Madness,The Liberty of Norton Folgate

7 Responses to “Madness,The Liberty of Norton Folgate”

1. Mad Squirrel, on June 20th, 2009 at 3:44 pm Said:

   Dear mister Cumiskey,

   your article is very interesting but I think you might have misunderstood Madness’ intentions here. You see I don’t think they aimed at making a pure ska album. It’s more of a pop chronicle about London, with some little ska bits here and there. And in this respect I daresay it is perfect. The songs sketch contemporary London, sometimes going back in time with a lighthearted but nevertheless sophisticated music (by the way the Overture is a gem, reminding me a bit of Danny Elfman’s work for Tim Burton’s movies. And I may be wrong but I don’t think Clerkenwell polka’s inspiration comes from Green Day. The music has a polka/central eastern Europe ring to it. It’s very different from Green Day, and the lyrics are about a London working-class area). And, of course, the epic title song The liberty of Norton Folgate could be in a pop opera, it’s that fantastic. This album does appeal to a much broader audience than just ska/rocksteady lovers, that’s the whole beauty of it in my humble opinion.

   Definitely one of the best albums this year. It’s very likely to become a time-honoured British pop music classic. Of course it might be a bit early to say, but given the audience’s enthusiastic response when songs from this album are played live, I bet TLONF will go down in music history as a very important album !

   Sincerely yours,

   Mad Squirrel

2. Graham, on June 20th, 2009 at 4:06 pm Said:

   The reviewer is of course entitled to his opinion and as a die hard fan of the band I am bound to be a little biased (although pretty much every other review by presumably non-biased reviewers has praised the album to the hilt) – but I have to say that this review is wide of the mark IMHO – I can only presume it’s been reviewed by someone who only knows Madness’ Greatest Hits, and perhaps the first two albums they released (One Step Beyond and Absolutely).

   Madness aren’t and never have professed to be purely a ska band – sure it influences them, but so does the music of Ian Dury, The Kinks, The Beatles and many many more. Ska certainly isn’t the basis behind The Liberty Of Norton Folgate. Their music has in the past by people wiser than me been said to draw on fairground and music hall styles – and this is where ‘The Liberty Of Norton Folgate’ draws much of it’s influence – this was seen perfectly at the shows the band performed last year to showcase much of the new album. Those shows were held at an old Music Hall emporium – The Hackney Empire – and present were all the facets of music hall, including a supporting cast of Pearly Kings and Queens, Victorian characters and a back drop of old East End streets with screens showing imagery of London, Music Hall and much more. Even if the reviewer hadn’t been there his imagery is in much evidence on the booklet that accompanies the album with it’s Dan Leno-esque cover shot, back cover shot of a trio of Victorian characters and notes from Suggs explaining the concept of the album.

   The first track on the album ‘Overture’ far from requiring the band to receive a “slap” actually sets the tone for the album perfectly – bringing up images of a Dickensian London before kicking into ‘We Are London’ which is being touted in some circles as a possible theme tune for 2012. The so called “fillers” that follow – Sugar And Spice (second single that tells the tale of a fledgling relationship that by the end has gone wrong), Forever Young (a ska/reggae track reflecting on growing older looking back at lifes mistakes), Dust Devil (first single from the album telling the tale of a young lady going off the rails) and Rainbows (telling the story of birth from the perspective of the baby in a very moving and poignant way and yet still retaining that Madness charm) are all classic slices of Madness.

   ‘That Close’ is rightly lauded by the reviewer and is indeed a great track. ‘MkII’ is a dark and brooding song telling the tale of an old East End gangster. Duet (with Rhoda Dakar of Bodysnatchers/Special AKA fame) ‘On The Town’ completes the trilogy of relationship songs on the album by telling the tale of a relationship that is in it’s final throes. ‘Bingo’ which the reviewer compares to ELO (something I fail to see completely) is a wonderful tune telling the tale of being mugged outside a tube station and is based on the writers own experience of this happening to him. ‘Idiot Child’ and it’s tale of a young man growing up and being pushed down the wrong tracks in life is one we can all relate to in some way. ‘Africa’ is probably the most beautiful and laid back track that the band have written with it’s story of escaping from the rat race. Absolute thumper and classic slice of Madness ‘NW5′ telling it’s story of looking back on a relationship with a friend that went wrong sits alongside any of the 80′s hits with pride.

   And then we come to ‘Clerkenwell Polka’ which the reviewer compares to Green Day – quite where this comparison comes from is beyond me, and if Green Day were influenced as suggested by Madness’ original material aren’t they actually being influenced by themselves if there is a comparison to be had? It is again a slice of pure Madness – with it’s thumping beat and frenzied crescendo of a finish – a current “live” favourite that is even more frenzied than the studio version we hear here.

