Search - Charlatans UK :: Wonderland

A great effort from a great band!

schweppes22 | Brighton, MA USA | 10/15/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have to admit, as a charlatans uk fan of long standing ('Some Friendly', really), I have grown increasingly disenchanted with their direction since the third album. Bought 'Tellin' Stories', and their eponymously-titled album, and was really left pretty flat by both efforts save the occasional song. On this record, they have really come through with a true gem. The song styles are quite varied from mellow, to funky, to dance grooves. Their sound has evolved considerably from the more classic charlatans sound on the first 3 records, which initially got me into this band. They only at times sound like the same band, especially with Mr. Burgess' new falsetto he breaks into from time to time. This is a different sound compared to their early works, but that's not a bad thing. The disc is firmly lodged in my car's cd player which is generally the sign of a good album. It's my current favorite new cd, and I'd recommend it to anyone (ok, maybe not the Top 40 crowd). I can't understand the few negative reviews of this album I've seen here, quite frankly. After being so disappointed in the last few cd's, I was prepared to be let down yet again, but I couldn't have been more wrong."

A Real Wonder

Eliot Wilder | Boston, MA USA | 10/03/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Once a group on the periphery of the U.K.'s Madchester scene, the hard-living members of the Charlatans have survived the death of keyboardist Rob Collins as well as the passage of fads and fashion to successfully reinvent themselves several times over. The band's last outing, 1999's "Us and Us Only," a collection of incredibly complex and emotionally direct songs, donned a pronounced Dylanesque feel. On "Wonderland," the band has all but abandoned its Britpop roots for Northern Soul, with singer Tim Burgess - who on "Us and Us Only" chronicled the meltdown of his marriage - affecting a Curtis Mayfield falsetto and a slightly sunnier disposition. With its distinctly funkified Stones-y vibe, "You're So Pretty - We're So Pretty" jumpstarts the album, establishing an hallucinogenic party atmosphere. Nowhere is this more evident than on the groovy "Love Is the Key" or in the brooding back beat of "I Just Can't Get Over Losing You" or all over the down and dirty driving instrumental "The Bell and the Butterfly." "Wonderland's" a narcotic experience. Go ask Alice."

Their Best Album Yet!

Ian Creamer | Dublin,Ireland | 10/01/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The new album by The Charlatans is by far their best album ever-not that their previous albums have been bad at all.This album is so good though it comes as a major surprise,primarily because of the diverse sounds and influences to be heard on this album.No longer can they be bracketed as very early Brit pop,this album rocks plenty but it's also got lots of soul,blues and lots of funky touches.Added to this Tim Burgess' lead vocals have changed considerably as he manages to add an incredible falsetto to his already excellent vocals.His move to America and it's subsequent influences are stamped all over this c.d.Sometimes they sound like 70's Rolling Stones and on other occasions they've managed to maintain a very British R/B sound. There are very few weak tracks on this 12 song c.d.The first song breaks Charlatan fans in very gently to the changes in sound heard later on.It's pretty familiar stuff with several excellent guitar riffs crashing in throughout this song.Song 2 'Judas' is full of distorted effects-it's the sort of sound you'd expect from early Primal Scream.Except on this song Burgess uses his falsetto on the song-and the experiment works beautifully.Throbbing bass lines,ravaging guitar effects,soulful hammond and a chorus to die for.The first single 'Love Is The Key' actually takes a few listens to become familiar with.It sounds very like The Stones.Once again Burgess sings falsetto but only on the verses.The keyboards are quite funky on this song and they also use gospel backing singers during the chorus.Track 4 is such a mellow number-the bass line is amazing and the whole song sounds so mellow.A simple piano line and some C/W guitar make this song one of my favourites.This song is the most American sounding-it's hard to believe they're a British band when you hear this song. Track 6 'Bell and The Butterfly' is just an incredible shift in the overall sound of this album.Firstly it's an instrumental-not just a boring filler either.The drum,bass and keyboard effects actually gives this a techno or dance feel-just incredible.It's one of the best instrumental songs I've heard.Song 7 'And I Fall' is my favourite on the c.d.Once again a heavy bass line and a deep guitar riff dominate this laidback song.It builds and builds until the complete killer chorus-which is by far the best I've ever heard from this group.This song should be huge!Song 8 'Wake Up' has more falsetto and is really a true laidback R/B number with a slightly funky guitar and brass section for the chorus.Like many of the songs the lyrics are kept to a minimum and song 9 is no exception.Lyrically Burgess seems to be having a go at superstardom.Once again it's a soaring distorted vocal chorus with excellent female backing vocals. Track 10 'Ballad Of The Band' has a very different sound to the rest of the c.d.Guitars take a back seat to funky keyboards driven by pulsating rhythms.When the guitars do kick in their sound is almost unrecognisable to the sounds heard earlier.The penultimate track is one of the shorter songs on the album at just over 4 minutes.It's a pretty standard rock song-beautiful in it's own simplicity.The final track is a soulful love song-repeated lyrics and acoustic guitar,which gives the song a more eclectic sound.Unfortunately the chorus is not quite as good as the previous songs. The Charlatan's have survived the ravages of the ever changing British rock scene better then most.They've been there through the Stone Roses era,seen Oasis come and go,seen the sound go all mellow and quiet and yet with this album I can see them seeing off many more musical trends.Just a great return from a vastly underrated group!"