Yahoo! Music Album Review

Released on 17/04/06
Label: Sanctuary

If rock points were awarded purely on the basis of longevity, The Charlatans would certainly be counting in double figures. Living up to the tag of Wolverhampton's answer to The Rolling Stones, they've out lived almost all their baggy and Britpop peers, survived tragedy and disaster and through hard work, rather than runaway success, built up a loyal following who show every sign of supporting them well into their dotage. However, while diehard fans are still clearly interested, on their ninth studio album, The Charlatans sound monumentally bored.

The clues to their waning enthusiasm come as early as the opening track. First single "Blackened Blue Eyes" starts promisingly: the dark, circular piano groove, seedy guitar stabs and the solid, basement shuffle that have defined The Charlatans' finer moments. But as soon as Tim Burgess"Simpatico".

Over recent years, Burgess & Co have done their best to keep things interesting. To their reliable organ whirs they've added campfire laments, folky ballads and full-on Americana. Perhaps they've exhausted all the other options, but for proof of just how hard-up The Charlatans really are for ways to keep themselves amused, look no further than their new fascination: reggae.

The curse of white soul boys and rock bands since the dawn of time; Gorillaz might pull it off, but for The Charlatans it's a leap too far. The dank slouch of "For Your Entertainment" and "Muddy Ground"'s dub groove are passable enough - if thin on tunes - but the cartoon Specials bounce of "City Of The Dead", complete with harmonica, ghoulish backing vocals and an unmistakable Jamaican twang in Tim's voice, crosses the line into caricature, leaving them sounding like a UB40 tribute act- if such a thing exists.

Add to their dub fixation the appallingly half-cocked Big Apple dance-punk of "NYC (There's No Need To Stop)", an aimless ambient instrumental "Sunset & Vine" and a host of reggae-rock half breeds and "Simpatico" is the sound of a band desperately scrabbling around for inspiration and sounding completely unconvinced with everything they try.

While going reggae was always going to be risky, it's the severe lack of conviction - whether in Burgess's mumblings or songs general vagueness - that's the biggest problem. It's like they've tried really hard to be interested, but just couldn't do it. In music longevity is a prized possession, but when it produces albums like this, it's seriously overrated.

    by Dan Gennoe