Charlatans prevail with 'Us and Us Only'

As political and turbulently paced as the British pop world is, trends fluctuate with a hastened regularity that is somewhat akin to our beloved Michigan weather. Few acts can muster the lasting power to prolong their success beyond one or two albums, much less an entire decade. This is what makes The Charlatans such an anomaly, a wrench in the works of the British pop rulebook.

Way back in 1989, a little band called The Stone Roses revolutionized British guitar pop, ushering in what became known as the "baggy" movement. All shuffle-shuffle dance beats, mumbly lyrics and pastoral psychedelia, an entire army of "baggy" bands rode The Stone Roses' coattails into the limelight, The Charlatans among them.

In true British fashion, listeners and critics alike turned their backs on the "baggy" scene after a year or two, when it had run its course. They immediately looked toward the next trend and left once-heralded acts, such as The Happy Mondays, The Inspiral Carpets and, yes, The Charlatans, left for dead in a hopeless mire of cultural irrelevance.

If the Charlatans had played by the rules, then, they would have just thrown in the towel, realizing the inconsequentiality of their continued efforts. Indeed, aside from the single "Wierdo," their sophomore 1992 album "Between Tenth and Eleventh" fell on deaf ears. Meanwhile, the careers of their peers were equally hopeless. Yes, the future looked bleak indeed.

Then, in 1994, when nobody was paying attention, The Charlatans released a great rock record "Up to Our Hips." More than a mere return to form, "Hips" contained a pleasant blend of singalong Beatles-isms, snarling blues riffs a-la Keith Richards and white-boy funk.

Ironically, fate once again dealt The Charlatans an ill hand. The critical success of "Up to Our Hips" was almost immediately obscured by the emergence of the Oasis-led "Britpop" camp. This left them, once again, struggling for a sense of identity and resulted in another mediocre album, 1995's Britpop wannabe "The Charlatans."

In the following years, The Charlatans went through a torrent of personal tragedy which culminated in the death of founding member and top-notch keyboardist Rob Collins.

Battling onward, the band, along with hired-hand Primal Scream keyboardist Martin Duffy, released "Tellin' Stories" in 1997. The album was lauded by critics and the public alike and became the their most successful thus far. Was this a fluke or was the band finally getting the respect and success that they had worked so painstakingly for all those years?

The Charlatans new album "Us and Us Only" answers with a resounding nod to the latter. Their most fully-realized blend of rootsy groove-rock to date, "Us" shows The Charlatans producing an instantly addictive array of hooks that, while retroactive, are still unmistakably their own.

The album opener and first single "Forever" gets the party started right. All searing organs and huge, Chemical Brothers-style, beats and sub-bass, "Forever" is a sprawling seven-plus minute epic. It, with its heroic piano lines, is also an excellent introduction to the stellar talents of new keyboardist Tony Rodgers.

Following the electronic oddity "Good Witch/ Bad Witch," "Us" segues into a colorful celebration of classic rock traditions. Never terribly innovative, The Charlatans have always been content to mimic their heroes. However, this is not to say that they don't mimic well.

Quite to the contrary, "Impossible" adds a five-ton beat to what could otherwise pass for a Bob Dylan cover. Similarly, the criminally addictive "A House is Not a Home" serves up a heaping slice of steamy southern rock in a Stones-by-way-of-Black Crowes sort of way. "Angel on My Shoulder" paraphrases The Stones' "Sweet Black Angel" to a tremendous effect over a background of soothing strings and wailing harmonica.

Whereas The Charlatans' influences might be instantly visible, they do not hinder the quality of the music. While likeminded bands, such as Oasis, use their reference points as a crutch and a gimmick, the Charlatans merely use them to illustrate their thesis: that great rock and roll is great rock and roll. And "Us and Us Only" is just that: great rock and roll. It may not move mountains or significantly alter modern culture, but, what the hell, it's gonna sound magnificent blasting out of the speakers of your car.

If nothing else, "Us and Us Only" is proof that The Charlatans have finally prevailed. And on their own terms no less. They have beaten the trends and have risen their flag at the top of the Britpop heap. And cheers to them, not only for all the hard work, but for the excellent music as well.

11-09-99