The Charlatans - Us And Us Only

6.0 - England - 1999

The poor Charlatans (UK). Always the bridesmaids. Could they be anyone's favourite band? Doubtful. Still, you have to admire them for chugging along with their patented, albeit unremarkable, blend of Madchester-derived Britpop and Northern Soul. On this record, their sixth, the late keyboardist Rob Collins, whose Hammond work had been the group's signature sound, is replaced by newcomer Tony Rogers. The results are fairly uninteresting, but still more or less palatable. Opener (and lead single) "Forever" is based around a dublike bass-line with some loopy sounding drums and churning mellotrons (Rogers' innovatory contribution to the band). Coupled with the "weird" instrumentals "Good Witch, Bad Witch", this tune is ostensibly intended to signify experimentalism, but, really, it just comes across as rather derivative of current trends in the then dying Britpop scene. Elsewhere, "A House Is Not A Home" is a literal note-for-note recreation of the Live 1966 version of Dylan's "I Don't Believe You" that demonstrates that no matter how much he cultivates that annoying nasal whine, Tim Burgess cannot tip a hat to Dylan's velvet sneer.  And, shit you not, "Senses (Angel On My Shoulder)" features the band desperately trying to imitate Spiritualized's "I Think I'm In Love". There's nothing worse than a bland act pretending to be interesting. Still, "I Don't Care Where You Live" is pretty good, but, really, they were better when they had funny haircuts.