Performer Notes

The Charlatans U.K.: Tim Burgess (vocals); Mark Collins (guitar); Tony Rogers (piano, organ, Mellotron, background vocals); Martin Blunt (bass); Jon Brookes (drums).
Additional personnel includes: Daniel Lanois (pedal steel); Ged Lynch, Jim Keltner (percussion); Stacy Plunk, Yvonne Marx (background vocals).
Producers: The Charlatans, Danny Saber, James Spencer.
Personnel: Daniel Lanois (steel guitar); Jim Keltner, Ged Lynch (percussion); Stacie Plunk (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: James Spencer.
Recording information: Big Mushroom; Krevorkian's Lab.
Seven albums in, and the Charlatans haven't so much settled into a groove as they've settled into a style. They long ago carved out a niche between classic British rock and post-Madchester British dance, and that's what made their music seem fresh for several different generations -- they represented whatever you wanted to see within their distinctly British blend. In that sense, they are indeed proving themselves to be like the Stones, who subtly incorporated modern trends into the sound, sometimes so seamlessly you didn't realize they were branching out. The Charlatans work from the same template, gradually expanding their sonic texture in terms of modern dance trends, without ever abandoning their rock base. They occasionally emphasize one side over another -- Us and Us Only played to the rock side of the fence, while Wonderland is very heavy on groove and texture, a move that's strangely emphasized by Tim Burgess' unexpected reliance on a falsetto. This can mean that the songs fade into the background, but that often seems like an intentional move, since it happens so frequently throughout a record where the surface remains stylish and sleek. Still, that means there's not a whole lot to hold onto, although certain songs start to emerge upon repeated listens -- "You're So Pretty - We're So Pretty" seduces with its minor-key swagger, "Love Is the Key" rocks convincingly, "I Just Can't Get Over Losing You" swings nicely. Even so, this winds up as simply a good, solid Charlatans record, despite the efforts to jazz things up with a heavier dancefloor quotient. That may seem like a slight, but a solid Charlatans record still satisfies, and can't quite be taken for granted just yet. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Professional Reviews

Q (10/01, p.120) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...With every track a winner...the work of a band in indecently rude health..."

CMJ (9/17/01, p.10) - "...Alice would definately dig this wonderland..."

Mojo (Publisher) (1/02, p.71) - Ranked #35 in Mojo's "Best [40] Albums of 2001".

Mojo (Publisher) (9/01, p.114) - "...A transformation beyond all recognition....most striking in the vocal department..."

NME (Magazine) (12/29/01, p.59) - Ranked #30 in NME's 50 "Albums Of the Year 2001".

NME (Magazine) (9/8/01, p.39) - 8 out of 10 - "...A great album...This is Tim Burgess finally singing from the heart, unselfconsciously and true. It's great..."

Album: Wonderland
#	Song Title	Time
1)	You're So Pretty - We're So Pretty
2)	Judas
3)	Love Is the Key
4)	Man Needs to Be Told, A
5)	I Just Can't Get Over Losing You
6)	Bell and the Butterfly, The
7)	And If I Fall
8)	Wake Up
9)	Is It in You?
10)	Ballad of the Band

Album: Wonderland
#	Song Title	Time
1)	You're So Pretty - We're So Pretty
2)	Judas
3)	Love Is the Key
4)	Man Needs to Be Told, A
5)	I Just Can't Get Over Losing You
6)	Bell and the Butterfly, The
7)	And If I Fall
8)	Wake Up
9)	Is It in You?
10)	Ballad of the Band