OK, as you may have noticed my regular punters are into reggea and ska so I have just picked up two new ones

UB40 Who you fighting for
A couple of good tracks _ Reasons is fair, but a bit disappointing overall. Don't think it's quite up to their usual standard

Madness Dangermen Sessions
Heard a couple of tracks in the week and made a beeline for ASDA. It's covers of old tracks, but upbeat. You Keep Me Hanging On is great, also Shame And Scandal (originally a calypso ).
And you have to check out Lola in Madness style. Brilliant.
Only down The Isrealites. How can you play a version where you can understand the words. No more "Me Ears Are Alight"

Love the Madness CD even if it does seem a little over-produced, if they wanted to get back to their roots (which is what the dangermen sessions were all about) then why go and spoil it all by going all digital on us. That said can't wait for Vol 2 as I know they've recorded a version of Roland Alphonso's Phoenix City now known as Camden Town.

Funny how you should mention Madness doing an album of covers in the same post as UB40, isn't this their first album of only own compositions since Present Arms? A return to the form of their early albums could only be hoped for

P.S. A before E Robbie

I intend to get the new Madness album, the tracks I have heard on the radio sound good!

I don't reckon there version of shame and scandal is up to much not enough oomph!