This came out in 2002 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
Five things you need to know about this album:
1) Anarchist pop collective Chumbawamba are likely destined to be a one-hit wonder — and that hit, of course, would be their rousing 1997 chart-topper Tubthumping.
2) Despite being a bunch of anti-capitalist propagandists, Chumbawamba remain on a major label for their 10th album Readymades, which either makes them sellouts, ironicists or subversives, depending on your politics and/or sense of humour.
3) Speaking of politics, there’s plenty of it on Readymades. Its 13 cuts are basically political treatises and/or history lessons on British Naval strikes, Royal revolutions, police shootings, child labour and the Irish potato famine. Hmm. Wonder why they haven’t had another hit?
4) Thankfully, the band’s cheeky humour and the gentle synth-based pop of these tunes are the spoons full of sugar that help these medicinal messages go down more smoothly. In fact, the breezy pop of Don’t Try This At Home could be a long-lost Beautiful South track.
5) In other words, they may get knocked down …
