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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly Good, October 22, 2004
Chumbawamba is a most unlikely hit group - a co-ed U.K. collective best-known for their idiosyncratic, working-class polemics; they toiled in obscurity for many years. In 1997, though, their song "Tubthumping" became a left-field international smash - peaking at #6 in the U.S. and holding at #1 in airplay for an astounding 9 weeks. Love it or hate it, "Tubthumping" is indisputably one of the catchiest and most original hits of the last decade. However, the group is usually dismissed today as a novelty act or one-hit-wonder.
Of note, "Tubthumping" wasn't released as a single, so people had to buy the full-length CD, "Tubthumper," to get the song (over 3 millions people did so). I'm sure many people who purchased the CD listened only to "Tubthumping." However, the rest of the CD deserves attention. It's the type of CD in my collection that I don't listen to often, but when I do, I'm always surprised by how much better it is than I expect.
Aside from "Tubthumping," quite a few of the songs are stand-outs. "Amnesia" is another tremendously catchy song, with a clever chorus, "Do you suffer from long-term memory loss/ I don't remember" - and it even includes a tango-styled break. It managed to become a UK hit - slipping into the Top 10. "Drip, Drip, Drip" is another highlight - a surprisingly melodic song built around some intriguing spoken-word samples and featuring a swanky piano outro. Indeed, one of the group's trademarks is to throw in an unexpected element, such as the young English lad who finished "The Big Issue." Overall, the music isn't earth-shattering and does tend to wear a bit after repeated listens. However, "Tubthumper" is enjoyable, well-written, and features good production; careful listeners who appreciate quirky music will be well-rewarded if they approach this CD with an open mind.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing album for a bunch of anarchists, December 14, 2005
This is one of those albums where you simply have to look at each song individually...because no two are even remotely similar. Here goes:
1. Tubthumping - It should be pretty obvious to anyone that this is by far the *dumbest* song on the album. And given that it's their massive blowout hit, that's about a lead pipe cinch that it isn't in any way indicative of their work as a whole. Nothing wrong with that, of course, just keep that in mind. I don't really care for this one.
2. Amnesia - Fairly easygoing rock number about memory loss. And...ah, those who suffer from memory loss. Listenable and mostly nonserious.
3. Drip, Drip, Drip - One of those non-hip hop talky pieces. Pretty much the same deal as Amnesia.
4. The Big Issue - This, IMHO, *should* have been their breakthrough. Completely mainstream, harmless pop/rock, message notwithstanding.
5. The Good Ship Lifestyle - Okay, this is a style called "drum and bass". If you're not familiar with a club scene, you probably haven't had much exposure to this. It's very popular in some European circles. Pretty much ordinary punk otherwise.
6. One By One - Oh yeah! NOW we're talking! *This* is the unflinching, angry politicizing that makes Chumbawamba what it is, and it sounds downright beautiful, too. A very simple, powerful ballad about a union leader who abandons his responsiblities for personal gain and the terrible consequences. Unquestionably the best song on the album, IMHO.
7. Outsider - Ooh, house! Not much of a message here, but who cares, it's loads of fun.
8. Creepy Crawling - Another talky one. Wasn't able to get much out of this; it's just weird. Reminds me of Five Iron Frenzy for some reason.
9. Mary, Mary - A loud metalish piece about a woman named Mary who, gasp! (yawn) falls a bit short of her biblical counterpart. A bit too repetitive for my tastes.
10. Smalltown - More delicious D&B; actually a lot truer to the style than The Good Ship Lifestyle. Good stuff, good stuff.
11. I Want More - Not a hint of subtletly here, just pure unadulterated punk. Great fist pumping music (whatever that is).
12. Scapegoat - Eurobeat (or a reasonable facsimile thereof)? Man, they're doin' EVERYTHING here! A worthy sendoff.
A little repetitive at times, and doesn't always hang together, but in all, this is a surprisingly well done album. It's definitely worth whatever you paid for it. :-D*
* (Subtle reference to highly questionable activity encouraged by Chumbawamba which I needn't get into here, thank you very much.)
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
This Put Them On The Map, But This Isn't Their Finest, July 17, 2004
The song "Tubthumping" may have turned them into a household name, but this CD, on the whole, is not representative of Chumbawamba's greatness. This isn't a horrid album, but with the exception of "Tubthumping," not much to write home about. In my opinion, "WYSIWYG", the album following this one, is their crowning glory. They capture that sardonic anti-establishment flavor beautifully on that CD.If you want to pick up this CD merely for the hit song, it is worth the dough. If you want to hear really great Chumbawamba from the first to final track, I highly recommend "WYSIWYG."
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