"The Charlatans" is the fourth album by the British rock band the Charlatans, released on August 28, 1995, through Beggars Banquet Records. After a holiday, vocalist Tim Burgess and guitarist Mark Collins worked on new material at Burgess's place in Chalk Farm. The band recorded the album at Monnow Valley Studio in Rockfield, Monmouthshire, Wales, with producer Steve Hillage. However, after several unsatisfactory mixes, Hillage was replaced by engineer Dave Charles, and further recording took place at nearby Rockfield Studios.
The album's lead single, "Crashin' In," was released in December 1994. Following a UK tour in April 1995, "Just Lookin'" and "Bullet Comes" were released as a double A-side single in May 1995. The band then performed at various festivals in Spain, Stockholm, and the UK, including Glastonbury and T in the Park. "Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over" was released as the third single in August 1995, followed by a US tour, a mainland European tour, and another UK tour at the end of the year. They undertook another UK tour in early 1996, visiting less prominent locations across the country.
The Charlatans received generally favorable reviews from critics, who praised the musicianship and noted that it helped extend the band's career. The album topped the charts in Scotland and the UK and also charted in Sweden. All three singles from the album reached the top 40 in both Scotland and the UK, with "Just When You're Thinkin' Things Over" achieving the highest chart positions at numbers 5 and 12, respectively. The album was included in year-end best-of lists by Melody Maker, NME, and Select, with Melody Maker also featuring it in their list of the best 100 albums of all time.
