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Chumbawamba should just quit

May 22, 2002

England’s one-hit wonder Chumbawamba has returned with another album.

Those of you who don’t remember the annoyingly overplayed and infectious 1997 anthem “Tubthumping,” off the groups 9th album “Tubthumper,” obviously didn’t own a radio or television.

With the lyrics “I get knocked down/But I get up again/You’re never going to keep me down” - it’s a shame the band didn’t stay down.

After “Tubthumper” came another album and, like many of you, I’ve never heard it.

Now, on its 11th studio album, “Readymades,” the eight-member group has taken a different approach, sounding more like a lackluster version of Enigma.

The first two songs alone, “Salt Fare, North Sea” and “Jacob’s Ladder,” sound too much like weak attempts to rip off “Return to Innocence” with similarly styled vocal samples. In fact, nine of the 13 songs have vocal samples from outside the band.

The Chumbs feebly fuse folk samples, shallow beats and a mellow ambiance with reflective lyrics on politics and the detrimental errors of history.

Nothing on this record jumps out and grabs you by the throat - each song sounds the same.

If you’re in the mood to wallow around and listen to somber, uncatchy songs about events that you might learn about in history class, then, by all means, buy it. It’s not awful - it’s just not any good.

For people who think every second of every day is too precious to waste, cease spending anymore time reading this review. Get out there and live it up with some good, happy summer music.

And as for Chumbawamba, it’s surprising that after 20 years of producing mediocrity, it has released 11 albums. This time around, the Chumbs should take the fall, stay down and never get up again - ever.

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