Reviews (page 4 of 7)
brassy sound, crazy clown party. But they really only have the one banger.
Not too shabby.
pretty good, couple of big hits and i really liked the one towards the end called madness
So Madness made a jazzy concept album huh, not bad, not bad
mid 3 nice one for giving it a go, its alright. but theres something forced about it
Not bad, sounds kinda like what I thought Madness would sound based on what I knew about them. I can see why they didn't hit it big in America though.
3.5/5 pretty not bad. The 2nd half of the album is way better than the first!
2.5
A couple of hits, too many remixes, and mostly forgettable if not crappy songs. 6/10
I am not quite sure why I listened to the full 1.5 hour version of this. A lot of the songs repeated, but overall this was fun. Felt like the beginnings of ska. Not my absolute favorite, but not bad. "Our House" is an absolute classic. Liked Songs: "The Rise And Fall" , "Tomorrow's (Just Another Day)" , "Mr. Speaker (Gets The Word)" , "Our House" , "Tiptoes" , "Madness (Is All In The Mind)" , "House of Fun" , "Walking with Mr. Wheeze"
Oddball, kind of peppy music. 3/5
Some bangers, didn’t listen to it all
Not really a fan. But album had more depth than expected.
Our House is a banger, but the rest is just pretty average and sometimes a bit sus (New Delhi)
Pues me dejo un poco el culo torcido, me parecio tan peculiar que no se ni que decir. Me parecio tan maravilloso que de repente se pusieran a cantar con acento hindú. A veces se pone rara la melodia, me hacia sentir incomoda.
I looooved “Our House” in the peak MTV era of 1983 at my peak MTV target age of 13. The rest of the album runs a little too circus-y for my taste. It’s fine.
Pretty unique and fun album. Playful and quirky in a good way. Technical listed as pop rock and new wave, but although I find both of these genres to be generic, there was none of that here. There’s a lot of variety, different instruments, and influences used across this album, so there wasn’t really anything I don’t like about these genres. I enjoyed it, but nothing stood out as particularly exciting. Yes, there was a lot of interesting track, but I felt like none of them went all in and reached their full potential. 7/10
Aside from the pop hit Our House, this record just rambles from one song to the next without much focus or anything interesting happening.
Not too bad
Not something I'll spend a lot of time with, but it's a pretty fun listen; a lot of the songs have interesting, quirky movement to them.
This sounds like a ska band trying to expand beyond the confines of the form, which is cool, but it all has a kind of British sitcom soundtrack quality and doesn't really grab me. I hear occasional flourishes of Lee Jay Thompson's saxophone — I am semi-obsessed lately with the use of sax in rock music, which is another story — that leave me wanting more (I'm thinking of its central melodic role in the earlier Madness track "One Step Beyond"). "Our House" is a great song, but I struggled to find reference points elsewhere.
An all around solid album that captures the feel of life in 1980s Britain. The album marks a shift from the bands previously ska-heavy sound, moving into more melancholy pop-laden sounds.
Pretty fun Standout track: Our House high 3/5
These songs seem to b telling me a story but I don't have enough context to understand the story.
I have only really ever heard their biggest hits, but I have always heard about how they were HUGE across the pond, never got around to listening to them until now. Obviously "Our House" is a big time hit. I absolutely get their appeal, but I'm not the biggest fan of New Wave, at least this iteration. 3/5
Fun record, just tough to get a real vibe on YouTube with adds. Also a little disappointed that “Our House” is so far and away the best track here. I’ll revisit later.
I never got into Madness. Our House is ok, I guess. I can’t get psyched on listening to this one. I gave it the ol college try. Still not into it. Plus, the Spotify link seems to lead to a playlist rather than the actual album. I’ll give this an unenthusiastic 3-star rating because there’s nothing egregiously bad about it, but I don’t really enjoy it either. 2.5/5 -rounded up
Quite dull, which is unexpected, given the famous and entertaining hits
Don't try to listen to this on Spotify. It's not there - go to YouTube. It's fun and whimsical, but it wears out its welcome. I liked the first few songs, especially Tomorrow's Just Another Day. But by the time I got to New Delhi, I was ready for it to be done.
Fun little album. A bit more variety in tempo and style and I would give it four stars but It’s not quite there for me.
Please recommend albums that can be listened to in all countries. I listened to the 1983 US album “Madness” that has some of the same tracks.
Seek out the album on YouTube, what they have on Spotify sounds like Zappa doing Weird Al doing clown music besides Our House & Primrose Hill. Which are the only two songs on the actual album. The album itself is pretty good when they don't devolve into clown music, it happens quite a bit. Our House seems like it's from another planet compared to rest. This is not your modern Ska though. It's closer to Badfish than Less Than Jake. It has a good sound with horns, guitar, piano/organ & whatnot. I also hear some They Might Be Giants in there. Also New Delhi is um incredibly dated.(is a nice way of putting it)
More fun than great, but listenable and influential!
This was a good poppy, new wave, with a bit of jazzy elements. Our House was the standout track, but a couple others were pretty good too on second half of album.
British fun house music. It’s what I’d expect to hear walking into a haunted ride at the Wessex county fair. Our House was a childhood staple on MTV.
Not as bad as I was expecting
Couldn’t find the whole album on my streaming service but what I heard was find. Interesting to hear more than just “Our House.”
yeah decent will go back at some point
Good
This was pretty cool
Those guys behind this list just keep making it more and more obvious that they're British, don't they? Here we have The Rise & Fall by the British ska band Madness. Here in the US, this band is really only known for one of this album's singles, "Our House." I do happen to enjoy that song quite a bit, though I can't help but think about the game grumps edit where it just says "Our house in the middle of our house" over and over again. Peak youtube right there. The other songs are good too. This album does have a bit of a different vibe from the other ska and ska-adjacent albums on the list. I think this songs are in like different musical keys or something. They've got a vibe that's... not ominous but, like, not as poppy as the Specials or something. This is still poppy, don't get me wrong. "Our House" was a big pop hit for a reason. But the energy here is different in a way that's hard to put into words. I do like it, but I can't say I love it. The production certainly feels like an early 80s affair. The writing is on the more relatable side, at least to the UK audience. I certainly can't call this boring, but it's not really for me. Still, I do have some level of appreciation for this album, and I can't exactly call it "obscure british nonsense only included for the sake of padding out the list" like I can for other albums. I get why others like it, because I like it. I just don't like it as much as other do. Good stuff. 3/5.
