The Charlatans - Different Days

"Different Days" is the 13th album by Manchester/West Midlands outfit The Charlatans. You could say that these guys really are the last remaining surviors of the brit pop era in the 90s. Well in terms of success anyway as impressivly they are still managing to release hit albums.  But also a lot of the acts around that time have either split up or doing reunion tours. I have to admit I lost touch with what they were doing after 2006's Simpatico. But this year I rediscovered them and I'm glad I did after listening to this, thier latest effort.

"Hey Sunrise" is such a nice opening to the album, with the acousitc guitar coming in first, then Tim Burgees singing "Bath in, the sunlight". It starts off so easy just gently upping the tempo, until the chorus kicks in and the album goes into full flow and sets the tone for the rest of the record.  As well as this track, I think title track "Different days" and "Plastic Machinery" which are the singles, are the highlights of the album.  I can see both tracks being a main stay in their live set such is the standard of them. Which just shows highly I think of them with the volume of tracks they have to choose from now!

This record sticks to the tried and tested for the band rather than venturing off into brand new terioritories which is something they have never really done. In saying that while keeping their trademark indie sounds, there is a certain freshness and warmness about the record which for me brings about one of their best records in quite a while. That's the thing about The Charlatans though, they are consistent. Maybe not becoming a global success but maintaining a relatively loyal, reasonable sized fanbase. However like any band you will have records you like more than others. And I would go back as far as 1999's Us and Us only to find a Charlatans record I like better than this.  But I think that says a lot about this album as there are many albums they have done between 1999 and now but I have listened to this album far more than any of them.

One slight downside to the album is the use of voice overs or basically talking over the music, for example on the "The Forgotton one".  This is something more and more artists are using on albums this year. Some use it quite effectively. But sometimes I really just want people to just sing! It just gets annoying after a while. Luckily the track only lasts 41 seconds and other small bits throughout the album.

I think overall, if you are a Charlatans fan already, you won't be disappointed in this album. However even though I think this is the best album they have done in a while, I don't think there is anything on this album to bring in people who had listened to the band before and for them to get into them now.  I say this but people have had long enough now to make up their minds about this band. I think its a testamont to bring out 13 records and still producing great music.