Remember a few years ago when The Charlatans were known as 'everyone's fourth-favourite band'? That's a title The Charlatans must wish they still had – two underperforming albums on the trot and they're a band that're down on their uppers.
And that's why The Charlatans have opened The Big Book Of Get Out Of Jail Cards For Indie Bands at page one and followed its most important instruction: when in doubt, chuck out a Greatest Hits in time for Christmas. And that's how The Charlatans got to Forever – The Singles; their way to wipe the slate clean and to remind everyone what a great band The Charlatans are. Were. Are. Were. Are? Were? Were.
The Charlatans, as every single music journalist worth their 'Sonic Cathedral' permit will tell you, are survivors. They've lost band members to car crashes and carelessness and – almost – testicular cancer, they've been diddled by accountants, they've been baggy, Britpop, disco and, weirdly, reggae. The Charlatans have been through a lot, and to make matters worse you probably haven't listened to any of their albums for about five years. We know we haven't.
And that's why slipping our copy of Forever – The Singles by The Charlatans came as such a shock. It's chronological, so Forever – The Singles acts as an expressline checkout version of The Charlatans' career so far. Once the obligatory early single that nobody has heard – in this case Indian Rope – is out of the way, Forever – The Singles kicks off in earnest with The Only One I Know. Chances are that at some point familiarity will have turned you off this tune. Listen to it with fresh ears, though, and the song's shuffly charm hits you like an anvil. Before you know it, your arms will be shaking fake maracas and you'll be singing along to the guitar solo.
It's a feeling you need to get used to, because over the course of Forever – The Singles, The Charlatans are going to make you do it a lot. Weirdo, Can't Get Out Of Bed, Just When You're Thinking Things Over – all songs you liked and then stopped liking packed together and fizzing with a timeless energy that can't be denied.
Then you come to the high watermark of the Charlatans' career – the Telling Stories album; the point when The Charlatans nudged their heads slightly above their baggy influences and forged their own direction. Tim Burgess suddenly became a better lyricist and vocalist and the band's sense of purpose kicked like a mule. This is best represented by One To Another – perhaps The Charlatans' one true moment of greatness. The Chemical Brothers loop, the keyboards that sound like they're being played by an angry giant with hammers for arms, the "I hear our day is coming" sentiments… nine years on and it can still take your breath away.
Following that, Forever – The Singles serves up the singles from the slightly Dylan-esque misstep of Us And Us Only and the slick electro falsetto baggy disco of Wonderland. Listening through Forever – The Singles you can't help being reminded that The Charlatans soundtracked so many important occasions in your life. First girlfriend, first week at university, first proper job – it all comes pouring back as Forever – The Singles leads you back in time.
But then Forever – The Singles by The Charlatans hits a wall with Up At The Lake, Try Again Today and Blackened Blue Eyes. They're all decent enough songs, and far more accomplished than, say, The Only One I Know, but the sense of scene just isn't there any more. Perhaps we're being hard on these newer songs. Perhaps they're just too recent for people to make memories for. However, try as we might, we just can't see people looking back on Up At The Lake with anything more than a foggy smile of semi-recognition.
And then, just in case you hadn't got the message that The Charlatans aren't the band they were, they decide to close Forever – The Singles with a nasty dance remix of You're So Pretty We're So Pretty. Already it sounds 15 years out of date – not bad for a five-year-old song – so imagine what it will sound like in a decade's time. Forever – The Singles shows that The Charlatans at their peak were better than their 'fouth favourite band' tag deserved, and should act as a reminder to the band themselves of what they are capable of.
admin says
TZ test (soz)
hedden says
hay
its me hedden….. this comment is very nice……..
………….
hedden