I already had low expectations given that this is the group responsible for "Our House," but the unrepenting brown-face on the cover sinks the bar all the lower. Mr Speaker is pretty cool actually. I rather like the use of horn. And I actually like Sunday Morning too -- there is a slight progginess about this (or maybe that's just new wave idk) that reminds me of some UM tracks. Ya know for all that stage setting of the intro, this really wasn't too bad. Certainly not something I would go out of my way for, but solid and down the middle of the street; just like Our House. On that note, I'll close out with a fizzle. 3 / 5.
Fastball down the middle. Our House was funny. Thought I got a commercial somehow.
Lots of fun with a couple of songs you might recognise.
This was really good!
This album seemed to mark the change from being a singles band to a album one even though Our House was as big hit which stands the test of time. Quite a mix of music on this record some of which is a bit downbeat. Was never a fan of the band but this album was worth a listen or two.
3.5
Enjoyed the singles. The rest all blurred into one but enjoyable enough
40 mins of Our House? Sure, good, enjoyable
Hey There, Banthony Craptano here, the internets crappiest music nerd and todaaaaayy, we’ve got The Rise and Fall by Madness. The whole thing is available on YouTube for those interested. This record truly is a rise and fall. It had all the elements of something I should like. Esoteric arrangements, a fervent horn section and the sound of a band doing whatever the hell they want. It felt like a dish cooking on the stove with many great ingredients and yet, when I taste the stew, there’s so much happening at once, it becomes overbearing. There were moments throughout each song I enjoyed but overall, the front of the album plays out like a fever dream. An intoxi-faded night out on the town that keeps escalating. “Did I just talk to that random stranger about my 3rd grade pot collection?” You can’t quite remember what just happened as the brownout begins. Just when you think you’re maintaining, “Blue Skin Beast” clambers around the corner and flips your perception of time signatures upside down. We keep ascending up “Primrose Hill”. A song with some kind of haunted reminiscence of The Benefit of Mr. Kite if it was written for a Tim Burton Movie. The bender continues well into “Sunday Morning” (literally and figuratively). Just when you feel like you’re about to go completely mad, you stumble on ‘Our House’, the equivalent of finding a glowing neon Waffle House sign in the depths of your depravity. As soon the verse kicks in, it’s the audible sigh of relief. Smothered Hash browns are ordered, the coffee has arrived and the chain smoking 56 year old waitress calls you honey as she slides it over. Everything is going to be okay. New Delhi was the only one I skipped about 3/4’s of the way through. That was hot trash. For whatever reason, this album didn’t resonate with me but that’s okay. I mean, if I’m complaining that the band named Madness was too free form/experimental, who’s the real jackass here? It’s got remnants of Ian Dury, Sparks, The Beatles and the ska sound that Madness was founded on. It’s definitely worth a listen, albeit a fucking bizarre one. 3/5
For some odd reason, I could not find this record on Apple Music listed as 'The Rise and Fall'. I guess this is the same situation as with 'Aftermath'. This record was not released in the States, but there is a compilation album called 'Madness' that has a few tracks from this record that was so I can't review it the way I would like to. What is up with Apple's library? It opens with "Our House" and wow, what a catchy song, for better or worse. I have heard it my whole life but thought it was just some silly little song. It is actually very musically complex. I am a sucker for ska because I am a sucker for a horn section ALWAYS. "Tomorrow's Just Another Day" is another cool track sonically. It has a psychobilly swing to it like "Stray Cat Strut" that came out like a year prior, if I am not mistaken. This is just a more animated version of that, sonically. "Primrose Hill" is also a very interesting track because it feels very 80s and very late 60s at the exact same time. If The Beatles released this like 15 years prior, I'd be like "yeah, I see that". But I do love the driving piano part and then the horn section solo about a minute and a half in. It feels sinister but in like a "twirly mustached supervillain" kind of way.
A charming album off major streaming but worth your time to explore and dive deep.
Inoffensive to the ears, even if that one song gets played to death on 80s radio stations while the rest of the album gets ignored. Still white guy ska, though. You're never going to find me listening to this on purpose.
Tive uma experiência bem única com esse aqui, no começo estava achando um pouco esquisito, mas um esquisito bom. A música: "Madness (Is All in the Mind)" é muito bafonica com uma pegada meio jazz, minha favorita do álbum. Por fim, gostei bastante dos instrumentos de sopro e da vibe de nostalgia que todas as músicas me causaram. Nota 3.5/10
7/10 There are probably better Madness picks. This one has some bangers but also quite a few duds. Highlights: Our House Tomorrow's Rise And Fall Blue Skinned Beast
Our House is good but the bike and car song sounded like the same song
An album of nostalgic longing and wistfulness. Listened to from a position of nostalgic longing and wistfulness, some 40-something years on. Very disconcerting parallax effect, bestowing depth and (perhaps artificial) meaning to the randomness of (my) youth.
good
liked it at first but then it became boring, too long too repetitive
Liked the Our House song
Admittedly, I had a hard time finding the full album. But I was able to piece together enough to understand it. It’s fun and poppy with some working class takes. It’s a pretty locked in time sound of 80s Brit ska, but I don’t mind it. And of course we have all been inundated by “our house” over the years, for better or for worse.
This is pure, unadulterated, blistering, utter music Calling Cards is an awesome song tbh... good instrumentation throughout this album but that and Our House stand out particularly
3.5
"Our House" is a banger! So many memories of my Dad playing that one growing up. Just kinda ok outside of that one.
I can't believe people are mad about Apu when this exists
The overall sound that the had going on here wasn't my cup of tea. There were parts that sounded really good, but not enough popped up throughout the album.
I didn’t know Our House was theirs, completely caught me by surprise. I have a weird experience with that song. I distinctly remember listening to it as a kid in a pep rally and for whatever reason grappling with the concept of time never ending in Heaven for the first time. Such a funny juxtaposition between the fun environment/song and the internal turmoil going on in little me’s head. Anyways I’ve never been that big of a fan of the Ska revival but this one I was enjoying decently throughout. It is a bit gimmicky but still varied enough to hold the attention. Rating: 3.4
If this came out when I was in high school, this probably would have been my personality. It's totally fine. I'll never listen to it again though.
