The Album Review Club - Week #145 - (page 1923) - Tellin' Stories - The Charlatans

On first listen of first two or three songs, I was thinking we could have a 9/10 here.
The consistency for a nine wasn’t there though throughout.
Second listen I was convinced this album would be a grower, but I became more convinced that eight was probably closer to the mark.

Third listen today and I don’t find my mind changing on any of the songs.
I will stick it on in the background tonight and see what reaction I get from guests, but I think it’s appeal has peaked in me and I’m thinking along the lines of a 7/10 now and should probably put that in now in case I go lower each listen.

@Mancitydoogle this was a great pick and I do like it, but it’s in a niche that I think I would not binge on. I would definitely play this on it’s own occasionally but find myself looking for a change afterwards.
 
Right, happy new year, thanks for playing etc.

Now that all of that Christmas and New Year nonsense is out of the way, let's see if we can get back to the serious stuff - voting on and talking about albums.
 
RobMCFC said:
Right, happy new year, thanks for playing etc.

Now that all of that Christmas and New Year nonsense is out of the way, let's see if we can get back to the serious stuff - voting on and talking about albums.
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Sorry but with the kids at home, visitors from overseas and Christmas stuff going on, I just haven't had time to really devote to giving albums a focused listen and feel it would be unfair to vote on them without having given them sufficient time and consideration.

Things should be somewhat back to normal from Monday so will be back on it.
 
I mentioned in a previous post the proliferation of singer songwriters there seems to be around and I do find myself drawn to the kind of gentle introspection at play on Southeastern. I warmed up for it by listening to Jason Isbell's top tunes on Spotify, a number of which come from this album anyway. I also remember listening to him before following a good review of a recent album but can't for the life of me remember what I had listened to and wonder now if I had been getting him mixed up with someone else.

I've been able to listen to this three times, rightly or wrongly "side by side" with Stephen Fretwell's Busy Guy, a release from last year. First thing is I'm struck by Isbell's voice which is very good, surely even the most critical amongst us on this thread won't be finding fault with it.

There are two or three songs that I like a lot but I found it started to get a bit samey and I must admit I found myself tiring a bit of this man's travails. Paradoxically though, the mood having been set I found Super 8 an intrusion, like this sensitive soul wanted to remind us that he was a good old country boy at heart. It felt out of place.

I'm sounding harsher than I meant to because I can see the merit in this music and it's possible, nay probable that I will return to Jason Isbell though not necessarily this album. Of the two that I'm comparing, not the object of the thread obviously but what the heck, it's the Fretwell that will be getting sustained listens at the moment.

For the tracks that stick though and the overall sense of it I'll give it a 6 out of 10
 
journolud said:
First thing is I'm struck by Isbell's voice which is very good, surely even the most critical amongst us on this thread won't be finding fault with it.
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No, I think he's got a great voice. Suits the material perfectly.
 
I did like this album. I have listened to it a few times now and will likely play it in future when I am in the mood. Some really nice songs, particularly early on and he tells a story simply and well. Instrumentation and acoustic guitar really nice as is his vocals. If I was to pick out tracks, Elephant is well written and sounds authentic, as did Stockholm and Live Oak. There was one song about a murder 'Yvette'? Hope that wasn't based on experience. The only track that jarred, and it did jar was Super 8. I was waiting for him to segue into 'Achy Breaky Heart' at any second. A few other tracks were a little bland but pleasant bland nonetheless.

I don't tend to play a great deal of country music but next time I look for Emmylou, I may just put this on instead.

Thanks @Mancitydoogle for choosing this, it was a fine choice and I can understand why you like it.
I was going 8 but because of his version of ABH, I will give it a 7 which is still a high score for me.
 
nice to have a posters pick I was able to give a real go

listened to this countless times, knew from the off I would like it - once I got to know the lyrics it made it all the more better

Jason Isbell is a real talent, lovely acoustic, lovely voice and heartfelt lyrics

'Cover Me Up' is such a beauty and it's hard to find fault with all the rest - enjoyed 'Elephant', 'Different Days' , 'Songs that she sang' and 'Yvette' and many more

maybe a bit samey samey and could do with hearing some rock after a week of this - but a great pick and a new artist for me to follow

@Mancitydoogle , give David Grays 'A Century Ends' album a go.

8/10
 
BlueHammer85 said:
nice to have a posters pick I was able to give a real go

listened to this countless times, knew from the off I would like it - once I got to know the lyrics it made it all the more better

Jason Isbell is a real talent, lovely acoustic, lovely voice and heartfelt lyrics

'Cover Me Up' is such a beauty and it's hard to find fault with all the rest - enjoyed 'Elephant', 'Different Days' , 'Songs that she sang' and 'Yvette' and many more

maybe a bit samey samey and could do with hearing some rock after a week of this - but a great pick and a new artist for me to follow

@Mancitydoogle , give David Grays 'A Century Ends' album a go.

8/10
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Doesn't the last bit attract an automatic thread ban? ;-)
 
BlueHammer85 said:
nice to have a posters pick I was able to give a real go

listened to this countless times, knew from the off I would like it - once I got to know the lyrics it made it all the more better

Jason Isbell is a real talent, lovely acoustic, lovely voice and heartfelt lyrics

'Cover Me Up' is such a beauty and it's hard to find fault with all the rest - enjoyed 'Elephant', 'Different Days' , 'Songs that she sang' and 'Yvette' and many more

maybe a bit samey samey and could do with hearing some rock after a week of this - but a great pick and a new artist for me to follow

@Mancitydoogle , give David Grays 'A Century Ends' album a go.

8/10
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Cheers, I’ve got all the early David Gray albums upto White Ladder
 
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