The Dangermen Sessions, Vol. 1

Madness

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 16, 2005)
• Original Release Date: August 16, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: V2 North America
• ASIN: B0009VNC1O
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #102,447 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Alternative Rock > British Alternative > British Ska

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The UK's ska-besotted Madness were one of the most consistently pleasing bands of the entire new wave era, yet a group who never seemed to break-up so much as fade away in a series of largely ill-fated reincarnations and partial revivals. But this joyous full band reunion presents a Madness who's lost none of its loose, loopy charm or potent musical chops in the ensuing decades. The product of a series of informal shows in their hometown of Camden, it's an album that revolves around an inviting, vintage r&b/pop covers conceit so logical it's surprising the band didn't attempt it the first time around. If choices like the Supremes' "You Keep Me Hanging On" and Kinks' chestnut "Lola" don't seem to offer much promise at first glance, the band tackles them with such a giddy, irreverent sense of reinvention as to be irresistible. Desmond Dekker's "Israelites" and the instrumental "Dangermen Theme" become kitsch-happy delights, while a delicious reworking of the Blues Busters' "Shame and Scandal" ranks with the best of the band's infectious ‘80s oeuvre. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Covers album that doesn't cash in..., September 23, 2005

By	epsteinsmutha "epsteinsmutha" (At the bottom of Juan Epstein's excuse note) - See all my reviews

Thirteen years after their reunion at MadStock with Mike Barson in tow after his years in residence in Holland (and his original defection being what made the band call it a day to start with), Madness have been back at it and the latest is this album of old ska standards when the form was still called bluebeat along with ska reworkings of old 1960s soul/mod songs (Supremes, Kinks, etc.) that Paul Weller used to toss off over in a similar black suit and tie.

Being a fan of the nutty boys since their appearances on The Young Ones in the 1980s (yeah, I'm old, I know), it's nice to see them back and that they waited until that awful fratska boom of the mid-1990s had used up its half life so as not to seem as if they were cashing in as an oldies act, going "Hi! Remember us? Sorry about that swing revival that came about indirectly."

Madness did the impossible as far as not being necrophiliacs as far as the past goes. This is a fine album, even if there are no originals and therefore no chance of a new "House of Fun" or "Night Boat to Cairo" or even "Baggy Trousers" (anyone else remember when the melody to it was used for the Colgate ad when they introduced the Colgate Pump?) Let's hope the lads keep it together for a new release of new material. 'Til then, see if their cover of "Lola" doesn't best Ray Davies' original.

Signed,
epsteinsmutha

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars still got it..., August 16, 2005

By	dead tired (nyc) - See all my reviews

Fine I'm a sucker for Madness, granted. But if you are as well, you must own this disc. The 'nutty sound' is alive and so very, very well.

After all of the box sets and re-releases, this CD of all new material is a real treat. My favorites are the wonderful remake of "You Just Keep Me Hanging On," (take THAT Kim Wilde)a fun tongue in cheek take on "Lola," "Shame and Scandal" classic Madness storytelling at it's best, and a surprisingly sexy "Rain."

The last all new Madness I purchased was the record (tells you how long ago that was) Keep Moving -- by and large a disappointment to me.I skeptically purchased Dangermen hoping it would be best foot forward -- this far exceeded my expectations.

I say, treat yourself to some classic, old school ska from a group of lads who perhaps didn't invent the genre, but certainly perfected it.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars British phenomenon needs more North American fans!, August 26, 2005

By	Chris Clark (Vancouver, BC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The first time I heard Madness was with their "Work Rest and Play EP", and fell in love with the hit single, "Night Boat to Cairo." The Dangermen Sessions are everything I remembered the band to be. For summer afternoon lounging -- you can't go wrong with this album. I highly recommend it!