General thoughts: The sound is kinda spooky, I like it. Their style is very distinctive, and the songs are always catchy. In general, their arrangements were very good. I wouldn't define it as Ska though, or at least not what I use to call Ska. Quick wiki search says there have been 3 large ska movements since the 70s, I’m probably more used to the newer ones (? The album is very consistent but falls apart in the last third. Couldn’t get the hang of the lyrics Outstanding song(s): Our house Weakest song(s): Are you coming (With me) Cover: Very cool. Seems to reference some of the songs Real rating: 3.46
# 566 : The Rise & Fall The Rise & Fall – Madness, But Not the Good Kind The confidence of “Our House” is immediate and convincing—it’s the hit, the anthem, the reason this album exists. The rest? Fine. Thoughtful. A little fun. But let’s be honest: the best Madness album is The Best of Madness. You don’t often think of Madness album tracks, and this one doesn’t change that. This might be the most British album ever recorded—tea, rain, and mild existential dread in musical form. “House of Fun” is the best of the bunch, but everything else feels like a polite shrug wrapped in synths and ska-lite. Verdict: Three stars for charm. File under “albums that peaked at track one.” If you have to listen to this, look out for: House Of Fun Listened: 11/09/2025
V/rv
Couldn’t listen to the whole thing because it’s not on streaming. They sing with too strong British accents for it to be available in America, I guess. But I liked what I heard.
First off, don’t click the link to Spotify because whatever album they have on Spotify it is not this album. It’s some kind of collection of singles that isn’t anywhere near as good as this album. In general, not a huge fan of madness, but I really like this record. It’s a nice mix of ska, new wave and classic British pop. Enjoyed this record a lot once I found the right one.
Not a huge fan of this, but there were some tracks on here that I liked, like Our House and New Delhi. 2.75/5
It is what it is; it bad at all and nothing to write home about. 3/ 5
Didn't know anything other than Our House coming in, and I was also expecting more of a 90s Ska sound. Wasn't a bad album at all, just not something I'd seek out to listen to again.
Wish I liked it more.
Why is our house in the middle of our street??
They have a distinctive sound but it's a bit one trick pony. Nothing about it makes me want to listen to it twice. Or even once really, except that I have to.
firstly, a very unfortunate album cover. Secondly, I thought this album was fine. It had a lot of catchy songs on it but the signature madness sound starts to get a little grating before the album has finished. I definitely was growing tired as the second half of the album played. 3/5
The "Our House" album by British ska band. That is a great pop track but the rest is kinda weird.
Some good some bad.
Its got my favourite Madness song on it, 'Our House', but so do their many best of complations. I've never listened to a Madness album all the way through until now, and it was pretty good in places. But I won't make the effort again.
I’ve only ever listened to a greatest hits of Madness, in this albums case I can see why. It did have a couple of bigger songs on but the album as a whole was a bit meh.
could i write poetry to this? n
I always thought of Madness as a Second-Wave Ska band, akin to The Specials and The Skatelites. Throughout this album, they proclaim themselves as Rocksteady, a style that bridged Ska and Reggae. Mostly what I heard was much closer to a Beatles-influenced Pop outfit with a few minor elements of Ska and Rocksteady. Madness' best-known singles lean hard on Jamaican roots, but the majority of this album doesn't follow. They come across as being closer to Mod acts like The Jam than proper two-tone Ska acts like The Beat. Speaking of The Beat (a.k.a. The English Beat), are we going to see them on this list? They were as essential, if not more so, than Madness, had way more hits, and influenced some very significant artists (Pete Townshend, The Police, etc.).
If I wanted to listen to Emerson lake and Palmer I would have listened to Emerson lake and Palmer but overall not bad. It made me feel like I was in a fun house of horror though
Enjoyed Madness in my high school days but as an album it’s getting a three some great hits, but lacks an abundance of good tunes to make it a good album
Some fun stuff
Tienen un sonido propio y un manejo del ritmo muy peculiar. Es interesante, aunque no son mi estilo preferido.
Me gusta pero medio que me agota ese sonido circense constante.
Cool
I believe I have heard of this band not sure if I have listened to their material. Cool stuff. Not my style. I respect the music though.
Cool post-ska I guess you'd call it? The first quarter is let down by too-slick production and leaves a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. Rise and Fall opens sounding more like a Beatles track before speeding up into the most deadpan ska I've ever heard. More like one tone than two tone (yuk yuk). It regularly goes into full horn section polyphony but also has a very 80s slickness to it. Tomorrow is a classic Madness music hall number and it goes fine but the 80s production kind of misses the point of it being a really bawdy angular genre (especially when Madness do it). Kind of vaguely interesting avalanches of percussion in Blue Skinned Beast but I'm already losing interest. Things turn with Primrose Hill another classic music hall, this time a lot more on point with everything lined up to the rythym track in full ska fashion. Mr Speaker is super fun with tonnes of horns and some clever rythyms and overdubs. Sunday Morning is full of surprising little meter changes, weird tenor sax bits and some absolutely deranged piano vamps. Our House does its bit for reconciliation by somehow combining disco verses with a britpop chorus. That Face finally hits the right balance between the 80s production and the jauntiness of ska, lots of random horn blares fading in and out and delays over the top of rubato. Very nearly a four, its just a little too clean. I feel like this approach was actually perfected by Mr. Bungle a decade later (criminally they don't have a spot on the list).
Tiene mucha onda y hay una que otra canción en serio genial, pero para mi gusto la cosa se pone muy rara, muy pronto.
Boas músicas no começo, senti que se perde do meio pra final
omg these are the peeps who made our house. pretty baller ska type beats across the album mmmm
Fastincating ska album with great hits, with Our House and House of Fun. Props to the drummer for being great and fun. Other than that, it's a mixture of great songs and not-so-great songs.
I’d only heard “our house” so this was fun. Sounds like Ska music. Fun to dance to.
I forget how huge Madness were back in the day. They’re a brilliant singles machine, but I didn’t get much more from listening to an album. Will always be a good time when Baggy Trousers comes on in the pub, but not sure I’d ever choose to listen to them in the house.
