Track Listing

1. You're So Pretty - We're So Pretty
2. Judas
3. Love Is The Key
4. A Man Needs To Be Told
5. I Just Can't Get Over Losing You
6. Bell And The Butterfly
7. And If I Fall
8. Wake Up
9. Is It In You?
10. Ballad Of The Band
11. Right On
12. Love To You

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #60829 in Music
• Released on: 2003-08-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .23 pounds
• Running time: 57 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
As Wonderland illustrates, consistency has never been one of The Charlatans' virtues. Their back catalogue includes one or two albums that sound like they were touched by the hand of the almighty-­1997's Tellin' Stories, especially, is something of a classic­-and several which struggle to offer a convincing case for their existence. Wonderland sadly falls firmly into the latter category. The tone is set by the opening track, "You're So Pretty--We're So Pretty", an extraordinarily annoying melding of INXS-style white-socked funk and the sort of mannered falsetto vocal that Mick Jagger was insisting upon circa Tattoo You. Indeed, the unfathomable decision of singer Tim Burgess to venture outside his usual limited range is one of the principal deficiencies of Wonderland­-it doesn't do single "Love Is The Key" or the otherwise engaging Primal Scream-ish shuffle "I Just Can't Get Over Losing You" any favours, either. There are a couple of points at which The Charlatans lock into the lolloping groove and lightness of touch that made Tellin' Stories such a great album, but these serve mostly as a reminder of what is missing. The Charlatans' Wonderland has been reached via a wrong turning. --Andrew Mueller

CD Description
'Wonderland' is the Charlatans' eighth album and first new material since the 1999 release 'Us And Us Only'. A combination of rock, soul and funk, with influences of Curtis Mayfield and The Rolling Stones. Includes the single 'Love Is The Key'.

Customer Reviews

(Another) highlight of the career....
In fact, when you think about it, this probably IS the the best album of the Charlatans' carreer. From the outset of 'You're So Pretty', you know that this is a change of direction for the Charlatans. But one that is vital.

Like some music hack said recently, the Charlatans have joined Primal Scream in being an old band band but also compulsive and fresh at the same time. In fact, most of the album sounds like they jumped back in time to The Scream's songs between 'Screamadelica' and 'Give Out But Don't Give Up'. This is not, repeat NOT a bad thing. In fact it is magical at times.

The standout track on offer is the mesmerising 'Ballad Of The Band', nearly six minutes of a journey through the dark side of life. 'Come with me...', Burgess drawls on the chorus while loping to a furious bass and cracking melody. It could well be the Charlatans' best song yet.

The fantastic love song 'I Just Can't Get Over Losing You' is another highlight - a screeching (and astonishing) falsetto by Burgess sounds extremely endearing, especially set amongst the lush female backing vocals. Single 'Love Is The Key' may not have struck you at first but is the most lovely slow burning 'grower' you could hope to find. It soon becomes another high point. Then other songs like 'Right On', 'And If I Fall' and (especially) 'Is It In You?' later assualt your brain with lush melodies and innovative twists.

In fact, the whole album innovates in some way. Gentle ballad 'A Man Needs To Be Told' is affecting and evocative of the Charlatans' new found soul. Yeah, a REAL soul album with no false gestures; the final melody of 'Love To You' leaves an extremely warm feeling from a surprisingly simple but effective album, lyrical wise. But the drum loops, samples and minimal keyboards make the music more articulate and evocative of the Charlatans' true spirit. No sell out here.

I loved 'The Charlatans', 'Tellin' Stories' and 'Us & Us Only', and anyone nervous about a change of direction should shove their doubts aside. This album is a love album...but this is a good thing. The charlatans have never been more vital, or closer to the fans they obviously love. Please, please, PLEASE give us more you Soul Saviours.

The Funky Party album we've all been waiting for!
From the opening track the charlatans stride confidently back into our lives again. Telling us they are sexy making us feel sexy and ultimately making us wanna dance. For a band who have suffered such horrific tribulation throughout their long career it is amazing they manage to maintain such a high tempo on record indicating that what they give to the listener is definately from the soul. If possible the pure ectasy of the opening six tracks becomes unbearable,yet how can you resist dancing to such amzingly uplifting anthems. Whilst their is an obvious sound to any Charlatans record and influences and comparisons with the Stone Roses, Primal Scream et al are still present, their is a definate sound on this particular album which is tinged with the sunshine of Lead singer Tim Burgess LA residence. Soulful and intense songs such as Judas, Love is the Key, and i just cant get over losing you, stand out and display the new falsetto range of burgess over fantastic hooks and great keyboards, adding an electronic depth which has always made the Charlatans forward moving, relevant and down right nessacary.This year has not seen such an uplifting, sexy album, while others hark back to ages old or take experimentation to the absurd and unlistenalble, The Charalatans strut into the future using what has gone before them and making it truly thiers.Ace, Mega, A MUST!

Without doubt their finest album
I am disappointed to see any sort of criticism for this album. Having listened to it a lot and compared it to their others (mostly excellent, of course) I conclude that it is almost flawless, and there is no major criticism. The perfect grrove of many tracks, including opener Youre so pretty, We're so pretty, Judas and Ballad of the Band, combines with beautiful balladry (check And If I Fall, which combines this with a funk groove) and frankly odd experimentation( the gospel/ drum and bass ending of A man needs to be told) to create a great album. The musicianship is fantastic too. Bass grooves very well, Guitars are melodic, and the counter melodies, eg in the chorus of Judas, the best chorus on the album, are great. Tony Rogers has pretty much moved on from the hammond sound traditionally associated with the charlatans (a pity in a way, but also refreshing) but his originality is superb. Burgess' falsetto is interesting at first, but enthralling after a couple of listens. Above all, despite the differences to past work, you can still tell its the Charlatans and this is the key. Unlike for example Blur, who have gone off at disturbing tangents, the charlatans have maintained a smooth upwards progression. Long live the boys from Northwich. Ignore this album at your peril.