Simpatico (The Charlatans album)

Simpatico
Simpatico
Studio album by the Charlatans
Released	17 April 2006
Recorded	Mid-to-late 2005
Studio	Hook End Manor, Oxfordshire; Townhouse, London;
Genre	Dub reggae; rock;
Length	44:35
Label	Creole; Sanctuary;
Producer	Jim Lowe; The Charlatans;
The Charlatans chronology
Singles from Simpatico
	"Blackened Blue Eyes"; Released: 3 April 2006; "NYC (There's No Need to Stop)"; Released: 3 July 2006;

Simpatico is the ninth studio album by British rock band the Charlatans, released on 17 April 2006 through Creole and Sanctuary Records. After signing to the latter label in early 2005, frontman Tim Burgess and guitarist Mark Collins went to Palm Springs, California, to write new material. With Jim Lowe and the band producing, recording was held at Hook End Manor in Oxfordshire, with overdubs later being done at Townhouse Studios in London. Simpatico is a dub reggae and rock album that draws comparisons to the work of the Dead 60s, Hard-Fi, and UB40. Bassist Martin Blunt and Burgess attributed the sound shift to them listening to Ken Boothe, Gregory Isaacs, and Studio One.

Simpatico received mixed reviews from music critics, who were split on the overall songwriting, while others lambasted the reggae direction. It peaked at number 5 in Scotland, number 10 in the United Kingdom, and number 83 in Ireland. "Blackened Blue Eyes" reached the top 30 in Scotland and the UK, while "NYC (There's No Need to Stop)" charted outside the top 50 in the UK. Before the album was released, the Charlatans performed at the South by Southwest music conference in Austin, Texas, and "Blackened Blue Eyes" was released as its lead single in April 2006. Burgess, who had become accustomed to alcohol and drugs, went through a detox programme before promotion commenced in earnest. They toured across the United States until June 2006; "NYC (There's No Need to Stop)" was released as the album's second single the following month.