The Liberty of Norton Folgate
Artist(s):
Madness
Label: Lucky Seven
Publisher(s):
Lucky Seven
Studio: Lucky Seven
Manufacturer: Lucky Seven
Binding: Audio CD
List Price: £8.99
Our Price: £5.93
Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours
Similar Items:
The Dangermen Sessions Vol 1
The Platinum Collection
Complete Madness
One Step Beyond.... (30th anniversary deluxe edition)
Total Madness (CD & DVD)
Four Winds
Dust Devil
The Duckworth Lewis Method
Journal for Plague Lovers
Absolutely
Track Listing
1.
Overture
2.
We Are London
3.
Sugar And Spice
4.
Forever Young
5.
Dust Devil
6.
Rainbows
7.
That Close
8.
Mk 11
9.
On The Town
10.
Bingo
11.
Idiot Child
12.
Africa
13.
NW5
14.
Clerkenwell Polka
15.
The Liberty Of Norton Folgate
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
This first Madness outing since the band’s 2005 ska covers project The Dangermen Sessions sees them reunited with original producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley. A suite of twelve brand new songs, The Liberty Of Norton Folgate acts as a paean to their beloved London, the title referring to a street that connects Bishopsgate with Shoreditch High Street. The record opens with the jaunty "We Are London", which sets out their personalised (and idyllic) view of the capital and boasts an infectious, sing-song chorus ('you can make it your hell or heaven/live as you please'). The band continue to filter their recognisable influences--pop, reggae, ska--through great, bouncy tunes like "Forever Young,", and "Dust Devli". Songs like Clerkenwell Polka carry a classic bar-tune feel, all parping brass and foot-stomping piano, but the highlight is the 10-minute title track, which see-saws kaleidoscopically through pop, ska, Klezmer, cabaret tunes and a whole lot more. Upbeat, friendly and fun, The Liberty Of Norton Folgate is arguably Madness's finest collection of new material in many years. --Danny McNamara
Customer Reviews
Excellent work
I must say that I have enjoyed all eras of Madness' music. I have pretty much every album and the B sides as well! However, what I have enjoyed in the last 2 albums, Wonderful and Norton Folgate is the fullness of the sound, the retainin of the nutty sound, but with an extra edge, development. After 30 years if they were still turning out exactly the same stuff it would be disappointing, would feel stagnant and caught in the past. I also have to say that if you're thinking of buying Norton Folgate, it's worth the extra couple of quid for the special edition with DVD. PLUS if you're thinking of buying Wonderful, you MUST buy the version that comes with the B sides, the 2010 reissue. I say MUST because some of the B sides are Madness being Madness, not as commercially orientated as the album - thought there's some great stuff there too such as Drip Fed Fred. Back to the matter in hand, Norton Folgate will have a 2 or 3 tracks you adore, a track or 2 that may bore and the rest that will grow. My wife who doesn't really like Madness ended up singing along to Idiot Child! Whereas I love NW5 for the storyline and the Madness characterisation of the song. ENJOY!
Plodding overlong album with too much average material
I bought this album because I heard "Idiot Child" on a free magazine covermount CD. It was really good so I thought the album, with all its extensive acclaim, would be a very safe bet. Unfortunately I found the album to be rather middling and average. It's been bigged up as a late masterpiece from a band that's found its old mojo again. For me it was pleasant enough but a bit so-so overall. Far from bad but a few notches from being out and out good.
1. "Overture" 1:07 (McPherson/Barson/Smyth) (2 out of 5 stars)
Uninspired scene setting short instrumental.
2. "We Are London" 3:40 (Smyth) (4 stars)
Solid better than average song. The saxophone has an interesting whiny sound to it.
3. "Sugar and Spice" 2:52 (Barson) (3 stars)
It's alright but I can't say it really does anything for me.
4. "Forever Young" 4:36 (McPherson) (2 stars)
Rather bland mid-tempo song. I hear the merit in it but it's just not interesting and goes on a bit.
5. "Dust Devil" 3:44 (Thompson/Woodgate) (4 stars)
Strange song with odd lyrics. Good light pop fun.
6. "Rainbows" 3:22 (Thompson/Woodgate) (3 stars)
Doesn't add up to anything, and lyrically unimpressive, although fairly tuneful.
7. "That Close" 4:10 (McPherson/Foreman) (3 stars)
Nothing wrong with it but nothing to get excited about either. Perfectly okay.
8. "MK II" 2:22 (McPherson/Smyth) (2 stars)
Only half a song as it seems to be missing the second half. Not much cop anyway.
9. "On the Town" 4:32 (Woodgate/Barson) with guest vocals by Rhoda Dakar (3 stars)
It's quite good but not the killer song it feels it should be. The female vocalist sounds really good.
10. "Bingo" 4:06 (Thompson/Barson) (3 stars)
Solid but unremarkable song.
11. "Idiot Child" 3:18 (Thompson/Barson) (5 stars)
The bounciest, poppiest track. Effortlessly tuneful and works really well. The best song on the album.
12. "Africa" 4:19 (Barson) (2 stars)
Drab mid-tempo track. Although not terrible, it's fairly boring.
13. "NW5" 4:14 (Thompson/Barson) (3 stars)
Starts really strongly but it doesn't develop and go anywhere.
14. "Clerkenwell Polka" 4:20 (Smyth) (3 stars)
So-so song that shows signs of larger scale ambition. Not tuneful enough to pull it off.
15. "The Liberty of Norton Folgate" 10:10 (McPherson/Barson/Smyth) (3 stars)
Long song with lots of different musical sections. More of an endurance test rather than something to actually enjoy. This should have been the opening song so it could set out the concept instead of being used to tie the album together at the end. Plus the listener would be fresher and so more indulgent to a long track of this nature.
I like to make EP playlists out of some albums on my iPod. Tracks 2, 5, 9 and 11 made the cut.
A shorter 41 minute alternative playlist version of the album could also be made with tracks 15, 2, 5, 9, 10, 11 and 13.
I would give it three stars on artistic merit alone but I have to admit to having zero desire to ever play it again as it was a bit of an overlong plod. So I think overall two stars is correct due to a lack of replay value. I'll be sticking with my four track EP version which contains the only songs I can work up any real enthusiasm for.
Never gets old
You can listen to it over and over again and it will never get boring!
Not much to say except: Amazing. Highlights being "Dust Devil", "On the Town", "Bingo", "Clerkenwell Polka" and of course "The Liberty of Norton Folgate". Saying this, they're all awesome and its great to see that music of this calibre can still survive in this day and age.
disappointing
i was really looking forward to this, especially after reading the reviews. masterpiece? i even tried really hard to like it. shame really because i think suggs has got a great voice, not in a pavarotti sense, but you know what i mean. boring. was thinking about going to madstock this year too but don't think i'll go now after this. don't buy it. tried to give it no stars but site doesn't let you.
Madness = Gladness!
Can I say return to form for the Camden crew? Not really - not heard much of their stuff after Seven. But I love this album - it oozes quality, sparkle, wit and originality. In particular the last track is just fantastic - 10 minutes of class. As an old-school fan, it is a real pleasure to see the band making such good stuff. Can't wait to see them at V2010.....
