Absolutely cover

Absolutely

Released

Madness’ second album finds the band continuing to explore the sounds of vintage ska while more deeply incorporating elements of R&B and the English music hall. There’s a distinctly vaudevillian vibe at work here, created in part by Suggs’ strong Cockney accent and by the predominance of tinkly honky-tonk piano, though cheesy Farfisa organ brings a subtle new wave flavor to the proceedings and the band’s horn section keeps the overall sound rich and dense. And of course you’ve got the novelty material as well, notably the blues-based “Solid Gone.”

Rick Anderson

Recommended by

Suggestions
Intensified cover

Intensified

Desmond Dekker & the Aces
Sacred Songs cover

Sacred Songs

Daryl Hall
BDF Meets Loud & Lone cover

BDF Meets Loud & Lone

Basque Dub Foundation, Loud & Lone
Beat Crazy cover

Beat Crazy

Joe Jackson
Trevor Jackson Presents Metal Dance 2 cover

Trevor Jackson Presents Metal Dance 2

Various Artists, Trevor Jackson
Subculture cover

Subculture

The Selecter
Beat cover

Beat

King Crimson