[.ca] Some Friendly

From Amazon.co.uk:
Regarded at the time as the runts of the baggy litter, the Charlatans have proved many doubters wrong by living through traumas that would have split many bands up (arrests, nervous breakdowns and even the death of keyboard player Rob Collins), and are still together when their original peers are caricatures (the Mondays), revered memories (the Roses), or half-remembered jokes (the Inspiral Carpets, Northside). However, despite the longevity that was to come, this is a only mediocre debut offering, with little matching the impact of singles "The Only One I Know" and "Then". All the ingredients are in place: Tim Burgess' nasal drone, Collins' Hammond Organ and the groovy bass-lines, but it was only with 1994's Up To Our Hips that the band applied their undoubted mastery of the single to a longer work, and 1998's Melting Pot compilation is their most essential release. --Ronita Dutta

Varied and Original:
Here 60s psychedelia returns with a vengeance, combined with the manic rhythms of dancefloor grooving. A times, the sound resembles that of Pink Floyd, as on Opportunity where the persistent drum and Rob Collins' groovy organ build to a cresendo overlapped by harsh electric guitar riffs. Then there's Then, an electronic cornucopia with a raving rhythm. Best of all is Believe You Me, a glide-and-fly-with-me rhythm that showcases frontman Tim Burgess' unique, tranquil and soothing vocals. Some Friendly follows the rave-on trend but brims with originality.

Uneven album hints at later promise:
The Charlatans UK were one of the preeminent bands to come out of London's Madchester scene, and their debut album, Some Friendly, shows signs of what the band would become on later albums. Taken as a whole, Some Friendly is a scattershot album that shows promise. On one hand, it is the album that introduced the dance scene to the Charlatans with their monster early '90s hit "The Only One I Know." "Opportunity" is a standout, with its spacey, atmospheric feel, as is "Then," which is driven by its strong bassline. However, the high moments are too few. Opening with "You're Not Very Well," the Charlatans catch attention with the track's springy beat and buoyant Hammond, however they all but repeat the song three times on "Polar Bear," "Believe You Me," and "Sonic," with "Sonic" being the only decent song of the three. Perhaps no other track sums up Some Friendly more than "Flower." "Flower" employs yet another strong bassline and a piercing guitar intro, yet the lyrics do not live up to its initial expectations. There is definitely promise to be found on Some Friendly, yet the album is a stark contrast to the heights the band would achieve on later albums.

The only one I have.:
Though the whole album is pretty good, "The only one I know" is definitely the high point. Most of the disc has a good groove to it, and has alot of organ throughout. Some tracks dancy, some trippy. It simultaneously sounds retro and modern, and is good thing just to put on and enjoy. They also have a "best of" called "Melting pot", you may want to try that out. Either disc should fit well between your "Happy Mondays" and "Stone Roses" cd's.

The 80s:
After hearing 'The Only One I Know' on internet radio I came here to buy the album. I was confused at the date amazon gives as 1998 release since i couldve sworn i'd listened to this album a number of times in my highschool girlfriends bedroom. After a little research my thoughts were correct as this album came out in 1990. So i called up some friends and asked around to see if anyone i knew had the album. why buy it? instead i'll check out Melting Pot or Wonderland. What i enjoy about this album is the way its a perfect ending to the 80s sound. Alot like listening to an Echo and the Bunnymen album but without the horrible nostalgia of 7th grade science experiments. The whole album has a wonderful 60s vibe to it with influences from groups such as the Byrds. Its a nice album to listen to while driving through the country with the top down.

A great debut but not as good as the Stone Roses:
The distinctive unique hammond organ sound was what ushered in The Only One I Know, one of the greatest and most memorable singles ever released. Somehow both touching and dancable despite its traditional music style. As it's sound was very comparable to The Stone Roses and various other Manchester groups of the time, they were very much the New Big Thing at the time, as this album's no1 success shows. Other tracks here like Then and You're Not Very Well are equally sprightly, and Opportunity is a glorious 7 minute ambient swirl. But two of the later tracks, Sonic and Believe You Me, are perhaps the most affecting tracks other than THAT track. A recommended CD if you can get it.

	Custom Search