Amphigory - Mad Sin

Advantages: stirring lyrics, wonderful music, operatic rock anthem
Disadvantages: too many ballads, sounds more like a compilation

...owner went to press the play button seemingly in slow motion and we waited with bated breath and suddenly, haunting music erupted from the speakers. And in that split second from peace to music my life changed forever. It had nothing to do with the quality of the speakers or the ghetto blaster itself, that was now a side issue, but the sound emanating from these speakers started me on a path of musical delight that brings a tingle to my spine nearly 30 years later. It was the opening bars to Bat Out of Hell by Meat Loaf and to this day I am a Meat Loaf and Jim Steinman fan. So what's this little story got to do with Original Sin by Pandora's Box which was released ten years later? Well that's easy. Like Bat Out Of Hell (BOOH), Original Sin was (mostly) written and produced by Jim Steinman the master lyricist but believe... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: It's Madness need more be said... well ok then the tunes are stunning, the lyrics are wonderful
Disadvantages: No one bought this album.. WHY WHY O WHY!!!

...After such a long time some people probably doubted that Suggsy, Barson etc would be able to recapture the same lyrical genius. With this album they have succeeded, although the 3 singles released were all woefully undersold. Lovestruck for example got to number 10 in the charts, when in a chart with taste, it surely would of got to number 1. Lovestruck ********** - the most popular single and was surely my contender for single of the year, lyrically and musically this song was a tour de force. Madness have the uncanny knack of taking a subject such as alcohol abuse, and turning it into a jaunty sing along tune. The lyrics were also extrmeley clever in that the song had a double meaning. For example "I've fallen for a lampost, spilling out my deepest feelings" The proper meaning is obvious, he is leaning on a lampost... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Nostalga, Ska, foot stomping.
Disadvantages: Some dross amongst the diamonds.

...I have been making some playlists on my ipod recently and added a Madness track (playlist was called Paul 16-18), then another, and before I knew it I thought I might as well buy the album. It works out cheaper on itunes to do that anyways. Madness first hit the charts and radio as I was leaving school, or about to. Although they first formed around '76, I first heard of them in '78, I left school in '79. In case you don't remember, this was the line up: Suggs - Vocals Mike Barson - Keyboards Chris Foreman - Guitar Lee Thompson - Sax Mark Bedford - Bass Daniel Woodgate - Drums Chas Smash - Vocals and resident dancer Madness released their first single, entitled 'The Prince' in 1979 on 2 Tone records, who also signed The Specials and other bands in what was to become a real Ska revival. The song was a dedication... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful