The Boy Bands Have Won

Like a few other reviewers my previous knowledge of Chumbawamba was from the hit single Tubthumping, their reputation as radical anarchists, and dousing John Prescott with water from an ice bucket at a Brits Award ceremony. I then saw them live for the first time at an Oysterband Big Session Festival event, and was immediately won over. The latterday Chumba's specialise in more gentle melodic songs with lovely vocal harmonies, fine playing including Jude Abbott on tasteful brass embellishments adding a touch of class.Their live performance was a delightful revelation, lovely songs with a critical hooked barb, listen closely to the lyrics and their anger and passion still shines through strongly, but the pleasurable setting lulls you into a false sense of security. There are 3 of their later albums that I regularly listen to, this is one of them. A varied set of songs, from the laugh out loud Add Me, about an obsessive internet fan; to El Fusilado based on the story of a Mexican who survived being shot at a firing squad; plus relaxed domestic songs like I Wish That They 'd Sack Me (and leave me to sleep.) The performances are brilliant, they have a lot of extra high profile folk guests on board on selected tracks, it is all highly accomplished, lots of humour along the way, but with serious intent behind it as well. A gem of an album that stands up well to repeated listening, one of the bands best late albums. You do not need to be a radical lefty or anarchist to enjoy this fine album , highly recommended.

I've not listened to anything new from Chumbawamba for 10 years (no particular reason- my attention went elsewhere) but I was prompted by the generally rave reviews of this album on Amazon to buy it.Its a really good modern folk album, and if it had been made by some bunch of people I'd never heard of, then perhaps I'd be even more positive about it.Chumbawamba aren't all the same people (personnel changes) that they were in the mid 90s, and we all get older etc so its no surprise that the music has changed a bit. But I didn't expect it to have changed quite so much. One of the things I really liked about the 90s Chumbawamba was the sheer energy of the music, and that seems to have gone almost completely. For all that there were things that I disliked about their earlier 'political' posturing (inconsistent, sneering, and half-baked - and I like the band), the music was damned good; one of the best gigs I ever saw was Chumbawamba at Derby University in 94 or 95. But...its probably not a coincidence that just as quite a lot of the aggressive politics has gone from this collection of songs, so unfortunately has the energy and the catchy, punchy style that was Chumbawamba at their best.So...while 'The Boy Bands Have Won' is a good album, and if you're looking for attractive modern folk music (meaning typically urban folk music) then this is probably just what you're looking for, I confess I wish it had a bit more of the older-style stuff in it.

Arrived safely thanks.

This was a great gift for my partner he ad heard the music before and loved it. So i thought it would be good to purchase for his xmas.

as described and quick to arrive

Magnificent... music, lyrics, fine sense of humour...

Prior to buying The Boy Bands Have Won, Anarchy was the only Chumba album in my collection. Boy Bands is entirely different and yet entirely recognisable.There are strong tones of English folk music - banjos, trumpets, tin whistles and beautiful accapella - mixed with jaunty little tunes, most of which I could sing along to on the first listening. The music is sweet, gentle, friendly. The lyrics (as you might expect) are cutting, insightful, political and, at times, almost painful, yet in a way that makes me smile.My baby daughter hasn't yet developed much in the way of language skills, and till then I'll very happily play this to her for it's happy sound. When her vocabulary starts to develope I shall probably stop, so as not to taint her innocence with the knowledge that somethimes the world ain't that nice a place. When she gets to her teens I might play it to her again so she knows that all hope is not lost.I think Chumba have summed themselves up with one particular track on this album - "I don't want to sing about the things I always sing about, I just want to sing about love."10 out of 10 - best album I've heard in a long long time and I can't stop singing it to myself!

When it comes to Chumbawamba, I've been one of those people who, in the words of another reviewer here, "only knows the hit". But I heard a track from the new album on Radio 2 and decided to risk a tenner on it.Best money I've spent in a long time! This album is almost overwhelming. There are 25 tracks, though some are less than a minute long. Cultural references abound -- Bertold Brecht, Philip Larkin, Jayne Mansfield, Martin Carthy (who is sampled on some of the tracks, not something that's ever likely to happen again!) The subject matter is broad: Facebook...a Mexican rebel who survived a firing squad...an innocent guy imprisoned for years in Louisiana...Charles Darwin. Some songs are funny, others very moving.And then there's the music. English folk is the main influence, but certain tracks will make you think of Ray Davies, others of early Simon and Garfunkel. The arrangements are simple but inventive, the harmonies are superb. So if you, too, are someone who "only knows the hit", you owe it to yourself (and to Chumbawamba) to put that right by buying this album.