   And finally we come to a track this reviewer has chosen to overlook completely – even though it’s probably the most noteworthy on the album – namely the title track ‘The Liberty Of Norton Folgate’ which weighs in at around 10 minutes long and has been called by many the bands magnum opus. It truly is a work of genius that drags you into the East End of London of old and of today – if you’d have told me years ago that one day Madness would produce a track of such epic proportions I would have laughed in your face – but the fact that it appears here and that they perform it with such aplomb live (both with and without supporting brass and strings) is testament to the fact that Madness are so much more than that jokey, novelty band who made funny videos and songs that everyone could dance to at weddings, barmitzvahs and birthday parties.

   If you’re looking for the Madness that did “Baggy Trousers”, “House Of Fun” and all those other hits back in the 80′s, you won’t find them here – this is a more mature more grown up Madness more in line with the material from the latter half of their 80′s career with comparisons to earlier albums “Rise & Fall” and “Keep Moving” – and is to me, and many other fans (and non-fans) amongst their finest work ever.

3. Loobyloo, on June 20th, 2009 at 4:47 pm Said:

   Mr Cumiskey,

   I’m not going to go over everything my fellow fans above have stated. I would just like to draw your attention to the fact that you literally stand alone with your opinion on this album. Every other renowned music critic has given it the credit it rightfully deserves. Did you actually expect a band who has been successful for the past thirty years to release an album of ska-related songs akin to the ones that made them famous all those years ago? If you did then you are seriously deluded. Just because they’ve titled a track ‘Overture’ (which is essentially what it is) you are under the impression this makes them big-headed in some way? I would suggest that you take a look at a few of the other bands that are around today if you want to see big-headedness.

   I fail to see that Madness have tried to copy anyone on this album. It is a creative and extremely original piece of work that sounds fantastic when it is played live. Again, most of the bands around today would struggle to play their work live or even begin to contribute to the history of music in the way that Madness have. It is an absolute credit to them that this album entered the album charts at No 5 – pretty good for a bunch of 80′s has-beens wouldn’t you say?

4. Rob, on June 21st, 2009 at 12:28 pm Said:

   Dear Madness Fans,

   Thanks very much for your comments guys,

   I will be the first to say that I am not a Madness fan. IMHO a critic’s job is to give an independent and honest opinion, so I don’t feel I have to defend the fact that I didn’t like the album terribly…I didn’t think it would spark such a reaction though

   I find the album to be lacking in ideas musically. Fair enough, thematically, they’ve outdone themselves. But that’s not saying a huge amount at all.

   I don’t feel TLONF has anything but three or four decent tracks. The majority of the songs are monotonous and too long. Yes, they are great musicians, but my point on Green Day was that (and no, I’m not a Green Day fan in any way) they released Warning a few years back with a Polka tune called ‘Misery’. Point being, anyone can write a Polka tune. Yes, I don’t think I made my point very well in the review. But there you have it.

   In short, I still find Madness to be seriously lacking in new ideas musically, and I still find their album to be long, drawn out and not very relevant in 2009. Instead of falling back on 80s bands attempting re-invention, why not focus our efforts on Irish and International bands creating something truly new and different?

   Yours,

   Mr.Cumiskey

5. Jonsmad, on June 21st, 2009 at 3:16 pm Said:

   >Why are Madness still making music?

   Because their fans and a wide ranging section of the public like to hear new Madness music. Enough to set 95% of reviewers, industry people and media alive with praise, and go so far “silver” on sales in the uk and Top 5 in the uk album sales chart, as well as solid interest in the wider world. Because this album saved The Light Bar from demolition. Because they do it so well, because they love it, and because they want to buy their kids houses, or have 2nd homes in Europe and because we all need saving from Miley Sirus.

   >Why do they still consider themselves relevant?

   They have always considered themselves more irreverent. The tykes.

   >If any other band had released an album like The Liberty of Norton Folgate this year, they would >have been deemed boring copy-cats.

   Too right mate. Let me know if any other band does release The Liberty of Norton Folgate, I’ll get Madness’s lawyers straight on to it!

   >Madness sure, they’re a great band.

   Oh yes!

   >Or were a great 80’s pop-group.

   Yes indeedy.

   >But My God, do they know it.

   They should do. We keep telling them. We shout their name at them at concerts, Look we remember who you are! We love you Madness! I would really hate it if they didnt know by now we think they are great, i’m glad they realise it. Job done!

   >Any band that kick proceedings off on what’s essentially a Ska album with an opening track >called Overture needs a slap.

   Yeah too right mate. Thank god they havnt. It’s not a ska album. It’s classic brit song writing in
   the kinks/beatles traditions. Of course if you were serious about slapping a band I would prefer you kick Miley Sirus in the face.

   >We Are London isn’t a bad effort. It’s a wonderfully produced song, with the piano standing out in >particular.

   Glad you like it. Good isnt it.

