Search - Charlatans UK :: Melting Pot: B.O.

Great musical journey of the band...but was it necessary?

David Groves | England | 07/12/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have never been a fan of 'best of' albums as they seem to be just a way of cashing in on fans, before dropping the band from the record company, as is the case of fellow Brit-Popper's Shed Seven and here to The Charlatans. Having said that, I bought it myself which renders my point useless.The Charlatans are still to this day sadly overlooked, depite the fact that they are the soul survivors from the Baggy era and seem to improve with every album. This album shows you their smooth transition from acid-house to Brit-Pop and it includes some of the most memorable hits of the '90's.'The Only One I Know' was the song that launched the Charlatans career using Hammond organ which has been prevelant throughout the bands career. Added to this are Tim Burgess' airy vocals typical of the so called 'Madchester' scene of the time. The equally impressive 'Then', hears Rob Collins use of Wurlitzer against Burgess's fine emotional tune.The spacey 'Opportunity Three' sticks to the Baggy sound with psychedelic vocals and infectious bass and keyboards behind. 'Over Rising' carries on the album's high standard, this time incorporating backward vocals and excellent keyboard work from Collins showing how the band have remained distinct from fellow Mancunians The Stone Roses.The repetitive 'Sproston Green' is saved by the rousing chorus and shows The Charlatans rockier side. 'Wierdo' relies too heavily on Collins' stop-gap organ sound (though he seemed to be enjoying it), and the album falls short of expectations for the first time. Its disturbing sound does fit, though, with the lyrical subject matter, and the song is partially saved by Mark Collins' guitar break.'Theme From The Wish' is the first of two (unnecessary) semi-instrumentals which are odd choices for a best-of album. 'Patrol' sees the Chemical Brothers dabbing their hands into the mixing as the album reaches 1994.'Can't Get Out Of Bed', 'Jesus Hairdo' and 'Crashin' In' were all written at a time when The Charlatans were unsure of their musical direction, and it shows as the songs fails reach the enthusiasm of Burgess' vocal performance. The psychedelic 'I Never want An Easy...' is one of the few songs from that year that really works on the album, as the song builds up to a great psychedelic-rock climax worthy of vintage Stones.By 1995 The Charlatans were back on confident form shown by their willingness to produce the songs themselves. 'Just Lookin'' and 'Here Comes A Soul Saver' are the first examples of more thoughful, sensitive electric guitar being used by the band. Both tracks create a feeling not captured since their debut album 4 years earlier. Then follows the first all out Brit-Pop tune - the cracking 'Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over' which points to the bands more melodic future. Highlight of the album is the timeless rocker 'One To Another', taken from the bands hit album 'Tellin'Stories' (see my review). It captures the mood of the country during the Brit-Pop peak in the mid-90's and gave the band some rare recognition by being voted as 'single of the 90's' by music magazine, 'Melody Maker'. The album concludes with the countryish 'North Country Boy' giving Burgess the chance to show his love of Bob Dylan that he would persue on the bands next LP 'Us And Us Only'.Can't be called a great album, as it more a collection of hits. But as these money-grabbing marketing schemes go, The Charlatans' 'Melting Pot' is one of the most deserving."

Solid best-of collection from 1990-1997

Sakos | United States | 08/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Melting Pot is a sort of companion piece to Songs From the Other Side, both released at the end of the Charlatans' tennure on Beggar's Banquet records. While that other album contained the best of the b-sides, this is the best of the single and album material, and a very good collection it is. I seem to be in the minority here...I like The Only One I Know, Then, and other songs from that era, but not as much as the later material. The best songs on this collection, in my opinion, are Jesus Hairdo, Crashin' In, I Never Want an Easy Life If Me and He Were Ever to Get There, Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over, Here Comes a Soul Saver, Can't Get Out of Bed, Just Lookin', and One to Another. All of them are slices of British 1990's rock mixed with the best bits of late 1960's pyschedelic and Stones influences. If you've never heard The Charlatans, this and Songs From the Other Side would be great introductions."

Some of this great band's finest tunes

sixtymilesmile | 11/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Everything From the dancy The Only One I Know and Opportunity, through their wilderness years of comparatively weak songs like Jesus Hairdo and Theme From the Wish (which overall don't worsen this much), and onto the scintilatng pop hits of North Country Boy, Just Looking and One To Another, is here. Of course no 'Best Of' Collection will please everyone, and I have to say that Telling Stories' title track should've been here. Bullet Comes' sirly psychadelic touches would've been a good addition, and perhaps also a long-lost gem- Life Is Sweet, Chemical brotehrs featuring Tim Burgess on vocals.Still, this shows why this is such a top band, the way they have seen in so many styles and kept following their own evolving path. And to correct the other review- they were not booted out by the record label, they chose to move on. So did Shed Seven for that matter."