Search - Crunch :: Nutty Boys

A return to form - ska baby ska

Steve K. Bringe | Albuquerque, New Mexico USA | 08/12/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After a decade of whittling away at the band, Madness longtimers Lee "Kix" Thompson and Chris "Chrissy Boy" Thompson were all that remained of the original seven members by the time this album originally hit the stands in 1990 in the UK. While some of that nutty groove is underlying, Crunch! is much more ska-based than most Madness albums, save their opening album One Step Beyond, a back to basics approach that works well.Too bad it took over a decade for this album to get a US pressing, for Chris and Lee missed out on the California ska-revival by a few years and this album could have benefited from the third wave propelled by The Aquabats, No Doubt, Save Ferris, Dance Hall Crashers, et al. Still, it's never too late, and not having to buy this album ... on import should interest skeptics.The US pressing includes a superb remix of the main track from the album (Magic Carpet, co-penned by Madness lead Suggs), as well as the UK only single It's Okay I'm A Policeman (probably their strongest outing, samples and all.)In two words: Buy it. If you're a Madfan, you'll appreciate the two words all the more. Just check your 12" UK singles."