Customer Reviews

The Liberty of Norton Folgate

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I bought this cd chiefly because I have been a fan of Madness from their earliest days. Not quite sure what to expect, I was thrilled to hear a fabulous work. This is a group that has gone from strength to strength. I dont want to sound too melodramatic but, comparing this album to what went before would best be equated to hearing the Beatles before and after the 'Revolver/Rubber Soul' axis. This is a mature band hitting their peak. A marvellous collection of short stories & vignettes spiced with elements of music drawn from the native and immigrant generations that made London. At times the eeriness of the title track made me think of 'Kiko' (Los Lobos), at times the sense of history is so palpable.
I couldnt help thinking that this would make a brilliant stage musical.
Just Brilliant

I am shocked to see only 2 reviews of this before mine and it has been a few months since this came out. That is sad that this is receiving so little attention in the USA. People are missing out on a wonderful experience. This is a GREAT album and this band's crowning achievement - 30+ years or whatever it is into their career.
I don't think listening to samples of this album do it justice - I heard a few but wasn't really that impressed. But listening from beginning to end this album totally grabs you and takes you on a trip. In some ways this album reminds me of Sgt. Pepper by the Beatles (and I don't use that lightly) - it is a slightly psychedelic sounding carnival ride through various sections of London (i.e. Norton Folgate) and the characters that live there. The dark side of Madness (first fully realized on the "Rise and Fall" album) is in full effect here but that doesn't stop them from writing some incredibly catching songs ("NW5" is right up there with their best singles ever and would have been a MASSIVE hit if it had been released 25 years earlier.) The title track is absolutely spectacular - a 10 minute swirling travelogue of the aforementioned Norton Folgate.
I am not much of a reviewer - all I can really say is that this is one of the best albums of the year. If you have ever loved Madness you won't be disappointed unless you are looking for the "heavy heavy monster sound" of their first album. Underneath all of the circus organs, jangle pianos and fin de siecle motifs many of the songs are still firmly rooted in Rocksteady beats, while others are of the strange hybrid of English Music Hall and Norther Soul/Motown that Madness has traded in for years. It is also great to hear Rhoda Dakar from The Bodysnatchers and Special A.K.A. on who takes a fantastic turn on "On the Town".
I love it when bands that have been around this long stick around long enough to create a masterpiece that in many ways surpasses their previous work. Yes this is nostalgia for those of us who listened to music in the 80s - but this record is totally of its time - 2009. It sounds absolutely great (credit has to go to producers!) and doesn't seem "retro" in any way. The nostalgia displayed on this album reaches back beyond 20 years - it goes back centuries in the themes explored.
Finally ...
If you still want more there is a deluxe edition on the band's website with the CD spread out over 2 discs (with 6 or so great exclusive tracks) a disc of rehearsal and live versions of the songs, vinyl version of the album (only 12 songs) and access to great downloads including several complete shows spanning back to their days on the 2-Tone tour.

There are people out there who say this album is Madness' best. Is it?
I think it is. This is a mature masterpiece of music and sound telling the story of a lost world (60s-70s-80s, maybe even a wink at 19th century London) with highly rich flavors of British nostalgia. This is not a mere collection of randomly chosen new hits but rather a delicate work of art. A word of warning though! For the middle aged of you lot, this may be Madness' most somber album to date which might trigger the awakening of some dormant memories. 'Sugar and Spice' did exactly that to me... and I'm still in shambles. Anyways, guys, they don't make albums like this anymore, so go get it and place it on that shelf where The White Album is.

It's really amazing that 30+ years on Madness are now producing some of the best music of their career. Simply put, The Liberty of Norton Folgate is a must-have for any Madness fan, and a great treat for any fans of distinctively English pop.

Madness, of course, were the flagship English ska band of the late 70's, taking 60's era Dance Hall Reggae from Jamaica (most notably Prince Buster), speeding it up and layering on a heavy dose of Cockney accents and London working-class wit to create their own unique sound. Their first two albums, One Step Beyond and Absolutely, are ska classics and if you want to have your Rude Boy friends over and skank through the night there's nothing else for it. However, beginning with their third album, 7, and to a much greater extent with the next two, The Rise and Fall and Keep Moving, the band cast off the rigorous adherence to that formula and matured as songwriters, creating richly layered, energetic pop concept albums. Through it all, they managed to maintain a charmingly characteristic sound, driven by Suggs' gravelly, working-class voice and Mike Barson's powerfully contagious piano work.

When Barson left the band after Keep Moving, it seemed like the end, and the disappointing Mad Not Men served to underscore that point. But amazingly they re-emerged in 1999 with the original lineup and Wonderful, a truly satisfying return to form. This was followed in 2005 by a brilliant - both in concept and execution - collection of mostly classic ska covers which the band had played live in their early years, called the Dangerman Sessions Vol 1.