Our House is a certified banger, but otherwise I'm the album is okay Ska Band.
Overall: 6/10 I had pretty low expectations for this one but I was decently surprised. Still not a great album or anything but it certainly had it moments of instrumental creativity that kept it interesting. I was certainly never bored while listening to it. Fav Song: Mr. Speaker Least Fav Song: New Delhi
Madness went a little more pop here it seems. You hear it in what became their biggest hit in "Our House". I was selfishly hoping for one of their earlier, more ska-oriented albums though. The "other" tracks on this album just felt underwhelming and aren't the sounds that accurately capture Madness as a whole.
Amazon music didn’t have this particular album, so I listened to a “best of” album. Enjoyed their quirky style!
Super fun sound. Curious why it's not on spotify?
Much better than I expected! They genuinely have a creative, fun sound with interesting elements sprinkled on the new wave pop formula. With New Delhi I didn’t get the lyrics fully, but from what I got it left a weird impression. Favorite track: Sunday Morning 6.5-7/10
I liked this album. For some reason it was not on Spotify, so I had to search for the songs. Very British. I knew Our House going in.
Our House and Driving in My Car
Madness es uno de los grupos que siempre me pongo para animarme, sobre todo su primer disco. Este no lo tenía escuchado salvo por Our House, pero sigue en la misma tónica: humor típicamente inglés y diversión. Perfecto para un viernes. 3'5/5
Liked the style
Fun stuff. Especially enjoyed the use of saxophone
I get that its fun and jaunty throughout, bit it doesnt keep the quality of the benchmark Our House (and It Must Be Love to an extent), I'm not much of a Ska guy either, but I can appreciate the effort here. Love the horns!
Great record by Madness, it strays away from their Ska roots, but it brings a different sound and a good set of songs for it.
Ok album with one great song.
Groupe connu par quelques tubes entendus à l'époque de leur sortie ('Embarrassment', 'One Step Beyond', 'Night Boat to Cairo'), et que j'appréciais. J'ai reconnu dans cet album 'Our house', très sympathique. Les morceaux sont moins reggae que les tubes que je connaissais, ce qui est plutôt une bonne chose pour moi ! L'harmonie est souvent originale et variée, ce qui est aussi une bonne surprise. Par contre certains morceaux sont plutôt ratés (Mr. Speaker, musique de cirque ??), l'album ne rejoindra donc pas ma collection. =>3/5
This one is very definitively Britain in the 1980s, isn't it? Partially based on the concept of childhood memories, the music recalls both the transatlantic New Wave scene and the ska movement in England. The album has a lot of character, but "Our House" is the best track by a mile. Given the subject matter and style, it's maybe no wonder that they did well in the UK but were a mere one hit wonder in the US over the same time.
An amazing listening experience, the songs are diverse and relaxing to have them in the background Fav song - Madness 3/5
Upbeat (sometimes oh cool sometimes straining my patience), playful New Wave album.
The well-known hit "Our House" stands far out of the rest of the album.
Other than not being able to find this one on Spotify (YouTube Music ftw), this one is a pretty rewarding find. I knew Our House, but hadn't heard any of the rest. It does get the "ska" label, but if you want to label it that you have to consider how early in that genre this one was, so its ska-ness, if it is that, doesn't overwhelm. Plenty of quirkiness, and chock full of saxy songs, they don't all land for me, but there's enough to keep me interested.
Another album that was released during my formative years, and another album that contains several tracks I'm well-familiar with. As a complete album though it was not as good as I was hoping for. There seemed to be multiple tracks that just never really got going.
Standout Songs: Blue Skinned Beast Mr Speaker (Gets The Word) Our House Calling Cards Not a bad album, and a song I already knew. Just didn’t blow me away
This was a pleasant surprise. It's a good album but no more than that. It just doesn't have the impact or hold the attention like those first two albums. 3 stars overall. Would I listen again? No Would I buy this album? No Side One 1. "Rise and Fall" 3:16 - 3* 2. "Tomorrow's (Just Another Day)" 3:10 - Excellent tune. 4* 3. "Blue Skinned Beast" 3:22 - A little jarring musically. 3*. 4. "Primrose Hill" 3:36 - This has the 'Madness sound' and references. 4* 5. "Mr. Speaker (Gets the Word)" 2:59 - Quirky. 4* 6. "Sunday Morning" 4:01 - 3* 21/30 Side Two 7. "Our House" 3:23 - 5*. Classic song. A big hit. 8. "Tiptoes" 3:29 - Nice keyboards. Good song. 3* 9. "New Delhi" 3:40 - 3* 10. "That Face" 3:39 - 3* 11. "Calling Cards" 2:19 - 3* 12. "Are You Coming (With Me)" 3:17 - The piano is good on this. 3* 13. "Madness (Is All in the Mind)" 2:53 - One of the better tracks on the album. Jazzy. 4* 24/35
Ok overall
Ive had a run of awful albums so this was a nice change However id be lying if I said I wasn't a little disappointed with it. Our House stands out like a sore thumb, it's not only the best, but its the best by a mile. The rest is fine, but not as good as I was expecting Its a 3
Our House is played on the radio but don't think I've heard the rest of this.
Was expecting to love this but the singles are definitely the strongest on there! An interesting take on madness but their more mainstream sound is still my fav
Favorite Track: Our House
This one leans into a kind of whimsical silliness—like a collection of quirky little sing-song character stories. It’s not an album I’d reach for instinctively, but some of these tracks definitely float around in the cultural ether. I remember hearing a few growing up or catching them in the general zeitgeist. Not quite my usual vibe, but I get the charm, sort of.
Didn't know that this was considered ska; was bracing myself for something more annoying but just sounds like pleasant rock and roll. Nothing particularly hard hitting or memorable though.
