English Rock: The Charlatans UK's Sympatico

Simpatico hits with power in the banging keys and funky guitar, and with that, you’re glad that the Charlatans UK are back again.

“Blackened Blue Eyes” talks about the world not caring for second chances, which means the thematically there’s a connection with the Vacation’s “Destitute Prostitutes” (see this issue). As the song lyric says, “A Charlatan I/Noble and wild/Hustlin for tricks to help you feel loved,” are we meant to think that the band’s name has always been meant extremely literally—they are charlatans tricking us out of money, emotions, and spiritual truth?

Unlike “Destitute Prostitutes” which points to the hope of redemption, the charlatan of “Blackened Blue Eyes” implies that the only redemption (second chance) is through a trick on the mind, a shell game, a bait-and-switch. The Charlatans UK sing, “Blackened blue eyes/I don't care too much for second chances/Blackened blue eyes/I don't care too much for final chances/Ride out into a world of random prostitutes/I'll show you some fantastic scenes/And it will be alright.” The song personifies the false teachers in the Scriptures’ warnings. Those spiritual charlatans come on with power, but beware their true uncaring hearts.

“NYC (There’s No Need to Stop)” has funk drum beat with Clash-like vocals running that punk shout/reggae thing on the “vintage rock” line. The reggae thing continues on “For Your Entertainment” with its bluesy treatment and a lyric that seems to revisit the Jam’s “That’s Entertainment.”

With “Muddy Ground,” you realize where Oasis and Coldplay got all of their sound. Oasis picked up on the funk snarl attitude, and Coldplay heard the keyboard laden orchestration.

Another return that’s welcome within the recent year was Big Star. . .


Big Star: In Space
“Dony” is laid back, but it does signal loudly the return of Big Star. Immediately I can hear what the Replacements talked about nearly 20 years ago with “Alex Chilton,” a song dedicated to Big Star’s vocalist/guitarist. The Replacements sang, “Children by the million sing for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round/They sing ‘I'm in love. What's that song?/
I'm in love with that song,’" and tried to achieve the same jangling, warm, spacious guitar sound (while, of course) giving it a full ‘Mats dose of raucous vigor).

To be quite honest, that’s how I knew Big Star and Alex Chilton: by the reputation referred to in the Replacements song and the sound that I knew formed a huge influence on the ‘Mats. With the reunion disc, In Space, I’m finally sitting down to hear it for myself, and if I could, it would launch me into a Master’s degree-like research into all things Big Star.

Besides the English Pop Rock overtones, the Byrds harmonies, and even the Beach Boys inspired “Turn My Back on the Sun” (with its opening chords much like “Wouldn’t It Be Nice,” even having “wouldn’t it” as the first two words), In Space captures my full attention for the hip-shaking, funk dance of “Love Revolution.”

Thank you to the Charlatans UK, Sanctuary Records Group, Big Star, and Ryko for the review copy.