Search - Charlatans UK :: Up at the Lake

Buyer Beware

Karl Hungus | North Carolina USA | 05/01/2005

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Before you purchase this CD, check amazon.co.uk. The British version has an extra track and costs about $7.00 less than this version (in spite of being air mailed from Europe). Trust me, the extra song and money saved are well worth it."

More Mainstream Pop Than Usual, But a Goodun

Matthew E. Taylor | Arlington, VA United States | 06/25/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Like all Charlatans CDs, in my experience, this one took a few listens to get used to. The songs are definitely more mainstream pop sounding (ie, less edgy). There is only one hard-charging song on the CD, reminiscent of stuff from "Tellin' Stories."Having said that, this album is well executed, with few if any obvious weak points. It is a rock-solid crowd pleaser, all in all, and a good first-taste for new Charlatans listeners. To give you a better sense of where Im coming from in terms of music, I was a huge fan of "Us and Us Only", not such a fan of "Wonderland," and I panned Tim Burgess' solo release.Note: When buying this CD, know that copies coming from outside the UK do not contain "I sing a Hymn," even if they are imported. If you get duped (as I did), consider buying the one missing track from iTunes."

Awesome punching pop rock

Ayman Fazeli | Manchester, UK | 08/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was never the biggest fan of the Charlatans before I bought this album, but it now ranks as one of my all time favourites. Tim Burgess' solo stuff was disappointing so I was sceptical to say the least, but having heard the opening title track, Up At The Lake, it gave me the ammunition to go out and get it. There is a sense of urgency, of excitement; a feeling which was lacking from most of their previous offering, Wonderland.



There's such a huge feel-good swagger throughout the album,

it's impossible not to be swept along in its wake. It flows seamlessly, with every song a highlight.



They even pull off a pair of piano ballads that Starsailor probably wish they could dream of writing - Loving You Is Easy (awesome - keyboardist Tony Rogers takes lead vocals) and Cry Yourself To Sleep - both beautiful songs without losing the cutting edge. Try Again Today will probably be the album's big release. It reeks of The Beatles, and I love it.



The whole album is a masterpiece, streaks ahead of Wonderland, with Burgess and the boys losing that falsetto nonesense and returning to the kind of punchy, raucous pop-rock that served them so well in the Madchester beginnings, making Up At The Like a timeless work of art."