As Madness fans anxiously await the release of the band's tenth studio album “Oui Oui, Si Si, Ja Ja, Da Da” worldwide on October 29, 2012, the excellent online ska magazine Reggae Steady Ska that is written by Joachim Uerschels (lead singer and guitarist for The Braces (1984-2006), acoustic ska project Joe Scholes) has initiated a very special countdown. Every day over the next ten days, the site is publishing one article a day written by passionate Madness fans about each of the nine previous studio albums: “One Step Beyond”, “Absolutely”, “7″, “Madness Presents The Rise & Fall”, “Keep Moving”, “Mad Not Mad”, “Wonderful”, “The Dangermen Sessions”, and “The Liberty Of Norton Folgate" all get their due.
Contributors include a diverse group of fans, writers and musicians from around the world -- Argentina, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, New Zealand, UK, US and Venezuela -- who share one thing in common: Madness and Madness songs changed their lives.
I was asked to contribute and share my memories of the effect that
“Madness Presents The Rise & Fall” released in late 1982 had on me. The album was a departure for the band as they explored new sounds and pushed the boundaries of what their fans had come to expect from them. The early 80's was a particularly difficult time in my life and the themes the album explores -- about growing up, introspection, reflection, and letting go of youth -- resonated deeply with me. It was also the album that included the band's pop masterpiece "Our House" which made it into the U.S. pop charts in 1983. You can read my essay here.
Please visit the Madness Album Series Countdown at Reggae Steady Ska and enjoy all the stories that have been shared and be sure to pick up a copy of "Oui Oui, Si, Si, Ja Ja, Da Da" when it comes out next week.
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