CALIFORNICATION: Go West Young Man and Feel the Love with the Charlatans.
CALIFORNICATION:
Go West Young Man and Feel the Love with the Charlatans.
When we talk about bands or pop acts who've gone through hard times, it usually amounts to a few years of commercial struggle that doesn't quite match their original success. The band then updates their sound and they enjoy renewed success. Ta-da! We call these bands "Survivors." Now let's recap the Charlatans history, shall we? There was the original over-whelming success of their first record, "Some Friendly", in their homeland, check; we've got that part covered. Then, keyboardist Rob Collins was incarcerated for his part in an armed robbery back in 1994. Rob, whose talent shaped much of their earlier records, eventually died in a car accident in 1997 just as he and the band were putting the finishing touches on "Telling Stories." Singer, Tim Burgess moved to California after getting married in 1999, not too convenient for a British based band. Oh, we forgot to mention that it was discovered that their former accountant had been stealing money from the band for years. So as the band was recording their sixth record "Us and Us Only," they were hit with a, surprise(!), tax bill for several hundred thousand dollars. Then in 2001 the band developed a newer warmer sound, Tim discovered his falsetto and the Charlatans finished their seventh, and best, record to date. Enjoyment of renewed success, check. It seems it would be an understatement to call them survivors.
When I found I had the opportunity to sit down with, bassist, Martin Blunt I jumped at the chance. After the Charlatans soundcheck before their January show at New York City's Irving Plaza, Martin and I got to talk about the aforementioned "setbacks," the ballad of the band, and the future of the Charlatans UK.
Muddle: OK, my first question is how has Tim's move to the U.S. directly impacted the songwriting?
Martin: Um, its not really a question of relativity because we've never really lived that close together. So from 60 miles to 600 miles to 6000 miles…it didn't really have an effect, personally, on it like that. But I did think it did have a terribly positive effect on the LP "Wonderland" because we started the recording of the album over there and then brought it back to Manchester.
Well he moved before "Us and Us Only" was done right?
Yeah, he was already in the process of moving then.
Well most people are saying that this is a new turn for your sound, and I can see that, but I feel that from "Telling Stories" to "Us and Us Only" was the first big step.
Yeah, it was.
That ("Us and Us Only") was much more of a "confessional" record, wouldn't you say?
Yeah, it was. I think that style of sound was more of a confessional thing. It was very much about relationships breaking down and moving on.
How has band members family lives effected the band? Such as touring…
I think personally, individually, it put a stress on my family life, but I suppose it would on a normal gig too. You just learn to deal with these things.
There have been a lot of British bands that have seen their popularity come and go in the U.S.; where as you guys have had a continued success. What do you attribute that to?
I think there has been a very staunch following for the band in the U.S. and it's always been very good for us here. Really, the amount of people we play to and the amount of records we sell don't always add up…it was great to play the Roseland Ballroom, here, a few years ago. It's always good to be able to come back and play music and have people identify with it.
How would you describe the feel of this record as opposed to the others?
It's got a "speedy" feel to it. I think that sort of thing started when we were recording in Los Angeles with it and gave the stuff some kind of an edge. It retained that when we brought it back to Britain.
How long did you record in L.A.?
About three weeks.
You guys have been around for about ten years now…
Yeah, 11 years.
…yeah, so what's the motivation now to top the last record?
There is that….
Just that?
And there's still the passion in the five of us. So if that went I think we would stop, but we always go into the studio with the intention that, "OK, let's make this record like it was going to be our last one." So that's always the focus of it and it always gives the record intensity.
What Charlatans' song are you most proud of?
Umm….
Well what's your favorite right now?
My favorite right now is probably "You're So Pretty."
Why is that?
Its got a…I just like the song. That or "Forever" really paid off. That's just me, personally, and "Judas".
Would you say that "Judas" is a revenge song?
Um….
Kind of, in a way?
Uhhh…ha…it's just about how sometimes people have to live with themselves. It's about all the two-faces.
That's good. Ok, so what caused this feel for this record right now? What do you think caused it to be different, because there is a difference in the feel…?
Oh yeah.
So I was wondering what you thought are the influences that changed the sound now as opposed to before "Us and Us Only"?
I think "Us and Us Only" was quite a somber record that we were writing at that time.
Yeah, and I think I was reading that "A Man Needs to be Told"(from "Wonderland") was written as a B-side back then…
It was written for "Us and Us Only" but we didn't get to finish it then, but it definitely set the precedent for where "Wonderland" was going to go. That and "Love is the Key" were the first two songs written for the album. I mean we did a lot of looping and stuff like that for the album.
Yeah, you do do a lot of experiments with looping and drum machines and things like that, what else would you like to try? What other new thing would you like to experiment with?
We shall see. I mean, we'll attack that stuff when we're finished promoting "Wonderland", because after America we're off to Japan, so when we come back we'll see where we want to go.
What song do you think best encapsulates this band? Whether it's musically or the message….
I think "Forever".
Why would you say that?
Just the lyrical content.
Would you say that you have to face serious adversity to achieve true success? You guys have been through your fair share…
Ha…ha…not intentionally. A lot of people have to go through that in their every day life though don't they?
…or is it that you don't appreciate success unless you go through a lot to get there?
We haven't felt like we've achieved great success. Yeah it has kept the spirit in us alive though. A lot of songwriters, it seems, if they didn't break up with their partners then they wouldn't have anything to write about would they?
Well they say suffering brings about great art.
Yeah suffering for your art…. We've had our moments.
True. So, have you seen a lot of VH1 Behind the Music specials?
Umm no, not really. Every now and again I guess. It's quite giggly; they're all kind of the same aren't they?
Who is you favorite? There must be one standout?
I think they all follow the same story. They get big, then comes substance abuse, and then they come back together in the end, don't they?
So what's the ideal feeling you'd like people to have after listening to the Charlatans? What would it please you most to hear someone said they felt?
I'd like it to see someone coming out of the concert all hot and sweaty and say, "That was unbelievable." That and to say they felt uplifted.
As I watched the Charlatans perform that night I found myself thinking that this is one of the only contemporary bands I know of that is, actually, improving with age. Martin was pretty spot on with his wish; their music is, indeed, uplifting. There's the unyielding optimism in the lyrics of a band that's been through it all that's uplifting. There's the groove that threads its way through all the songs on "Wonderland" that's uplifting. And, to stand in the middle of 2000 people singing along with chorus "love is the key/ love is the key" you really can't help but to feel uplifted. 11 years, 7 records, and a half-million dollar tax bill later the Charlatans are here to restore your faith.
Text: Michael Nagin
Photos: Justin Scurti