| Up at the Lake | ||||
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| Released | 17 May 2004 | |||
| Recorded | March 2003 – February 2004 | |||
| Studio | Big Mushroom, Cheshire | |||
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| Length | 45:05 | |||
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| The Charlatans chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Up at the Lake | ||||
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Up at the Lake is the eighth album by the British alternative rock band The Charlatans, released on 17 May 2004 through Universal and Island Records Group. As promotion wrapped up for their seventh album, Wonderland (2001), Universal wanted them to follow it up with another one quickly. However, frontman Tim Burgess began working on his debut solo album in late 2002. At the end of the year, the band reconvened to write songs; by March 2003, they relocated to their own studio, Big Mushroom, in Cheshire, Greater Manchester, with them and James Spencer serving as producers. Recording halted in May 2003 to allow for Burgess to finish his album, I Believe (2003); sessions would resume by the end of the year and finish in February 2004. Up at the Lake is a pop rock album that pursues the country rock direction that they had first explored on their sixth album, Tellin' Stories (1997).
Up at the Lake received generally favourable reviews from music critics, many of whom praised the songwriting. It peaked at number 6 in Scotland, number 13 in the United Kingdom, and number 32 in Ireland, being certified silver in the UK 11 days after its release. Both "Up at the Lake" and "Try Again Today" reached the top 30 on the Scottish and UK Singles Charts. "Up at the Lake" was released as the album's lead single in May 2004, which was promoted with a tour of the UK and appearances at the Isle of Wight and T in the Park festivals until the following month. "Try Again Today" was released as the second single from the album in July 2004; afterwards, the Charlatans performed at the V Festival. In December 2004, the band embarked on another tour of the UK, and "Loving You Is Easy" was released as a radio-only promotional single. A video album from that tour was released in early 2005 under the title Live at Last Brixton Academy.