Madness
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Artist:
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Album:
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Track:
The Liberty Of Norton Folgate
On a recent interminable flight to japan, I listened to this 3 times and enjoyed it more each subsequent listen. One of those "grows on you" lps. Love that brit pop vibe! good stuff!
From Wiki:
The Liberty of Norton Folgate is the ninth studio album by the British band Madness, released on 18 May 2009. The band worked on the album for close to three years and is their first album of new material since 1999's Wonderful. The band showcased a number of songs from the new album during three concerts at London's Hackney Empire in June 2008.
A shortened version of the track "The Liberty of Norton Folgate" was made available on YouTube in mid May 2008. In December a boxset of the album was offered for pre-order on the Madness website; those who ordered were entitled to a digital download of the album on December 20th. Twenty three tracks were recorded for the album, although fifteen made it on to the album to be released in May. The twelve tracks issued in the digital download leaked onto the internet on December 25, 2008. During concerts in both Sydney and Melbourne at the end of March, 2009, Suggs stated that "Dust Devil" would be the first single off the new album. It was released on the 11th of May, one week before the album.
Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, who have worked with Madness on all but one of their albums have produced the album. Recording sessions also took place in Toe Rag studios in late 2006 with Liam Watson who engineered and mixed Elephant by The White Stripes.
Initial critical reception to The Liberty of Norton Folgate has been very positive, with most critics hailing it as Madness's best album in their thirty year career. The BBC described it as a "magnificent magnum opus" and "the most sophisticated and satisfying album of their career." Uncut and Mojo both gave the album four out of five stars, with Uncut stating it as "refreshingly, unexpectedly excellent" and "everything seems to gel - the arrangements are the best ever." Online sources such as MusicOMH say "it may just be the best thing they have ever recorded" and "is everything you would expect of Madness and more." The Word Magazine describe it as "Peter Ackroyd writing for The Kinks, it's Sherlock Holmes in Albert Square, it's a Mike Leigh movie of Parklife, it's Passport To Pimlico meets Brick Lane, and it is Madness's masterpiece."
Comments (8)
I don't see that this is out in the states yet, but I can't wait. These tracks were great! Where are the other 11? Cough'em up!
Might have to get a copy of that, thanks
A much more mature band than the one of the "House of Fun"/"Baggy Trousers"/"Our House" era; mind you, that was (gulp!) nearly thirty years ago, so they must all be aged about fifty now. If their fans have grown up and matured, and can accept that Madness have had the courage to avoid the "revival circuit" route, then this will do well.
never could get into madness
the band that is :)
Wonderful! I wasn't aware Madness was still out there! When I saw the title of your post I clicked it right away with fingers crossed. And Wow! I see the Kinks comparison especially in Cherkenwell Polka. There's a wry smile and a wink that even rock stars in Britain often do not turn their backs on. I'll be looking for this one.
Going back and reading other comments, I realize I was thinkig the same thing as Baudolino . This is a genuine, mature version of the outstanding band we knew back then. They've retained the same heart and developed in to a place where they confidently put it out there.
My old favorite was "the wings of a dove". But "our house" and the rest are all sooo gooood. (I heard on a cable tv documentary that they were the original inspiration for No Doubt.)
Glad you dug the post, Spike! You can always be assured that a Baudolino comment always nails the point to the wall. I was shaking my head in agreement as I read his comment.
listening the second time was a bit better
hmmmmm