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

Have just tried to dive straight into the new nomination but having spent the last couple of days listening to the likes of Kiwanuka, Black Pumas, Keb Mo and similar it's too jarring a leap.

For reasons I've never understood Dylan works for me as a musical palate cleanser/firebreak, so I've got the Budokan album we reviewed on - I'd forgotten how entertainingly wacky some of the arrangements were!
 
The US version of Strange Times was a double vinyl album. The second disc was tracks that appeared on the 12" of singles released in the UK and a few tracks recorded at the same time as the album including a fantastic version of Tomorrow Never Knows. These 12" tracks are miles better than some of the weaker tracks on the first disc. Particularly Paradiso and Inside Out.
The first disc has an acoustic version of Tears which was released as a single months earlier in full electric form. Probably their best song and a total classic that deserves to be much better known.
Its not my favourite Chameleons album as songs like Childhood, Seriocity and even the fan favourite Caution steer a bit close to being filler for me whereas the previous two albums had no filler.
Mad Jack , Soul In Isolation, In Answer , Time and Swamp Thing though put this album way ahead of most long players
 
My mates were mad on The Chameleons back in the day and I just couldn’t see what all the fuss was about. I thought they were boring. Like a lot on here I’m sure, I did once meet Mark Burgess when he worked at the ticket office, although I initially didn’t realise who he was. It has been almost 40 years now, so I’ll give it a listen later.
 
roman totale said:
My mates were mad on The Chameleons back in the day and I just couldn’t see what all the fuss was about. I thought they were boring. Like a lot on here I’m sure, I did once meet Mark Burgess when he worked at the ticket office, although I initially didn’t realise who he was. It has been almost 40 years now, so I’ll give it a listen later.
Click to expand...
Was quite hopeful about this one. From a period when I actually was expanding my musical taste buds.
First reaction however is far more boring than I was expecting.
I’ll give it another go.
 
Have now had a listen, realised I was at least familiar with Tears, had a listen to Script of the Bridge too. My initial thoughts are Strange Times has three or four very strong songs but their debut is a stronger album overall. Though I suspect this is one of those albums you need to reserve judgement on and play a few times to get the most out of it. One thing that's difficult with these types of picks is you need to try and discount all that's come since which can make it sound unexceptional and remember what else was out there when it was released.

Just walked into the living room and there's some sort of 25 years of Live Lounge tribute on the TV. Turns out there is something worse than Livin on a Prayer, and that thing would be an unplugged version of Livin on a Prayer.
 
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