Very fun, very catchy, very energetic New Wave record. I must say, I'm not a fan of Reggae or any of its derivatives (including Ska), but this album was pleasently surprising to me, though the Ska elements are significantly paired down. Cool. Key tracks: Rise and Fall Sunday Morning Our House
I listed to their self-titled album instead of this one, but I feel I got the jist of it. It's fine. Our House has stayed somewhat relevant and catchy.
um pré-indie circense, cheio de ideias, denso. gostaria que fosse mais dançante.
fun
Pretty good! Our house stuck out like a sore thumb a bit but many of the songs were interesting and generally well crafted. Just a tad boring now and again. 3/5
Madness are an all time great singles band which makes their best of the definitive album There’s a few of those classics on here (Our House, House of Fun, Driving In My Car) but quite a lot of filler as well
Cartoonist, carnival, and child like. kind of annoying, kind of fun.
had to listen to their most popular album becauser amazon did not have this one, it was fine
Second wave ska is always fun. Wish I could’ve heard more than three tracks. I’ll have to seek this out on CD
As up and down as its title suggests.
middle of the street
Not sure what to make of this. It's sounds quite experimental and almost a concept album. Obviously enjoyed the big hits, our house, another day etc... Some of the other tracks need more listening to. Not sure about accents on New Delhi
A decent record with solid production and a mix of quirky, upbeat tracks. The clear standout is “Our House,” which brings most of the album’s charm and energy. Outside of that, the rest of the record is fairly average.
I though that I would enjoy it more
It’s decent, Our House is a banger tho
It’s a very unique sound and I can be there for that but god damn does this list have to stop with every band that could foreseeably be in a Tim Burton soundtrack.
It’s a fairly decent ska album. The back half dropped off a bit.
Liked the first half of this more than I expected. Couldn’t really get over rNew Delhi tho. What a yikes!
Hressilega heimskulegt en skemmtilegt. Ansi nálægt menningarnámi og jaðrar við að vera fordómafullt. Aðrir tímar, 3,5.
They’ve got a unique sound, but that might be their best hook. Overall it’s okay but not special.
Overall it's pretty good. Apart from the all-time classic "Our House" it lacks any other big hits. However, the music is very well done, and fits that new wave aesthetic. I'm glad to have heard the rest of this album. "Calling Cards", was just a fun little romp that had me smiling. "Our House" of course will make the 1001 playlist, and overall I rank the album at just above average. ~ 2.8 stars
Okay. Bad not updating the cover.
Was surprised when Our House played. Was not aware it was on this album. The rest of the album stayed interesting throughout. 3⭐️
What a weird album. Feels really experimental, and kinda all over the place genre wise, but manages to stay consistent in tone/sound throughout. When Our House came up I was shocked since I was not expecting to recognize anything on this. And honestly, the fact that anything on this album broke through and became a hit is insane to me considering how much this album just does not care whether it's accessible or not. Overally, enjoyed the album for what it was, but it was kinda silly a lot of the time and generally sits in a style that I find hard to take seriously I guess. A lot of dated sounding bass and instrumentals that while they don't sound dated in the context of the songs (In fact, they manage to make those sounds come off as really unique and fresh), it's tough for me to separate them out from other music I hear those sounds in and are extremely dated/cheesy themselves.
eh.. not bad has the song "our house" which has been an ear worm for generations. Well put together album just not for me.
That one song sounds like fever by Peggy lee
Cute
Why did we get two ska bands in a row? Seems statistically unlikely. Our House is great, the song after (Tiptoe I think ) was good. Had to listen on YouTube so it was hard to tell what track was what. This was a big shrug 🤷♀️
When I was a roadie, I took down the stage after a Madness gig. When the show ended, Madness walked passed us roadies waiting backstage. Chas gave us a wave and a thumbs up. He was the only musician who ever acknowledged the crew. Nice one, Chas. Mr Speaker is a jam. Some really good songs on here. Very British, very London.
Despite the title, The Rise & Fall sounds like Madness gelling into a new form, that they were more than what people thought of them as. A noble effort, even if it sounds nothing like the most enduring song here and it often feels as though it falls through the cracks. Favorites: Rise and Fall, Tomorrow's (Just Another Day), Blue Skinned Beast, Mr. Speaker (Gets the Word), Our House, New Delhi, That Face.
Ganz ok, ein paar gute Lieder und viele Instrumentale
Strong energy
Yeah, not my favourite Madness stuff however great story telling of a time in England I would say. Just prefer the more fun and Ska stuff
I really enjoyed the creepy undertones in the music
Know most of these songs because my dad is a huge fan. Not my favourite thing, but mostly good and Our House is really good.
I don’t mind them in small doses but a whole album is too much for me. It’s all variations on the same that grates on me after a while.
Some classics on this album. The rest is of a wide array musically, but still recognizable as Madness (pun might be intended). A bit too sober at times for my taste.
I respect it but I wouldn't listen to it
Genuinely better than I was expecting as I didn't think I liked Madness. This was solid.
Entertaining. Some songs I knew. Kind of too "weird" in a way to be in my must hear list. Also, I am not sure if this is the case because youtube sometimes does this, but I seriously did not need a thirty song marathon of an album. I did, frankly, get a bit sick of it after a while. That should not damage the band or its value, and I won't let it. It is entertaining and decent.
Meh.
Boring, but it may be because the sound quality on You Tube is shit.
our house ...lalala, auch sonst ganz nett
The album title describes the fluctuations within the album. Favorite Track: "Our House".
It's quite enjoyable. I'm glad I listened to it. But I don't feel the need to go out and buy it (I can't stream on Spotify, though I did find it on YouTube -- I see that this album was never released in the United States.) It's another "7 out of 10" that's good but that will get rounded down to 3 stars out of 5.
This album only had 3 songs available on Spotify. I found a compilation album called “Madness” that contained all 3 available songs among others. I did enjoy it but I doubt I’d listen again.
This seemed like pretty standard Madness. They are alright, not my favourite vibe though. Simpsons: No
Not an album and it's fine
7/10
I've never been big on Madness except for the odd song. It's a very poppy version of Ska. The album is okay, but not anything special. 3/5
very cheeky
Only 3 playable songs on this one, no good bit 3 stars on those
A goofy pop blend Saturated with brass horns And catchy lyrics
Shortest album ever??
Quick
It was fine but the best stuff is commonly played on the radio and the other stuff is noticeably less inspired
Fun but not really a relisten
Had to go to YouTube because for some reason Spotify only has a three song EP version of this? Get your shit together Spotify! And then practically every song was interrupted by ads? Get your shit together YouTube!! Solid album, though. Our House gets a five, but the entire package lands just shy of 4. 3.7
Didn’t know who tf this was but lot of famous songs I knew very well, crazy
Sort of fun but also quite mid and forgettable.
