|| SleepWalKing ||"The Smiths surely have to have meant something in pop music hytory. The new centuty has come, and guess what? Bands are still trying to catch with their mood in some undefined garages. “Charlie Big Time is defineltly one of those. After a well acclamimed mini-cd for Cloudberry, finally we get to listen to their first album: “The Tall Storeys of Charlie Big Time” (Series Two Records). “Charlie Big Time”, the mainfesto of the band, entroduce us to this little pearl. Suddently everything is clear. Post-Punk never escaped from the grave, R’n'B was just a spooky nightmere, someone is still caring for guitar riffs and melodies. Forget the rest. You can forgive the lo-fi quality of the songs and some rushed moves. We’ve got a band, we’ve got inspiration, we’ve got 11 minutes of joy. “Lipstick and Bravado” another fine ballad in full Moz mode and dream-pop guitars. “Lipstick and Bravado” the demonstration that, metallic drums aside, B-Sides are still more effective than the title track. So, pay attention Londoneers. Next time you pass nearby a suspiciously noisy garage in the middle of Bolton, that old car engine kept inside the box could still be able to make some good noise."

|| Pop ‘N Cherries ||"Charlie Big Time’s 3” EP "A bit of Charlie”, released back in 2007, was one of the few Cloudberry releases that drove me really nuts, and I then completely filtered the Bolton duo out of my mind until very recently while checking the Series Two rapidly inflating catalogue… Despite a perfectible production, the 11 gems from their debut album "The Tall Storeys of…” are setting up the nearly-perfect imaginary soundtrack of a black & white early 80’s holiday home movie, built of a Mc Lennan/Forster-like subtle songwriting framework and a Split Enz-esque vocal harmonies outline… As for live appearances, Charlie Big Time will be playing a few acoustic shows later in the year to coincide with a new EP and a new album but that’s another story… For the time being, order the album immediately HERE, open your heart and enjoy!!!”

|| Fensepost ||"Hinting strongly of Sarah Records and the twee movement, Charlie Big Time can easily be likened to everyone from greats like The Field Mice and Lovejoy, to more modern artists like Palomar and Tender Trap. And, of course, the king of all twee-based influences: The Smiths. There is no denying the influence of The Smiths here, both the songwriting and vocal styling have Moz written all over "Love Is A Franchise”. In fact, all songs on The Tall Storeys Of… have hints of The Smiths. There is also a fair amount of jangle in "Charlie Big Time” and the group plays off Keith Girdler’s like of the 12-string guitar in "Lipstick And Bravado”. Perhaps their greatest feat is "Giving In, Giving Out, Giving Up” not entirely due to the dual harmony male/female chorus, but it sure helps. These are the bountiful themes of The Tall Storeys Of…; Charlie Big Time has succeeded in creating a wonderful little twee-pop gem."

|| Bluesbunny Reviews ||"It is quite remarkable how many bands The Smiths have given birth to and Charlie Big Time is yet another of them. However, they prove to be very respectful children and they have taken their musical legacy and have made it altogether more laidback. Unlike The Smiths however, there's no acid here at all and it does seem - as with "Giving in, Giving Out, Giving up" - that the proceedings have been infused with a bit of Californian sunshine instead. Not bad for a band from dull, wet England. Everything has a warm, understated feel and there's even a bit of whistling - about time for a Roger Whittaker revival perhaps? - in "Soul Glad" to provoke a bit of audience participation. Altogether, this is a pleasingly melodic album that should please genre addicts everywhere. It won't exactly set your pulse racing but you wont get bored with it too easily either.”

|| Das Klienicum ||"charlie big time stammen aus bolton, uk, und spielen traumhaft schönen pop. kurz und knapp, sollte eigentlich genügen, damit sich willige darauf stürzen. aber wer sind diese kauffreudigen, weil interessierten und informierten? gibt es die wirklich? und wenn, wo sind sie anzutreffen? denn geben muss es sie, ansonsten würden sich kleine label - wie series two records - nicht die mühe machen, künstler wie charlie big time zu signen, alben zu produzieren, um sie in liebevoller arbeit limitiert zu veröffentlichen. mal nachfragen, ob die jeweils auf 300 stück beschränkte anzahl auch verkauft wird. ihren ersten tonträger brachten charlie big time im jahr 2007 heraus. es handelte sich um die "a bit of charlie" ep (cloudberry records). ganz unerfolgreich war die band mit diesem scheibchen nicht. immerhin erhielten sie airplay auf verschiedensten radiostationen im in- und ausland. ausverkauft war dieses stück außerdem auch ziemlich flott. in folge dessen begann man mit den arbeiten zum ersten full length. es galt, fans zu befriedigen. "the tall storeys of charlie big time" heißt nun das ende 2008 erschienene werk der band. enthalten sind darauf herrlich verzehrende songs: britische popschule, möchte man meinen. dafür brauchts vor allem emsige gitarren und einen gesang, der dem hörer ans herz will. das gelingt der band. wenn ich das richtig verstehe, erhalten die zwei hauptakteure chris tiplady und matt pendlebury (siehe video) bei liveauftritten und aufnahmen unterstützung durch einen basser und einen drumer. mehr war bis heute nicht herauszubekommen. hören geht vor."