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Bold forays into gospel, R&B and even a little soul (complete with ooh-oohing singers backing Burgess) display a far reaching confidence that rises as the album reveals itself to be not only something swimming in classic influences, but also a path-carving groove maker that falls in line with the likes of Stereo MCs and Jamiroquai.
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Wonderland is perhaps the biggest departure from their baggy roots they’ve taken thus far, but remains totally identifiable as their work.
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Twelve songs of quality, with an impeccable overall arrangement.
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Wonderland is a modern pop classic that combines all the best things about this band, spikes the mix with ace tunes, and keeps the concoction coming.
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While the result is hit-or-miss, the Charlatans manage to hit much more than they miss.
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'Wonderland' is magnificent. An album full of cracking tunes, potential singles and a new found lust for life from one of the best bands of the last ten years.
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It rocks less but parties harder than 1997's Tellin' Stories.
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MojoA transformation beyond all recognition. [Sep 2001, p.114]
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They have a new sound, a warm, lush and funky noise powered by producer Danny Sabre's sympathetic programming alongside Tony Rogers's bold keyboards, and they've created a great party record with it.
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The few moments on Wonderland that make sense in the context of the band's history are overshadowed by a musical reach that exceeds its grasp.
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The band’s finest release by far, it’s a swaggering, head-long dive into funk, rhythm and blues, gospel, roots rock and roll, and disco but with a very sleek modern edge.
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An effortless melding of Stones and Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield and computers, all topped off with Tim Burgess's fetching new falsetto.... With every track a winner, Wonderland is a truly thing of wonder.
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BlenderThis is a band reborn and ready to soar. [Oct/Nov 2001, p.103]
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Alternative PressSadly, one can hear decent tunes struggling to get out of this mess. [Nov 2001, p.78]
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Wonderland takes the sound of that last album and pumps it full of the energy that dripped from the band's previous releases, resulting in a record that can oddly be both fragile, danceable, and anthemic all at the same time.
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They've managed to produce a seventh album that's the equal of their baggy debut.
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Wonderland is the sound of a band embracing and then discarding its past in order to forge ahead into a new tomorrow.... Undoubtedly one of the group's finest recorded moments.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 8 out of 9
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Mixed: 1 out of 9
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Negative: 0 out of 9
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Millard.Jul 29, 2002The Charlatans find new focus and execute brilliantly on this album.
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jussyjoeDec 2, 2001'kin brilliant ,the guy who called it a mess needs his ears checked.
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AlejandroB.Oct 31, 2001Great improvement