Its ok, parts are great, and others are not so. I like the range of instruments, but some of the piano parts are a bit bad. Favourite songs: Tomorrow's (just another day), primrose hill, our house, calling cards, house of fun. Overall around 6/10
Pretty cool pop album
Really fun listen. Ska is not in my top genres but this was a nice diversion while I was working.
3,5/5 synes det er rigtig fint album. Kan godt lide lyden. De er åbenbart lidt komiske i deres tekster og lyd (ska?) lyd som er inspireret af jazz, carribean og alt muligt andet.
Yeah this was fine, the hits hit and the others are listenable
A lot of nostalgia for Madness as their greatest hits was one of the first albums I bought. Listening again after all this years was a bit of a struggle to be honest. Suggs vocals are pretty irritating and whilst they do have some catchy tunes (like our house) - it all feels a bit moronic and music for people who don't really like music. A very low 3
Good band from the 80’s till now. Some good songs to remember them by.
Interesting, mostly fun, and worth a listen, but it doesn't have the craziness of One Step Beyond or the catchiness of Absolutely. Best: Our House (of course), Mr Speaker, Calling Cards. House of Fun comes up as a bonus track
The album itself is nice enough, but man what is this cover?
I didn’t mind this. It was kinda funky, but sometimes got circus-y and that was too much for me
Interesting album. I’m not very familiar with this group, but it sounds like they put out a very experimental effort, which I appreciate. It’s about a 3 for me. Deduct a star for the racism sprinkled throughout, but add a star for the banger that is Our House. So 3 stars it remains.
"Our House" ist ja recht bekannt. Der Rest: naja
The conditions were ripe for one to become a pretty big Madness fan. “House of Fun” had a big impact when one first experienced on MTV – the revelation was that music could be this free, fun and wacky and still be cool. But then “Our House” felt too tame and sentimental and much less cool. (Interestingly, it sounds pretty decent today) Today, this doesn’t do a bunch, while being perfectly fine overall – “Are You Coming with Me?” is solid, eg. There are subtleties of range – bit of ska, bit of music hall, some vaguely Roxy Music vibes (“Sunday Morning”) – but only subtleties, with a net effect of one-notedness. Simply hasn’t aged as well as one might’ve thought.
Always a fun listen
Unfortunatly on 3 songs from this album are avaiable on spotify.
Had a hell of a time finding this album, apparently it was never released in the US. Anyway YouTube came through. I had no idea that the 80’s classic “Our House” came from this, but there it was. That’s obviously the highlight, but the rest was actually quite enjoyable as well. It’s a good 80’s new wave, synth, horn/ska time.
I don't really have much criticism of this. I just find it a bit light and jokey. Almost too nice. Maybe I'm just a miserablist. 3
Ton of fun. The album isn't very diverse but it works pretty well, expecially lived the instrumentals mixing pop and some jazzy influences, very unique
i liked crazy ska madness a bit more. whats up with the racist stuff?
Not my thing
This was fine. Not great, not bad.... Just fine.
Whimsical pop, recognized Our House
Fantastic singles band, never made a great album, although One Step Beyond should be in ahead of this. Solid greatest hits.
Our House sounds as good as ever. The album is fun & short.
247/1001
i like madness because i have a soft spot for ska but they are definitely more of a singles band than an LP band. some great songs off this album though fav songs: house of fun, tiptoes, our house
Pretty good, catchy.
Slightly disappointed if I'm being honest, because I do really like Madness. I love their style and what they're about, and they have some great hits. This album is a bit hit and miss for me. It is interesting, and has a variety of different styles, but not all the tracks are landing for me. Our House is SUCH a tune and is definitely the stand out. Spotify actually randomly skipped it on the playthrough, so I was really confused about how I could have worked through it and not noticed. The rest of the album doesn't hold up to that track unfortunately.
It's a funny coincidence that this album was generated back-to-back with The Village Green Preservation Society. Blur's Parklife came up only a few weeks ago. I like The Rise & Fall but I don't think it's as good as either of those albums.
Fine, I guess. A little kooky, a little adventurous, a little varied in musical sounds, a little boring. For a ska band and album, they don't really push the boundaries as much as I expect for this genre. At least they got the only song from these guys I've ever heard of? (Our House) But I'm still not going back for more.
My reaction to each song - "this is ok." That pretty much sums up the album. A lot of tracks sounded almost like a soundtrack for Halloween (e.g., Tomorrow's Just Another Day and Mr. Speaker Gets the Word. Favorite tracks: Our House (mainly because I know it), Tomorrow's Just Another Day, Blue Skinned Beast.
AKA 'that album with the "Our House" song'. Some of these tracks are quite nutty, but overall it's a fun listen.
Our house and two other songs. Very brief album
кажется мелодичнее чем ожидаешь от ска, но нельзя сосредоточиться на 28/30трековом альбоме и что-то осознать, понимание тонет в 10 версиях одной и той же песни
Lots of spooky songs
The uttermost representative of Britishness in the 1980s. Not too high on ska-punk, but think it is done well here, and certainly enjoy quite a bit of this. 3.5 stars
3.5
No rising or falling, just a lot of ‘Midness’. House Of Fun is still a bop but really the only Madness record worth checking out is their Greatest Hits.
No way was I listening to a 1:45 hour compilation album, but I liked what I heard.
Was a time in my teenage years that I'd have counted Madness as one of my favourite bands. Those days are long, long past. They're excellent musicians, tight as a gnat's twat, and they did start to bring ska and two-tone to the UK. But their best works are straight up covers, and the "larf" attitude expressed in their music just doesn't quite feel right after all this time. I've met Suggs - twice - and he's a genuinely different from the stage persona, being more sober, less whimsical and actually a jolly decent seeming human. But I really can't listen to them anymore without thinking that I'd honestly prefer to be listening to either the British contemporaries like Bad Manners or The Specials - or even better, to Island acts like Prince Buster, the Skatellites. It's actually a bit of a shame because they're not a bad act - at all - it's just that I don't really dig them anymore.
this seems pretty good i was enjoying the swinging and melodic semi-theatrical style but i didnt actually take a good look at the album cover until i was in the second half or so of the record and i was like Is That Fucking Blackface and then i just lost my whole train of thought for the rest of the album oops!
