SpaCeMonKeY UK

Album Project Update! 'Absolutely' (1980). The Madness of this album is largely the same as their debut. Full of energy but surprisingly accomplished for their age. Everyone knows 'Baggy Trousers'. 'Embarrassment' is an interesting song since it deals with the rejection of Lee Thompson's sister, who's discovered to be pregnant with a black man's child. You'd hope that things have changed a lot in the 31 (yikes!) years since the song was written. Overall I don't think I like this album quite as much as their first... But it's still great!

Labels: 1980, Absolutely, Album Project, Madness

As the next stage in my Album Project I've decided to listen to all the Madness albums. It's a bit cheating maybe since I have listened to them all quite a few times before. But I thought it'd be good to listen to them again. Started with 'One Step Beyond...' (1979). You can tell the band's young and full of energy. It's hard to picture them like that really, if you're familiar with them now. It has a couple of songs that they didn't write (including 'One Step Beyond', the title track). It's a really strange mixture (I've always liked their version of 'Swan Lake') with lots of amusingly observed songs, most of which have a slight air of menace. One of my favourite Madness songs is on this album, namely 'Night Boat to Cairo'. It's a brilliant debut album.

Labels: 1979, Album Project, Madness, One Step Beyond

Well lots of things have happened since I last blogged, the most important of which is that our friends Ali and Mat had a baby! He was born three weeks early (27th October), he's very small. His name is Jonas. I guess I'm next!

On the pregnancy front I did go through quite a rough patch with horrible pain but things are a bit better now. Just have to try not to do too much round the house. I'm not very good at bossing Rob around though and he'd like to spend all his time playing Dark Souls. Oh well, I expect he'll get bored of it soon. ;)

On Saturday 29th October we went to Anglesey Abbey and Lode Mill, chosen because it was halfway between Southend and Leicester. Rob and I met up with my mum, dad and brother. It was a lovely day and very interesting, didn't get too worn out either which was good. Well worth a visit, lots to see.

Last we celebrated the destruction of terrorists in the traditional fashion, setting off a bunch of fireworks. What with it being November 5th on a Saturday pretty much everyone had their fireworks on the proper night - it was very smoggy!

Anyway, I think that's about it. :)