Customer Reviews

Up to Our Hips

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"I Never Want an Easy Life" could be the anthem of the Charlatans much beleaguered musical career. This album full of melodic, flowing music and well-crafted songs is a very solid effort from a band that never seems to give up, despite the fact that it has been written off and overlooked so many times by critics and listeners alike. While a small amount of this album is stale at moments (harkening back to a certain "Charlatans sameness, since every band comes to be associated with a "sound" that is theirs) there is a lot more groundbreaking sound here... more serious, more thoughtful, with more depth, particularly in terms of the music.

The "You are no brother of mine" refrain in the first track opens the album in a memorable way and the album continues a flow of great songs like "Can't Get Out of Bed" (haven't we all felt that way before?) and the quirky "Jesus Hairdo" (quirky reminiscence of "Weirdo" from a previous Charlatans album.)

The Charlatans have proven that they are not a flash in the pan and indeed have produced an album here (as with the majority of their albums) that is one of the sort that should be listened to from start to finish. Not a bad song here at all.

Overall this is the second best Charlatans album - only their self-titled album is superior in quality. "I Never Want An Easy Life" and "Can't Get Out Of Bed" were both inspired by keyboard player Rob Collins' jail sentence for assisting an armed robbery, and are two of the finest tracks the band has ever recorded. Other great songs include "Patrol", "Feel Flows" and "Jesus Hairdo". A truly magnificent album.

"Jesus hairdo, I mean we all live in America, and if everything you say is true, it's just bad TV."

I've bought three other Charlatans albums, but it's just not the same. I've had to purchase this cd three times (theft, scratches from overuse). I've played this album a million times. After all this, I still can't figure out why "Up To Our Hips" is just the coolest album. Melancholic, subdued, heavy, laid-back, insightful . . . ? Sorry, if I can't figure out why I love this album so much, I'm bound to fail when telling others about this gem. This priceless gem.

No doubt there are those who will just think this is an OK album, or who who will not like it at all. Whatever. If you're into this album, you know what I'm talking about. From the first few dissonant bass strums on "Come In #21" to the last refrain of the chorus on "Inside Looking Out," this album just floors me. The vocals. The organ. And was there ever cover art that better matched the mood of an album?

There aren't enough stars to rate this album, period.

Up to Our Hips was the Charlatans' third album and is up there with the two albums that followed it (1995's self-titled and 1997's Tellin' Stories) as among their absolute best. This album features heavily the funk and groove of the Charlatans, especially their excellent rhythm section. From classics like Come In Number 21, I Never Want An Easy Life...., Can't Get Out of Bed, the exquisite Jesus Hairdo, and the title track to the rest of the album, there is hardly a weak moment on this disc. I would start with the two albums following this if you're just getting into this band and then move immediately to this one...it's superb and the grooves can't be beat. Tim Burgess' vocals are hushed and intense while the burn of the band behind him is fantastic. A phenomenal album.

When it initially came out, this album was crapped on by critics and fans who said the album had little focus and even less soul. This couldn't be further from the truth. I've followed the Charlatans since early 1990 and they would never surpass this incredible album. Although I love all of their releases in different ways, this is the one I always come back to. If you're a fan of Britpop with a lovely slice of Hammond organ in the background this is worth every penny you could spend on it (and lucky for you, it's probably not selling for much more than a few pennies when you find it used). Full of punchy production, hushed vocals, and a great drum mix you're unlikely to find another disc from this genre and this stage in the 90s that can surpass this one.

Of all The Charlatans LPs this is probbably their most underated. After their experimental Techno pop of their previous effort, " Between the 10th and 11th" they had a lot to prove if they were not to be consigned to the dustbin of baggy also rans. In conflict with their status as one of the UK'S party bands this album is highly introspecive, which probbaly had rather alot to do with hammond organ player Rob Collins being in prison at the time. Despite the gloomy undertones there is the occasional moment of light relief with jukebox friendly efforts such as, "Cant get out of bed" and " Another rider up in flames."

This album shows The Charlatans more meloncholic side. Songs such as opener Come in number 21 and Autograph reveal that. Cant get out of bed is a classic pop tune, as is Jesus Hairdo. Rob Collins organ riff on the title track is sublime - really Doorsy. Listen out for the soulful Patrol, driven by a thumping bassline my Martin Blunt.

A solid album.

This is a stand out record by The Charlatans. When they released this, they were certainly out of favor as a band. Yet, they were bold enough to come out with a slower, bolder, and less poppy sound. They amazing thing is how well they did it. It led the way to the sound they have now, and in my opinion is the best record they have done since that time. "I Never Want an Easy Life...." is the second best song they have ever done after "Sproston Green". It alone is worth the purchase price.

The best I've heard at achieving that "huge" sound where you feel like the sky is opening up and you're about to blast through it right back at the sun. OK, Maybe I'm biased - this is my favorite CD by my favorite band. But...several, several times I've played it around friends who've never heard of the Charlatans, and who don't know or care about new music trends or scenes - and they always ask about it, LOVE it, and get their own copies. It's truly a great CD.

As a Charlatans' fan, I have to disagree with most of the other reviews, in that I think "Some Friendly" and "Between 10th and 11th" are better and more exciting albums. Although "Up to Our Hips" sounds like it may have been better engineered than the previous two, I find about half of the album tepid, or, in the case of "Can't Get out of Bed" and "Jesus Hairdo," too "sing-songy," if you get what I'm saying. I do like "I Never Want an Easy Life," "Autograph," "Patrol," and "Inside-Looking Out" (once the last mentioned stops sounding like the old Peggy Lee standard "You Give Me Fever"), but really, other than possibly "Autograph," I don't consider any of these songs to be in the same class as "The Only One I Know," "Then," "Sproston Green," "Tremolo Song," or "Weirdo," not to mention some other great songs that came later. "Feel Flows" is interesting in a druggy sort of way, but grows tedious after several listenings.

I guess I could say I like, but don't love, about half of this album, and prefer the Charlatans' prior two releases quite a bit more. But since this and other Charlatans albums have received precious few reviews (as compared, e.g., to the number of reviews for the Stone Roses and Oasis), I feel a certain kinship with other Charlatans fans, and can appreciate the fact that others liked this album alot more than I did.