This is the review that I just finished for the mag I write for (remembering they only give me 200 words (although I think this is about 220): MADNESS Wonderful (Virgin/ EMI) A bold title for the nutty seven�s first outing since 1986 and yes it certainly lives up to its name. Many have doubted the ability of a rag tag group of pork-pie hatted skinheads to come up trumps in 1999 but that�s exactly what they�ve done and this CD has something for everyone. The TripleJ high rotation �Lovestruck� and �The Wizard� will keep the old school fans happy while those who preferred the later poppier tunes will be overjoyed at �4am� and �If I Didn�t Care�. This is not however a nostalgic trip down memory lane. The songwriting is more mature, the music is more textured and boy have they learnt how to play. Tunes like the recently released �Johnny the Horse� and �The Communicator� would sit equally as well on stage at Warped as in The Dublin Castle Arms and radiate a �90s feel. Of course a new Madness album would be incomplete without something anthemic and the wonderful �Drip Fed Fred� (with a little help from Ian Dury) well and truly fits the bill. Far from a cash grab by has beens, this is the best album Madness has ever released (with the possible exception of �One Step Beyond�). It�s been 13 years between drinks but the wait was definitely worth it. TRACY HEFFERNAN -- Trace "Johnny the Horse was kicked to death He died for entertainment" - 'Johnny the Horse'-Madness - ______________________________________________________________ Visit the Total Madness Mailing List website for: latest news, madmeet info, list charter, games, and more ... http://members.xoom.com/totalmadmail/ Contact the TMML Moderators at: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, send an e-mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] and in the message body put: unsubscribe total-madness