   >The next half-decent song comes after four pieces of filler. That Close has some more great >piano and catchy brass.

   Yep more praise for the haunting nature of That Close certainly is a stand out, ears pricked up
   track. It’s got an emotional ghost in the middle so strong it takes you in several directions. It’s so good it can make album reviewers think the surrounding solid album tracks are all filler.

   >After that comes some more contemporaries influenced filler, ELO seem to be relied on with >Bingo. They even call on bands they influenced like Green Day on Clerkenwell Polka for some >ideas.

   ELO are contemporary? I didnt know Green Day invented the Polka. I tought it was Weird Al Yankovic.

   >In short, it’s a well produced album,

   Well done Clive, Alan and Liam.

   >6 tracks too long, lacking in fresh ideas or direction.

   I like that it’s got 15 tracks. If they had put the 15 songs on 9 tracks it would have got confusing
   when using the CD player.

   Wow amazing. If an album this deep and wide lacks ideas then maybe I’m getting the impression
   you just didnt hear any of them. If Madness arent being fresh when they are experimenting with song length (both shorter and longer), moods, themes, instruments, recording processes, sample effects, styles, theatrics, presentation, film and literature influences, and music heritage, then where exactly are they supposed to get creativity from? Your arse? Dont bring out the word “originality” at this point when you are talking about 2009 if that would be your next reply. Surely we are both musically knowledgable to know that that vacuum doesnt exsist if it ever did, there is only combination and variation. You mention focusing on Irish or International acts. So who is floating your boat musically? I’d like to know. Because I dont see freshness in modern music to understand a comment like that about an album like this. If you can name a band that are what 2009 is, that I cant point out how unfresh their background influence is from 30 years of music listening, I’ll be very surprised indeed. I dont meant you cant show me a good band/artists but fresh is only relevant to the ears used.

   The combination of influence here is unique and there are bags of ideas, well fitted together. It’s fair enough if you didnt like the ideas, but only a deaf blind flatliner could say this isnt packed with ideas, fair enough if its more classic than fresh (or modern mainstream style choice) but it’s a world away from the ideas of the previous Madness album and It’s got so much direction this album is practically a Sat Nav.

   >Madness aren’t relevant in 2009,

   Yep, sad but true. I hope you are all enjoying Miley Sirus, Susan Boyle, emo music & n-dubz feat kano rap bizzle out there in mainstream 2009, i’m hanging with irreverent irelevants thats how I role mr cowell dog.

   >and they haven’t done themselves any favours by releasing an album of fairly humourless filler.

   Yeah its all too serious. What have Madness ever done for a laugh on this album. I tell you. Nothing.

   Apart from the frankie howerd lyrics, and erm.. that whole music hall sequence of market hawkers,
   the general lionel bart granduer of norton folgate, oh and the russkie scat polka, and the camp compton wrist aside, and spooky ackroyd book referencing performance, and the injoke backcalling and title of idiot child, the cryptic pathos of bingo, the smutty bounce of dust devil’s vibrator and related debauchery, the gleefully babys POV in rainbows, without even venturing into fish and chips being too silly for the main album. Or the £10 gag in the box set version, with added jokes in an a value Mbers web area. I mean apart from all that, it’s all sweeping music and heart felt grown up music. Imagine that grown up Madness as they approach 50. how dare they.

   No favours at all. Except pleasing lots of hard core fans, and large amounts of the general public, and concert going crowds, and festival go-ers and the music press, and good industry sales, and being top 5 in the country, and being a media want appearance on so many radio and tv shows, and highlighting how good they are ahead of a new hits and re-issue schedule of all the classic albums. I mean really Madness should have packed it in and said why not let the the irish and international acts that are good take over we’ll give up our creative talents and get into our coffins early now. Or they should have maybe fused country and western line dancing and hip hop into a disney tv show to be more with it and this year. Or maybe, just maybe. music in 2009 is hugely fragmented and anyone who suggests that modern eras have a dominant championing sound are the kind of bloggers who lack ideas, toss off in short opinions and probably deserve a slap.

   >No thanks guys.

   Well Mr Cumisntintoitkey doesnt want to thank you. but I will again. Cheers guys. Long Live Madness. They will be around long after some current fashions heralded as fresh by ADD sufferers have proven to lack staying power.

   

6. Gary, on June 24th, 2009 at 12:47 pm Said:

   All the comments are spot on and also Mr.Cumiskeys comments about his role as a critic :O) the world would be boring if we all loved everything (although in a religious text it would be great…………. better throw that one in with me being religious!) Gary.

7. MightyPen, on July 30th, 2009 at 8:46 pm Said:

   It’s nice to see Madness getting some US love for once:

   http://thebrowntweedsociety.com/2009/07/30/tbts-reviews-the-liberty-of-norton-folgate/

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