For a band currently busy disavowing their last record, the new single sounds remarkably similar to things on Up to Our Hips. Once again the Charlatans allow louder, more raucous guitars into the mix than on their first two albums. Steve Hillage returns on production, underscoring the point that the song-writing, not the sound, on Up to Our Hips disappointed the band.
"Crashin' In" sounds like a cross between Oasis and "Can't Get Out of Bed" from Up to Our Hips . Bending and dragging words out more than ever before, retaining the flair of the best parts of Up to Our Hips, this single is a solid platform from which to launch the forthcoming album. The lyrics present a mildly threatening, slightly acidic point of view, also reminiscent of Oasis: "I can see you've got a solar report/keeps you in and keeps you boring I can hear you snoring/one of these days/you'll hear the sound of speed/i'll come crashin'in your flat and/say hey it's too late..."
The two b-sides are also strong. "Back Room Window" drags out the big 70s guitars that characterized portions of Up to Our Hips. "Green Flashing Eyes" is classic Charlatans, finishing with a long organ note. The song- writing on this effort is definitely solid, and bodes well for the new record. The muddy sound of Up to Our Hips, rather different from the light clarity of the first two albums, is largely retained but the unsatisfying jamming found in parts of the last album has been jettisoned in favor of traditional pop songs.
The cover photo, unlike that of Up to Our Hips, capitalizes on the old Charlatans indie-cool: a wide-angle shot of the band lounging on a street- corner with their Hammond plopped down in front of them. Hopefully all of this means that the Charlatans are back on track; rather than straying ever further from their indie-pop roots (ala Stone Roses) the Charlatans seem to be preparing for a spring offensive utilizing, and expanding upon, their proven strengths.
- Tim Mohr
