Simpatico [Import Version]

While the early buzz on this 2006 Charlatans U.K. release pegged it as their "reggae album," SIMPATICO can't be pigeonholed that easily. True, frontman Tim Burgess and the lads do indulge in Jamaican-influenced rhythms and melodies on a handful of tracks, including the remarkably catchy "For Your Entertainment" and the melancholy "City of the Dead," but they also offer up songs in their signature dance-rock sound, most notably the striking opener, "Blackened Blue Eyes," often recalling a more groove-oriented Oasis. Although some fans of the long-running Manchester band may be put off by SIMPATICO's slight stylistic departures, repeated listens reveal the record's charm, placing it on par with other fine latter-day Charlatans outings.