Interesting
The album aged even worse than the cover art
Unavailable on Apple Music. Will revisit on YouTube.
Enjoyed this. Not an amazing album, but fun to listen to.
Our House was the only familiar song to me. Didn’t particularly like the album but it wasn’t awful.
Oh this is BRITISH British. Highlights: Blue Skinned Beast, Primrose Hill, Mr. Speaker, Madness (Is All In The Mind) Nadir: New Delhi
As a child growing up in Britain in the 80s, Madness were a part of the cultural wallpaper. As I grew older they became the staple of office Christmas parties, where 50 year old sales managers would try and recapture their distant youth by doing the nutty boy dance to One Step Beyond or Baggy Trousers. As such, this has been my total exposure to Madness. This album is better and more nuanced than I thought it would be. The singles Our House and Tomorrow's (Just Another Day) are good, but they are not alone on this album. There is a lot to enjoy here, it's far better than I expected.
Love the ska elements. Some tracks were kinda confusing with their tempo and didn't fit in but the album was pretty good! Highlights: Rise and Fall Our House Tiptoes
Short album. Liked our house. Good variety. 3.5
I almost want to give this a 4 but I really don’t think I will listen again it seems to favor theme over music a bit too much. Our House great song.
For some reason only four songs from this album were available on Spotify, two of which I was familiar with since they were huge singles from the 80’s. I was enjoying all four songs and I’ll give the full album a listen in the future but for now I’ll rate what I’ve heard as a 3.5.
The album was alright, the songs were enjoyable but not great or super interesting. 'Our House' stands out among the pack and is pretty well known around these parts. Unfortunately the rest of the album doesn't hit like that again. Maybe the lyrics are more interesting, but I somewhat forgot to listen to them because my attention wasn't held Standouts Rise and Fall Our House 3/5
It's a fun enough album. Not the best in the world. But it DOES have Our House, and then there's a few more fun songs. Just a tad above average, I think
3☆/5 09.26.2024
This was a pleasant surprise! I wish I could've used Spotify to hear the entire thing, but I'll keep an eye out and do another listen. 3.5/5
Why wasn't this ever released in US? We got a different album with same singles but different album tracks. This is better than that one, too. Madness is probably my #3 second wave ska band, behind Specials and English Beat. I bet they put on a helluva live show, but their albums don't have a lot of depth to them.
I enjoyed getting to listen to a band I've never really heard of before (although I definitely heard plenty of "Our House" on the radio), even if this isn't a particularly great or memorable album or band. Lots of effervescent pop sounds--I'm not sure why they're labeled ska, unless my understanding of "ska" is very flawed? ("Tiptoes" was the only track that seemed ska-like.) Outside of "Our house", I'm not sure there are many other tracks that were all that distinctive for me; maybe I'd call out "Tomorrow's (just another day)", "Mr Speaker gets the word", and the Talking-Heads-reminiscent "That face", plus the fun video for "Calling cards". (I really wanted to like "Blue skinned beast" given the political skewering of Thatcher, but the song got in the way of my enjoyment.) Although it's not nearly as cohesive or interesting, I can see why the "1001 Albums" editor likened this album to "The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society", as there's a sort of snapshot element to many of the songs. And I *will* say this was substantially more interesting to listen to than, say "Simply Red" or "Pet Shop Boys" (who I feel like have some affinity to Madness).
Not bad, but I can see why Our House is the only enduring song they had
Interesting hotchpotch of vaudeville, ska, jazz, cockney music hall. Tomorrow’s Just Another Day and Our House are the big hitters but the latter’s chorus irritates the hell out of me especially with those fake key changes. Stephen Thomas Erlewine compared it to The Kinks’ The Village Green Preservation Society (at least in concept) but that’s a real stretch. In truth it’s a little rambling and unfocused musically for me to be ranked in the top tier
Quirky original, and sometimes dark 80s new wave Brit pop that has big instrumentation and lots of clever writing.
I actually quite enjoyed this album. It was pretty unknown to me but I enjoyed this album as if I already knew them really well. My enjoyment obviously peaked at Our House which never fails to put me in a good mood.
Hey it's that our house song!
give me back my cigarettes and a stench of hate you can keep the furniture with the dust on the shelf three kids in the chimney and a spark in there as well car parked in the forest dont want anyone to stare burn down the whole hotel, release me release me
Love a good, short-album. This has fun and good hooks. Along with a massive 80s hit.
When I was a kid growing up in the 80s a new song (and video) from the ‘Nutty Boys’ was always a treat, but I’ve never listened to a whole album. On this, their fourth album, they find a different tone, delving into nostalgia for childhood and family life, and tackling darker topics like depression and the aftermath of the Falklands War. This was originally a concept album but it drifted slightly (and let’s not mention the misstep of New Delhi and the cover)
This is pretty OK; I like the atmosphere of the album, that is a mixture of joy (it's ska after all) and nostalgia/melancholy. It's pretty diverse too. But if I can see its qualities, I'm not really fond of the result and if the production is good, it sounds a bit dated nonetheless.
Our House still catchy as hell....but seems like this is a one-hit wonder band.
really like our house
Always thought I didn’t like madness due to the baggy trosuers song. This album was much better than I expected, worthy of this list.
Our house in the middle of the street and some other interesting sounds from eclectic styles actually
Bizarre. Their whole thing has become ‘yer uncle loves these guys live and has seen them 87 times’ but listening to this I can’t imagine anyone thinking it’d be a vibrant live experience, it comes across as very low energy as if Suggs is sitting on a stool knackered going through the motions. I was expecting it to be quite formulaic but some of the music is actually quite interesting in a ‘Jolly ironic haunting’ kind of way. Removing Suggs sluggish nature and this was really good
Like The Specials, Madness were popular with the big, scary boys so I never really got into them (I'm still a bit wary of "House of Fun"). This is pretty good, killer singles and diverse, tuneful other tracks, worth the effort it took to find online. I still don't love em, though, a bit samey and not as inventive as their Kinks forebears
The Rise and Fall has a few Madness classics that make some of the other tracks seem like filler. It's still a fun listen though.
Fun tunes, but a few songs is enough
It’s nice but I do realise there’s a reason I heard of them before but never really listened to them
Has some addicitive tunes, but did not impress me enough to get a higher score.
