Charlatans
Some Friendly

The britpop review circle is not over yet!

And for those who don't care, don't read my review because I don't care much either! I promised I would cover all noteworthy britpop bands not present on this site and I already did so with the Bluetones (dedicating the review to two users/writers of the aforementioned DeBaser). There is only one review of the Charlatans and it is not even satisfactory since it is not a studio album! Not much, therefore, for the writing methodology, which I do not dare criticize at all.

So let's examine the Charlatans, let's examine the first album which is nevertheless very different from the others. The Charlatans will evolve towards blues, rock rhythms and even rock until reaching the last release " Simpatico" which features an Indie texture mixed with Reggae. But this review does not aim for personal glorification but wants to fill the void that exists and wants to encourage others to review other albums by this interesting Mancunian band which since the early 90s has been an tireless beacon of good music.

Thrown under the Baggy genre, the Charlatans were part of the 90s Madchester scene (in the mix were also [just to name two at random] Stone Roses, Blur, and Happy Mondays) and they took advantage with Some Friendly sneaking into the music scene of that time.

Just like the Baggy scene wants, the packaging of the album is a real mess of colors, an absolute confusion. Starting with the cover that you see here on the side. In its colorful appearance, however, the booklet is nothing more than a silly leaflet with nothing good, poorly printed to boot. The genre of the music is characterized by an abuse of the Hammond organ by the late "Brother Collins", and it's evident that in albums to come after his death, the lack of that Hammond played not divinely but excellently, one might say, will be felt.

The tracks of Some Friendly are most characterized by speed, given mainly by Collins' organ and Brookes' bouncing drums. The voice of Tim Burgees is a rich reverb background that is scarcely heard (Ian Brooooooooooooooownnnnnnnnnn??????). Particularly interesting in this regard are the first three tracks where the big single "The only one I know" emerges. Beyond this, there are also psychedelic wanderings as in "Opportunity", a long song of almost 7 minutes which is nothing more than a well-executed loop well-marked by the drums and the out-of-tune and sighed voice of Burgees. There is also the instrumental interlude of "102 pt. 2". We also find the Happy Mondays in "Polar bear", with that vaguely 90s video game atmosphere. The pop and video game atmosphere give way to rock, in the "less narrow" sense of the term with "Believe you me" and the concluding "Sproston Green". The Oscar for the catchiest refrain goes to "Flowers", the pop gem of the "lotto Some Friendly".

The album is definitely not a masterpiece. It would be bold to say so! But it still represents something in that cauldron/mixture that were the 90s BRIT... and it's still something that signifies a good debut album.

Come on, bets are accepted...

What will be the next brit review by Principles?