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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?
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
02 White Shirt (03:25)
When my white shirt lets me down
Like one we race against the wind
You said that I've seen better days
I wash her silver hair away
I'm going to be
(I'm going to be)
In heaven when you say
(In heaven when you say)
I'm too young to waste to ever be denied
(You're too young)
She laughed and then she died
Heard you said to me today
You're safe but you're so far away
You're beautiful how could you be so green
Tomorrow it holds the cause again
I'm going to be
(I'm going to be)
In heaven when you say
(In heaven when you say)
I'm too young to waste to ever be denied
(You're too young)
She laughed and then she died
And someone said to me
You've taken this too far
But I can't be asked to change
You're so vain
You're open all day
I'm glad I got it sorted now
Heard you said to me today
You're safe but you're so far away
'Cause I'm beautiful how could you be so green
Tomorrow it holds the cause again
Again, again, again
I'm going to be
(I'm going to be)
In heaven when you say
(In heaven when you say)
I'm too young to waste to ever be denied
(You're too young)
She laughed and then she died
03 The Only One I Know (03:58)
The only one I know
Has come to take me away
The only one I know
Is mine when she stitches me
The only one I see
Has found and aching in me
The only one I see
Has turned her tongue into me
Everyone has been burned before
Everybody knows the pain
Everyone has been burned before
Everybody knows the pain
The only one I know
Never cries, never opens her eyes
The only one I know
Wide awake and then she's away
The only one I see
Is mine when she walks down our street
The only one I see
Has carved her way into me
Everyone has been burned before
Everybody knows the pain
Everyone has been burned before
Everybody knows the pain
Everyone has been burned before
Everybody knows the pain
Everyone has been burned before
Everybody knows the pain
08 Believe You Me (03:41)
With all the world developments
Why do they make me laugh at you?
And all the world can take you for
Is someone else, you're so low
There's someone else inside of me
Who doesn't make me want to kill
And all the time you're pushing me
I never knew that you were ill
And all the time you think you're it
When you've got nothing else to give
Open it up and take it out
I'll never know what's under that
(Who was that) who killed your lover?
(Who was that) who killed your lover?
It wasn't me
It wasn't believe you me
Not me, not me, not me, not me
Who killed your lover
Who killed your lover
Not me, not me
11 Sproston Green (05:08)
This one knows she comes and goes
And when she goes she goes
This one knows she comes and goes
And when she goes she goes
Sproston Green she used to pace me
And now she hasn't got the time
I know I'm too necessary
And everything she stole was mine
This one knows she comes and goes
And when she goes she goes
This one knows she comes and goes
And when she goes she goes
Sproston Green she used to pace me
And now she hasn't got the time
I know I'm too necessary
And everything she stole was mine
You've got this one
I've got no one
She's oh she's part of something wrong
Oooh...
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Other reviews
By kid b
This, in my opinion, is the most suitable album for getting closer to this band.
Recommended for lovers of the Madchester sound (Stone Roses, Inspiral Carpets, Happy Mondays...) but also for Britpop in general.
By abbazaba
'Some Friendly' could be considered one of the first 'Brit Pop' albums.
Certainly, it is a groundbreaking work in the world of Pop/Electronic music, a precursor to the world that would come after.
