The Album Review Club - Christmas Break Until 8th January

[threespires]

Naturally I think all of my nominations are great but I’m proud of the range I’ve covered with my last three selections:-

• Bruce Hornsby - American jazz, blues, Americana, pop
• INXS - Australian new wave/rock
• The Charlatans - British indie rock

Not that they’ve all gone down well with the punters but at least I’m trying to pull different sounding selections out of the bag.

Or are we saying that they all sound the same?

Unless I'm missing something I don't think anyone's suggesting that are they?

Your biggest issue with that there list is you should have put the bonkers Big Swing Face album forward for Mr Hornsby !!

You are always diligent in explaining what you like about your choices which means even if I disagree with you I can have a proper and enjoyable think about the music and where you're coming from.

 

[RobMCFC]

Turning into Bluehammer with your snide comments. Stop it, you are better than that.

And anyway...I've not had a second listen yet...

I wasn’t trying to be snide so apologies if it came across that way. It was more in response to Foggy saying that The Charlatans sounded like Oasis produced by Rob. Not that he has said he’s not enjoying it. I was just merely pointing that whilst a lot of my early choices were most definitely Americana, I’ve branched out recently.

Unless I'm missing something I don't think anyone's suggesting that are they?

Your biggest issue with that there list is you should have put the bonkers Big Swing Face album forward for Mr Hornsby !!

You are always diligent in explaining what you like about your choices which means even if I disagree with you I can have a proper and enjoyable think about the music and where you're coming from.

Ha ha, I was only thinking that yesterday. That was probably a golden opportunity missed in retrospect.

 

[BlueHammer85]

Turning into Bluehammer with your snide comments.

Irony and also there was nothing wrong with Robs reply - he just highlighted a few of his choices that are different genres - strange time to choose a dig at me and him.

 

[Coatigan]

Turning into Bluehammer with your snide comments. Stop it, you are better than that.

And anyway...I've not had a second listen yet...

For what it is worth I didn't read it as a snide dig when I saw it. Now that he has clarified that was how I took it.

 

[bennyboy]

A group i have never got into album wise but loved the odd single here and there.
The only one i know. Then. Weirdo. Just when you're thinkin thing's over. Jesus hairdo. Crashing in and North country boy from this album.
The voice i can understand why folk do not like it kind of grates on tracks on tracks i do not like on this album.With shoes. Youre a big girl now. How can you leave us. Only teething.
When they get it right with the guitar and organ sound mixing well they are a great band,sadly it does not happen enough for my liking.
Didn’t the original keyboard player get tragically killed in an accident.
5/10

 

[RobMCFC]

A group i have never got into album wise but loved the odd single here and there.
The only one i know. Then. Weirdo. Just when you're thinkin thing's over. Jesus hairdo. Crashing in and North country boy from this album.
The voice i can understand why folk do not like it kind of grates on tracks on tracks i do not like on this album.With shoes. Youre a big girl now. How can you leave us. Only teething.
When they get it right with the guitar and organ sound mixing well they are a great band,sadly it does not happen enough for my liking.
Didn’t the original keyboard player get tragically killed in an accident.
5/10

Yes, Rob Collins died in a car crash partway through making this album. Martin Duffy of Primal Scream picked up keyboard duties for the remainder of recording.

 

[Out on blue 6]

Yes, Rob Collins died in a car crash partway through making this album. Martin Duffy of Primal Scream picked up keyboard duties for the remainder of recording.

Interesting and difficult character by all accounts was Rob. Got sent down a couple of years earlier for assisting an armed robbery. Only realised his mate was doing it when he heard gunshots and his mate ran out. He drove the getaway car

 

[threespires]

I think this pick has crystallised my view of The Charlatans in that I'm happy to continue to hear them on playlists and maybe play a few tracks together but I'm unlikely to do a deep dive into their back catalogue. It was pretty enjoyable when I was able to focus solely on the instrumentalists but I was conscious of doing that which makes it more difficult to properly lose yourself In the music. It's a combination of the tone and the register combined that make me struggle with Burgess, there's plenty of dodgy singers I like but they typically sing lower and more open. It's a shame because I've always got the impression he's an engaging front man.

I'm scoring 7/10 on the basis that just because I don't like one aspect it doesn't diminish it's other qualities.

 

[Mancitydoogle]

TELLIN’ STORIES



Tbh I wasn’t looking forward to this one as much as I normally do with Robs nominations.
Quick bit of trivia , I used to frequent The Black Swan pup in Lower Withington Cheshire, I remarked to the landlord at the time how good the music was that he played which was mostly Americana.He told me he managed a band, The Charlatans! It was Steve Harrison a local in these parts , hence the band was always referred to as being from Northwich, whereas as Bimbo states they were mostly from the Midlands.

Anways onto the album, I’ve not heard much by the band other than a few singles and Madchester music has never been my bag.
I’m not sure who influenced who but time wise it appears The Charlatans were formed first.
On a few tracks especially ‘With No Shoes’ and ‘How High’ I’m definitely getting LG nasal swagger in Tim Burgess’s delivery, on others IB and The Stone roses musically, also echoes of Kula Shaker.
There’s the obvious Dylan tribute on ‘Get it On’ which I enjoyed. I tended to prefer the more acoustic tracks as they seem more suited to TBs voice.I’ve been able to listen to this album a lot this past week, it’s ok but hasn’t made me a fan,but I can see why fans of Oasis and TSR would love this.


6/10

 

[ballbag]

I suppose the Charlatans next album (Us and Us Only) might be better suited to those who prefer a bit more of an Americana sound. And if the nasal voice of Tim B is doing your nut, try Wonderland, where he goes all falsetto and the band kind of change sound too.