"Granted I'm a huge fan of Madness to beginning with even to the point of spending a year or two of my college life on some madness mailing list and message board, however this album is totally solid. There aren't any flakes or half-done compositions, awesome old school reggae (no dancehall/dub) but with the occasional Madness twist and a 2005 update. I can't wait for a volume #2. Two Dekker songs and another Prince Buster song - great selections. "You'll lose a good thing" is along the lines of Hepcat - just awesome. Good job boys - come back to the East Coast USA!"
This'll do for now
Clark Kent | Portland OR | 05/06/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This album will do until they can put out another batch of originals. It's on a par with Elvis Costello's "Kojak Variety:" well-picked covers done well.
Perhaps a tad too many mid-tempo songs, but hey it's ska.
Anyhow, Madness has nothing at all to prove after 1999's masterpiece of a comeback "Wonderful." They still got it and probably always will.
Best three cuts are "So Much Trouble in the World," "You'll Lose a Good Thing," and "Shame and Scandal.""
Good better best
R. J. Kasimier | Netherlands | 10/27/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a very good album of Madness. One of their best.
But they can do better
Rob"
Model Madness!
Erica | Washington | 02/25/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have been a Madness fan since the 80's and this CD is a gem! What was old is new again, eh? I love the upbeat ska grooves and my kids enjoy it too. Highly recommended--the boys have done good!"
NUTTY BOY SKA LIVES ON!!!
Sean M. Gaskin | New Zealand | 11/28/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Yup, another long time fan here. My first Madness gig ticket cost me the princely sum of three pounds sterling back in April 1980, haha....and a sterling gig it was too! The same can be said for The Dangermen Sessions, Volume 1. On first listening, it reminded me a bit of Sugg's Lone Ranger album. Maybe because they're about the only 2 Madness related recordings not produced by Langer/Winstanley. Anyway, the Magnificent 7 have done a great job of covering some good ol' ska classics. We all know that the boys need a bit of a shaking to get motivated and they probably couldn't be bothered writing anything just now! Don't quote me on that, but doing ska covers not only gives us something that we are already familiar with, but it takes us back to their roots at the same time. The sound still has the Madness feel to it and yet is slightly updated, maybe due to different producers. It would also seem that gone are the days when that Nutty Sound was to english for other countries to get a grip of. Tho' they have always had die-hard fans from around the world, it appears they are now picking up a new generation of fans as the Madness train steams on. Keep it lively, boys! So from a long-term fan now based in NZ, it's top marks from me and I look forward to more Dangermen Sessions."