Top tracks — play these first
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Can’t Touch Us Now Start here — The title track sets an energetic tone with its infectious hooks and celebrates resilience, embodying the album’s overall spirit of joy.
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Good Times — This track combines nostalgic lyrics with a danceable rhythm, capturing the essence of celebrating life's joyful moments while reflecting Madness's characteristic sound.
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I Believe — A standout for its heartfelt lyrics about faith and connection, this song showcases the band's ability to weave deeper themes into their uplifting music.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong songwriting and production but lacks some cohesion in its extended tracklist.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a high-energy title track that sets a brisk pace, which is maintained through the first half before slowing down in the latter part.
- Several tracks feature layered vocal harmonies and call-and-response sections, typical of ska influences, enhancing the communal feel of the music.
- The lyrics often blend humor with social commentary, evident in tracks like 'Mr. Apples' and 'Don’t Leave the Past Behind You', which provide narrative depth.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady flow with joyful peaks
- nostalgic vibes for carefree moments
- sociable energy for gatherings
- catchy rhythms for sing-alongs
- light-hearted themes with depth
Maybe skip if you
- prefer instant gratification tracks
- seek serious, heavy content
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Shows continued vitality and relevance in Madness's later years.
- Themes
- nostalgic celebration· social commentary· vibrant community spirit
- Career context
- Released on October 28, 2016, Can't Touch Us Now is the tenth studio album by Madness and marks their first release since 2012's Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da. By this point in their career, the band had solidified their legacy in the UK music scene, having evolved from their late '70s ska roots to a more eclectic sound that blends pop and new wave influences.
- Stylistic neighbors
- The Specials· Bad Manners· The Selecter
Tracklist
- 1 Can’t Touch Us Now Start here 4:15
- 2 Good Times 2:54
- 3 Mr. Apples 3:39
- 4 I Believe 3:45
- 5 Grandslam 2:36
- 6 Blackbird 4:04
- 7 You Are My Everything 4:09
- 8 Another Version of Me 2:41
- 9 Mumbo Jumbo 3:24
- 10 Herbert 3:58
- 11 Don’t Leave the Past Behind You 2:46
- 12 (Don’t Let Them) Catch You Crying 4:11
- 13 Pam the Hawk 4:38
- 14 Given the Opportunity 3:32
- 15 Soul Denying 5:14
- 16 Whistle in the Dark 3:32
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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