i heard a few songs in hmv today, its ok. Some of the lyrics are a bit shit though. Ive not really heard enough of them to no whether its a change in direction but nme certainly didnt think so, 6/10 they gave it and just basically said its all the same.

Hoi less of that Columbia, the lyrics are quality man!

And 6/10 is quite a good mark for a traditional guitar band these days from the NME. Who gives a flying fuck if its basically all the same? What do the NME want The Charlatans to do? Make a fuckin opera record or something? They'll give the next Oasis album a pretty luke-warm review I bet, no matter how good it is, even though they are usually a champion of the band.

Personaly I stopped buying the NME when they called Justin Trousersnake 'The Coolest Man On Earth' or whatever it was. After years of buying it that really was the final straw.

i dont mind if the lyrics arent amazing, as long as the song itself is really good.

talking about bees. i like the bees new tune!

when have the charlatans ever been "the same old charlatans"? they've changed their style with practically every single album they've done

and the lyrics are some of the best i've ever heard, the only thing that really tops them is us and us only