Huge hit in Our House. They added like 5 versions of this song to the album. The rest of the songs sound very similar. Okay listen but will not return. 3/5
Fun album, actually exciting in a way that the band members made it clear they love what they do; and are good at it. 3.4
Ok nothing special
Thank you fellow reviewers for making me notice the blackface on the cover, wtf. Kind of a fun album, said ska but not what I expected.
Unapologetically British, albeit sometimes painfully so. Fun shit. Madness is def one of the stranger groups in that late 70s/early 80s aka scene. Pretty playful and weird in a fun way. Feels like it would score an 80s comedy starring a Brit version of judge reinhold where he ends up randomly going in and out of an un-explained cartoon universe Fav tracks: Rise and fall and Primrose hill
Too short of an album
It was alright. I liked their sound. Our House is the obvious highlight.
3.4
Is there a more successful UK band in the UK outside of The Beatles? Go ahead, I'll wait. The record of Madness is amazing. 15 out of their first 17 singles went top 10 in the UK - 33 Top 40 hits all time. All but one of their 13 studio albums went Top 20 (9 Top 10's, 6 Top 5), and their latest release in 2023 was their first #1. WTF? This would be the 4th and last of what most would call their classic records with \"silly fun songs\". Some classic songs, but mixed in with a lot of songs that probably came from cranking out 4 albums in 4 years and initially trying a \"concept\" album. The boys grew up.
Sound good, but listened to it before the weekend, and two days later can't remember a thing from it, except singles
This had some good moments, even some jazzy parts, but overall it was too poppy for me…
One of those with one absolutely great song, and a lot of filler. Glad I listened to it but will not put this on regular rotation.
I've gotten a few Madness records on this list, and found their move from ska to ska-tinged pop (which, being honest, comes across more jazzy than anything) interesting. It's not music I enjoy, but it's not music I find offensive. The topics covered (and sounds) in this one even stretch this record to what someone might call an early brit-pop record, i.e. the monotony of suburban living. It's fine, nothing I'm over the moon about, however. Favorite tracks: "Tiptoes", "Calling Cards"
Madness er fjörug hljómsveit. Smá ska. Smá hressleiki. Ég hef hlustað af og til á eitt og eitt lag en aldrei heila plötu. Þetta var reyndar ekki heil plat heldur. Höfundaréttur kom í veg fyrir það. Það virðist samt vera á viðbótarlögum sérstakrar útgáfu frekar en sjálfri plötunni þannig að ég dreg ekki jafnmikið niður.
es goht afoch los ohni nüt irgendwie. afoch go. sie sind d our house boys und de song tönt au so. blöser, snare uf jede schlag wenn nöd achtel, parallel zweistimmig, trocheni chorus gitarre. tönt geil. tommorrows just another day au no geil. blue skinned beast chan au öppis, nostalgischer und denn weirde bridge teil? isch da de refrain? funny. saxophon chli frank vibes (aso afoch chli goofy) mit de ziit. primrose hill isch bitz zirkusmusig, aber sehr guet arrangierti blöser herr redber au wieder sehr goofy aber au dark? rieese arrangement? sundig morge funny rhythmus? ich ha chli s gfühl wennd nöd us england bisch cheggsch das album nöd ganz. our house absolut verdienterwiis sonen hit. riesig. sooo viel hooks. tiptoes wieder sehr goofy ass aber no herzig. diese gesicht wieder chli meh hooks aber sie sind weniger popsong struktur als ich denkt han. s klavier isch extreeem geil. calling cards nervt mi etz es bitz? find ihren sound uf ziit nld soo geil.
noaml kenni nur our house aber mal luege es seg eis vo ihrne experimentelkste albe? ok die erste 2 lieder sind na funny aber hauet mi jz nöd um hmm ich finds ah sich cool mite blöser und de taktwechsel hie und da aber hautmi nüt us de socke mr. speaker het ener gnervt iwie ischs komisch, es sind klar anderi lieder, aber das klavier tönt immer chli glich und es isch jz öppe ide hälfti chli langwilig aso ozr house isch halt eifach en riese bop aber de rest findi echt rechr langwilig leider puh ja es zieht sich chli are you coming with me isch na cool madness findi eig no en coole closener. joa ohni our house würds glaub es 2 geh, sorry drei
I don’t think the full album is on Spotify so I’m sorry that I didn’t seek out all of it. Kinda cool, I liked when our house came on because I didn’t know it was these guys, the rest a kinda Todd rundgren fun house? Not bad I’d say
mal so mal so
I've always thought that I don't like Madness, and I still don't really like Madness, but I didn't find this album annoying as I do some of their most famous hits. Speaking of which, Our House is a quite undeniable bop. Fave Tracks: Our House 2.7/5
Hard to believe a band with so many members results in such a thin sound. "Our house" bumped up the rating, if not for that it would have been probably a 1.
Our house in the middle of our street...3/5
It's Madness. does exactly what you'd expect. Some great tunes but mostly goes by without much to note.
Un toque de alegria y marcha muy refrescante.
Of the 80’s ska bands that made it, these guys probably hit the highest chart peak. Certainly weren’t the best in my opinion. Specials, The Beat, and The Selecter were all the real shit, while the “Our House” boys sold their precious souls for cash. Trite little tunes of 80’s joy. No harm, no foul. Just a bit boring. Go spin Too Much Pressure. Boom!
Good time for sure. There is some interesting stuff and Our House is an 80s standard.
One of the better albums of that Genre.
pleasant enough. not sure if this is groundbreaking or unique in any way...decent but forgettable.
Our house goes hard but the rest pretty mid 3.5 leaning 3
Solid þristur. Our house er meistaraverk en það er slatti af filler efni þarna. Hljóðið varð smá áreiti eftir því sem leið á seinni hluta. Ekki alinn upp við the madness sound.
Fínt að fá smá Madness, alltaf léttir og skemmtilegir. Fullt af góðum lögum, tomorrows just another day alltaf í miklu uppháldi hjámér. Slappari kaflar inn á milli.
the rise and fall tomorrow's just another day
Me gustó mucho en su generalidad, aunque tiene taaanto temas (como 30) que también tiene mucha porquería. Es un ska lento medio jazzero.
I love Our House, but the rest of the album didn't interest me much.