Now, four years on and they've given us The Liberty Of Norton Folgate, easily among the best of their material, if not one of the better albums of the year overall. It most closely fits in with The Rise and Fall and Keep Moving era, but it's definitely not a throw-back album. It's infused with classic ska/Dance Hall ("Forever Young," "Bingo"), triumphant splashes of pop optimism ("Rainbows") and hooky piano-driven, characteristically Madness numbers ("Dust Devil," "That Close," "NW5"). It's all topped off with the epic, 10 minute title track, a storybook snapshot of an obscure street on the north end of London's Financial District. In fact much of the album plays out like a tribute to the band's hometown, while other themes circle around the melancholy of disappearing youth.

The production, while subtle, brings the infections melodies and Lee Thompson's driving sax to the front, while making effective use of strings and solid, danceable rhythms. It all feels very organic and natural - while the sound is contemporary and modern, it could also have come out 35 years ago. As such it feels fresh and timeless at the same time, a pretty rare accomplishment.

Madness are as relevant today as ever - their influence is painted all over Lily Allen's work, for example. But this album is really a surprise and delight.

I have received the Box Set directly from the Madness website and I'm so glad that I did. I'm a bit baffled though as to why it's not being sold on Amazon, only the single disc version. The second disc contains songs equally as infectious as the first disc. Throw in the single 'Sorry' (which is oddly not included) and the second disc is really like an entire separate Madness release, making me think of a cd they would have released a couple years prior to The Liberty Of Norton Folgate.

Not many American post on this band. But I'm sure there are many who buy the music and don't post! I don't post often but this new release has BLOWN ME AWAY and surpassed any expectations I had. The ten minute plus masterpiece title track is worth every penny. How nice though to have all those other great songs. It's hard to pinpoint what the new music is like. I get a feel of....a cross between The Rise and Fall, Keep Moving and Wonderful all wrapped into one. But that's not even fair because it's all so fresh sounding. It's like reading a book of old Aesops, brilliant lyrics and the melodies are more fresh than in their heyday.

I did like Wonderful but this has so much more to offer. Buy the single Sorry to add to your ipod collection along with the other 23 songs on here and it's amazing. Again, if you're a Madness diehard, buy the box set. Even if you just 'really like them', ahhh, the box set is like getting two full separate Madness cd's. That is a real treat.

While it seems like virtually every act from the 80's has reformed, toured and released new albums that don't come close to their hey-day (I'm looking at you Echo & The Bunnymen), Madness has proven to be the exception in no small way.

Liberty of Norton Folgate absolutely rates with their best works.

If you ever loved 7 or The Rise and Fall (or even 1999's Wonderful) do not even hesitate.

The "Deluxe Edition" CD+DVD is really the way to go (if your DVD player can handle the PAL format) as the live film is fantastic!

While it seems like virtually every act from the 80's has reformed, toured and released new albums that don't come close to their hey-day (I'm looking at you Echo & The Bunnymen), Madness has proven to be the exception in no small way.
Liberty of Norton Folgate absolutely rates with their best works.
If you ever loved 7 or The Rise and Fall (or even 1999's Wonderful) do not even hesitate.
By the way, the "Deluxe Edition" CD+DVD is really the way to go (if your DVD player can handle the PAL format) as the live film is fantastic!

I'm just nearing the end of the CD upon writing this. The title track is the perfect closing chapter of a stirring biography of these original London nuttahs. This album is an eye-opener to say the least. Madness balance (and frequently blend) the giddy and melancholy brilliantly. Memories come spilling out, sometimes confessional enough to sting a little, but usually warm and fun enough to keep you smiling. Musically, they draw from their best albums (skanky "One Step Beyond" and poppier "Presents the Rise and Fall"), simply slowing it down a notch to give these great stories more weight. We are London indeed. Thanks for the trip boys.

If you like Madness at all you should give this one a try. Worth every penny kids!

I was living in the UK when Madness was getting big, and I have always loved the band and its music (even some of the less popular albums). As such, I was excited to hear this new album, their first in a decade. I read the raving reviews off Amazon UK, and I agree that it is very good but I don't know if I can say it is their very best. That said, it would be hard to say what is.

Still, while we could debate this for ions, the truth of the matter is that if you are a Madness fan then you need to grab this album! Yes, it is not the catchy tunes of their heyday; but the band has matured to a level that maximizes their talents. And it is always a treat to hear these guys, so while the ska-ness may be gone, there is a lot left over to enjoy!