museless aiming

Madness

So despite its incredibly stupid intro, Madness' One Step Beyond (1979) is a pretty good album. Reminds me of The Specials' self-titled, and both are a clear influence on early Sublime.

It strikes me that "Night Boat to Cairo" is a lot like Adam and the Ants' "Cleopatra" (musically and topically) but as both came out in 1979 I don't yet know whether one was in imitation of the other, or if they both betray some larger obsession with Egypt in that year. (I'm told to look into Jonathan Richmond and the Modern Lovers released 'Egyptian Reggae' in 1977 -- will think about this.)

My girl's mad at me
We argued just the other night
I thought we'd got it straight
We talked and talked until it was light
I thought we'd agreed
I thought we'd talked it out
Now when I try to speak
She says that I don't care
She says I'm unaware
And now she says I'm weak

: music : : reviews : : 1979 :

Tue May 15 19:45:05 BST 2007