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Absolutely

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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

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