary bands, including ZZ Top ("Driving South"), Led Zeppelin ("Tears") and The Grateful Dead ("How Do You Sleep"). A year later, the Charlatans U.K. (who are often compared to the Roses) released their self-titled album, which, though I don't feel is quite as good as their first two, was a definite improvement over their third album "Up to Our Hips." Like "Second Coming," the Charlatan's album pays tribute to several classic rock bands, and especially the Rolling Stones.
I like the way this album starts and ends, with funky instrumentals. "Nine Acres Court" also has sort of gospel feel to it, as do some of the other songs. Tracks two through five are solid songs that represent a good example of the range of the band, from acoustic through electric, plus the ever-present organ, but now more of a background instrument as opposed to in the band's first two albums. As a prior reviewer noted, "Here Comes A Soul Savior," copies the primary riff of Pink Floyd's "Fearless" (from "Meddle") so blatantly that I'm sure it was intentionally done. Next, comes my favorite track on the album, the obviously Rolling Stones inspired "Just When You're Thinking Things Over," with some superb piano work from Rob Collins (who was tragically killed in a car accident a year later). "Tell Everyone" sounds to me like it's part Rolling Stones (perhaps "Fool to Cry") and part The Allman Brothers (perhaps "Sweet Melissa"). Compare "Toothache," to the Stone Roses "Driving South." My second favorite song on the album "No Fiction" starts off exactly the same way as Neil Young's "Down By the River," surely one of that artist's best songs. In an album chock full of hooks, "See It Through" has one of the best.
When one band tries to sounds like another, one can think of it as a form of plagiarism or tribute. Since the Charlatan's have their own distinct style, in the case of this self-titled album, I consider it to be the latter."