“Is my creator God or Man? Yes, yours too.”

People ask me occasionally about the Chameleons. I’ve got them listed as musical influences on my website, and I enthuse about them from time to time. Who are these guys? Let me start by saying that the Chameleons are one of my all-time favorite bands. These guys are incredible.

Okay, that said, the Chameleons only released 3 proper albums back in the 80’s. They started with Script of the Bridge. If you ever look at a Chamelons album — this is the one to explore. I’m sitting here listening to it now thinking that it’s been almost 15 years since i first heard this album, and it never fails to amaze. The band is from Manchester, and the boys are still around. They got back together in 2000 and toured around a bit and released a new album and an album of acoustic covers of their old songs. But in my opinion stick to the 80’s material, and you’ll be fine.

What do they sound like? Well, it’s rock. But it’s like this shimmering cloud bringing down a quiet rain as I stand on the curb with the roar of the city behind me and miles of expansive landscape ahead of me. It’s music for the interior — it has always put my mind in a certain comfortable place that seems hard to reach any other way. I think too that this is distinctly male music. I’ve never met a girl who was a fan of the Chameleons, but I’ve met lots of fans who are guys.

The second album they put out was What Does Anything Mean? Basically. A difficult second album. It is almost as great as Script, but maybe is a little on the bleak side (the song “Intrigue in Tangiers” is so very very good, and so very very lonely). I can listen to Script all night long, but What Does Anything Mean? Basically is best taken in small doses.

And finally there is Strange Times. Also a great album but probably ranks #3 of the 3 in my mind. This album is a little more accessible and might appeal I think to a somewhat wider audience while still keeping the poetic lyrics and the layer upon layer of guitars.

At the end of the day I find it difficult to describe the Chameleons to other people. It’s such a personal experience. I think the best thing someone can do is just listen to one of the albums. For me it was love on the first listen. I still vividly remember where I was the first time I heard Script of the Bridge. They’re a band you either get it or you don’t. I don’t think there’s much in-between.