It’s been 10 years since U.K. ska legends Madness released its last album of original material, 1999’s Wonderful. It’s been three years since the band began work on its followup. On May 18th, our friends overseas stopped counting, and apparently liked the result so much so that the 15-track effort, entitled The Liberty of Norton Folgate, charted in at #5. On July 7th, us Americans will finally get the opportunity to do the same.
The Liberty of Norton Folgate will be available in both a standard one-disc format and as a three-disc + one LP + other fun stuff, including, as Tiny Mix Tapes so beautifully notes, “an official M badge and identification card to bear wherevs you treads and the official M handbook to soak in whene’er the drought of uncertainty strikes you” $64.99 priced special edition box set. The latter of the two releases can be picked up via Yep Roc Records.
As of now, this is the extent of Madness’ current U.S. loving. Only Europe and Russia are currently cool enough to have any upcoming tour dates scheduled.