Kitchens of Distinction

This Charlie release sounds somewhat different than others I've heard, stylistically. Ignore the product description that says "Kitchens of Distinction harks back to the AOR sound of the bands heyday and most successful period", because it does not. As several reviewers I think already noted or made reference to, it has a much harder edge to it - as in Charlie (or Terry Thomas) does 'head bang'in, guitar crunch'in, hard rock'. If you purchase this expecting the usual more melodic AOR sounds similar to the early days when they got some airplay on what used to be known as FM AOR radio stations, you'll likely be somewhat disappointed. It still sounds like Charlie with Thomas' distinctive lead and harmony vocals, and social commentary song lyrics, etc, but again with a much harder edge. I think there is at least one song that is maybe not so revved up, but that is about it. Several have commented on the 'not so good' sound quality of the CD. I have to agree and mainly from the standpoint that you cannot hear or make out some of the vocals because they are buried in the mix or essentially drowned out (may also be due to inconsistent or variable 'volume' levels). The copy I have is on Voiceprint Records.If you are a Charlie fan from the early days, I would suggest or recommend their most recent release, 'Elysium', from I believe 2015, over 'Kitchens of Distinction'. Elysium is a lot more similar sounding, stylistically, to their early releases, again when they were getting some radio airplay.

Terry Thomas was going to do a solo album in 2009, but decided to call it Charlie, when he brought back some old band mates. In this their first album in 23 years, Charlie's "Kitchens Of Distinction", contains some hard edged material in "Get A Life", the angry "Alcohol". great guitar here, "S*** TV", "Never Be The Same", the smokin' "It's Not Enough" and the hard hitting "Blue Sky Bull S***", with some gentle passages. They also have the beautiful title track, the catchy "Popstar", which Terry wants to know is Robbie Williams gay?, the jazzy feel of "Cars", (reminiscent of their 70's work) and the smooth rocker "West Coast Thing", with some great lyrics in this song. This is the best Charlie collection ever in my personal opinion.

Been a Charlie fan since the '70s. Always liked their style of music and their records were always recorded top-notch quality. This CD is very poorly mastered, compressed, loud and distorted, it is hard to listen to with all the clipped maxed out audio. It actually causes the D-A converter in my Pioneer AV receiver to go mute at 4:03 into the first song. Would love to have the music from this newest Charlie offering properly remastered clear and clean like their old recordings. I left a note about this problem on the Charlie-music dot com web site, of course unanswered, no reply. Think I'll crank up "No Second Chance" on the turntable and listen to some GOOD audio!

This album is absolutely great from end to end. Although, Track 3 is my personal favorite, the entire record is strong. If you have ever enjoyed Terry Thomas' Charlie before, you must have this one. It is his best work. Certainly the best I have ever heard since I first discovered them in college in 1977. This album has some very hard rocking tunes mixed with more contemplative material and it is all seamlessly constructed into a rock masterpiece. Great writing, playing, singing and production. Nuff said!

I have all the Charlie releases and I have to say this one may be the best of the bunch. The lyrics and associated satire on this thing is cool. Its recorded way too hot, but this is good old fashion rock-n-roll so you will want to crank it up anyway. Nothing weak and wimpy here. If you like solid seventies style rock and that classic Charlie (Terry Thomas) sound, buy this if you can still get it.

Terry Thomas has launched an assault on societies idiocies in the best way he can, through his music. In many ways, he has summed it all up in the title track, perhaps one of the best songs of 2009 and ending with one of the best guitar solos of the 21st century. The extra edge and extra tasty guitar work has made this an exceptional album. But it still sounds like Charlie even though Terry played nearly all of the instruments and sang all of the vocals. For me, this is his best album and I hope he plans to keep on making albums in the same vane. Everyone I play it for likes it and most were unfamiliar with Charlie (most are too young). Alcohol has a garage feel to it and the pop sound is still there in most of the cuts. But he has managed to place a lot of good guitar in nearly all of the songs which brings it back to the 1970's a bit. If you were a Charlie fan you will like this album as they have been dredged out of the past. If you are new to Charlie you will find an interesting style of music that combines a pop feel with very edgy digs at society and the popular.

I've been a Charlie fan from back in the day. This is clearly the same Charlie but at the same time very modern. Even though a few years old now, it could (and should) get some radio play on alternative stations. Lyrics are a bit mad, but rightly so. Gotta love "Alcohol" and "Cars" has an incredible hook. I'm also so very thankful to hear that distinctive Charlie harmony. When's the next album?

I've been a Charlie Fan for almost 35 years. It's unfortunate Terry Thomas waited almost 25 years to put out another album. Yes, I said album. But for those of a certain age you will be pleased. The hook-filled melodies, the biting, cynical lyrics are all in place on this 2009 release. Even though the band line-up has changed more than the Charlie's Angels line-up, this has always been Thomas's band. This album is also one of the hardest rocking albums released under the Charlie banner, borderline metal on a few cuts. Well done Terry! Now if you would only launch a tour!

It's good to have Charlie back - and this really rocks! Their earlier stuff suffered from a kind of identity crisis stylistically but always featured the wonderful guitar work of Terry Thomas, who went on to produce Bad Co, Foreigner etc. The material here is a lot angrier than before, and some of it's almost punk in style, especially the lyrics, like S*** TV, Popstar, etc. Terry's social commentary is sorely needed today, when even many rock stars are not interested in speaking out - or just don't have anything to say. If that changes, it's thanks to Terry and co - but it might be asking too much...

Wow, this rocks! Rock with balls. A future classic. A must have for every true classic rock fan. Impossible to sit still when listening to it.

wie die Band nach über 30 Jahren an ihre beste Phase Ende der 70er Jahre anknüpft.Nicht unbedingt sehr modern, aber richtig gute Musik.Der alte Stil ist erkennbar, aber deutlich aufgefrischt, etwas kantigere Harmonien, schöne Gitarre, guter Gesang - was will man mehr?!

CHARLIE , GROUPE ANGLAIS DU MILIEU DES SEVENTIES ; APRES UN EXCELLENT PREMIER ALBUM '' FANTASY GIRLS ''LE GROUPE SORTA PLUSIEURS ALBUMS SANS JAMAIS RENCONTRER LE SUCCES ... LEUR MUSIQUE , PLUS AMERICAINE QUEANGLAISE , N'AVAIT ANCUN IMPACT SUR LA JEUNESSE ANGLAISE DE L'EPOQUE ... LES POCHETTES DE DISQUES AGUICHANTES ,DES MANNEQUINS , TOUJOURS DANS DES POSITIONS SUGESTIVES , NE CHANGEAIENT RIEN A LA CHOSE ... LE GROUPE ( ENFIN ,SURTOUT LE LEADER , TERRY THOMAS ,GUITARISTE , CHANTEUR ET COMPOSITEUR , INSISTA , SANS RESULTATS ...APRES UN LONG SILENCE , ARRIVE L'ALBUM EN QUESTION ,'' KITCHENS OF DISTINCTION '' EN 2009 .LA CLAQUE ! UN DISQUE PHENOMENAL ! ENTRE ROCK-FM DE TRES GRANDE CLASSE ET RHYTHM & BLUES ...UN MUST POUR LES FANS DE ROCK MELODIQUE ! RAREMENT ENTENDU CA !!! MAGNIFIQUE !

super merci