In 2009, Madness had not released a new studio album since 1999. If I was being cruel, (and I will be) they had not released a decent studio album since "The Rise And Fall" in 1982 (and they were going off the boil even then!).
So, when I saw that this album was being released, I had no high hopes ... in fact, I had no hope at all.
But me of little faith ... not only was this a decent album, but after a couple of listens I realised this was the best album they had ever made. And I was not the only person who thought that ... no weighter organ than the Financial Times gave the album 5 stars and said "[at] a stage of life when they might be endlessly revisiting "Our House" and "Baggy Trousers" on the 1980s nostalgia circuit, the much-loved ska-pop band, 30 years after their debut, have ripped up the form book and delivered a knockout album."
I have to totally agree ...
Incidentally, Norton Folgate was a peculiar part of London's East End where the Crown had waived its rights and the area was governed by St Paul's Cathedral. It remained so until about 1900 and now straddles the actual City of london and Tower Hamlets
You can get the album here
We Are London
Sugar And Spice
and the mini-opera that is ...
The Liberty of Norton Folgate
No comments:
Post a Comment