Paul Weller | ||
| Allmusic Biography : As the leader of the Jam, Paul Weller fronted the most popular British band of the punk era, influencing legions of English rockers ranging from his mod revival contemporaries to the Smiths in the 80s and Oasis in the 90s. During the final days of the Jam, he developed a fascination with Motown and soul, which led him to form the sophisti-pop group the Style Council in 1983. As the Style Councils career progressed, Wellers interest in soul developed into an infatuation with jazz-pop and house music, which eventually led to gradual erosion of his audience -- by 1990, he couldnt get a record contract in the U.K., where he had previously been worshiped as a demigod. As a solo artist, Weller returned to soul music as an inspiration, cutting it with the progressive, hippie tendencies of Traffic. Wellers solo records were more organic and rootsier than the Style Councils, which helped him regain his popularity within Britain. By the mid-90s, he had released three successful albums that were both critically acclaimed and massively popular in England, where contemporary bands like Ocean Colour Scene were citing him as an influence. Just as importantly, many observers, while occasionally criticizing the trad rock nature of his music, acknowledged that Weller was one of the few rock veterans who had managed to stay vital within the second decade of his career. Wellers climb back to the top of the charts was not easy. After Polydor rejected the Style Councils house-influenced fifth album in 1989, Weller broke up the group and lost both his record contract and his publishing deal. Over the next two years, he was in seclusion as he revamped his music. In 1991, he formed the Paul Weller Movement and released "Into Tomorrow" on his own independent label, Freedom High Records. A soulful, gritty neo-psychedelic song that represented a clear break from the Style Council, "Into Tomorrow" reached the U.K. Top 40 that spring, and he supported the single with an international tour, where he worked out the material that comprised his eponymous 1992 solo debut. Recorded with producer Brendan Lynch, Paul Weller was a joyous, soulful return to form that was recorded with several members of the Young Disciples, former Blow Monkey Dr. Robert, and Wellers then-wife, Dee C. Lee. The album debuted at number eight on the U.K. charts, and was received with positive reviews. Wild Wood, Wellers second solo album, confirmed that the success of his solo debut was no fluke. Recorded with Ocean Colour Scene guitarist Steve Cradock, Wild Wood was a more eclectic and ambitious effort than its predecessor, and it was greeted with enthusiastic reviews, entering the charts at number two upon its fall 1993 release. The album would win the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contemporary Song Collection the following year. Weller supported the album with an extensive tour that featured Cradock as the groups leader; the guitarists exposure on Wild Wood helped him successfully relaunch Ocean Colour Scene in 1995. At the end of the tour, Weller released the live album Live Wood late in 1994. Preceded by "The Changingman," which became his 17th Top Ten hit, 1995s Stanley Road was his most successful album since the Jam, entering the charts at number one and eventually selling nearly a million copies in the U.K. By this point, Weller decided to stop attempting to break into the United States market and canceled his North American tour. Of course, he was doing so well in the U.K. that he didnt need to set his sights outside of it. Stanley Road may have been greeted with mixed reviews, but Weller had been re-elevated to his status as an idol, with the press claiming that he was the father of the thriving Brit-pop movement, and artists like Noel Gallagher of Oasis singing his praises. In fact, while neither artist released a new album in 1996, Wellers and Gallaghers influence was felt throughout the British music scene, as 60s roots-oriented bands like Ocean Colour Scene, Cast, and Kula Shaker became the most popular groups in the U.K. Weller returned in the summer of 1997 with Heavy Soul. Modern Classics: Greatest Hits followed a year later. Heliocentric -- which at the time of its release he claimed was his final studio effort -- appeared in the spring of 2000. The live record Days of Speed followed in 2001, and he released his sixth studio album, Illumination, in 2002. A collection of covers called Studio 150 appeared in 2004, followed by an all-new studio release, As Is Now, in October of 2005 on Yep Roc. Released in 2006, Catch-Flame! Live at the Alexandra Palace preceded Yep Roc’s mammoth Hit Parade box set. It was followed in 2008 by 22 Dreams, a two-disc studio epic that managed to touch on all of Wellers myriad influences. His tenth solo album, Wake Up the Nation, was released in 2010 and it proved another success, earning a nomination for the Mercury Music Prize. Wellers next album, Sonik Kicks, arrived in the spring of 2012; it debuted at number one in the U.K. and was eventually certified silver. The summer of 2014 brought More Modern Classics, a second solo hits compilation that rounded up the singles Weller released after Heavy Soul. The next spring, Weller returned with his 12th solo album, the lush, spacy Saturns Pattern; critically acclaimed, it went to number two in the U.K. and was also certified silver. Weller added another string to his bow in 2017 with the release of his first motion picture score, for the low-budget drama Jawbone, a biopic of former British youth boxing champion Jimmy McCabe. Not long afterward, Weller delivered his 13th album, the soulful A Kind Revolution, which featured cameos by Robert Wyatt and Boy George. Paul Weller quickly followed A Kind Revolution with True Meanings, an acoustic-based, orchestrated album that appeared in September 2018. Weller promoted True Meanings with a series of concerts at Royal Festival Hall, orchestral shows that later became the basis for the 2019 live album Other Aspects. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 30 Title: The Black Sessions: Paul Weller Released: 1992 Tracks: 10 Duration: 42:54 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Kosmos (05:55) 2 Uh Huh (03:49) 3 Sitting in Limbo (03:20) 4 Amongst Butterflies (03:14) 5 Bull Rush (05:28) 6 Everything Has a Price (03:46) 7 Above the Clouds (04:18) 8 Ohio (03:38) 9 Into Tomorrow (04:07) 10 All Year Around (05:14) |
 | Album: 2 of 30 Title: Paul Weller Released: 1992-10-06 Tracks: 12 Duration: 53:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Uh Huh Oh Yeh (03:12) 2 I Didn’t Mean to Hurt You (03:28) 3 Bull-Rush (04:43) 4 Round and Round (04:25) 5 Remember How We Started (03:43) 6 Above the Clouds (04:14) 7 Clues (04:24) 8 Into Tomorrow (03:07) 9 Amongst Butterflies (03:13) 10 The Strange Museum (03:17) 11 Bitterness Rising (03:53) 12 Kosmos (11:58) |
| Paul Weller : Allmusic album Review : Arriving between the implosion of the Style Council and the commercial comeback of Wild Wood, Paul Weller’s eponymous 1992 debut is sometimes overlooked, but it’s one of his finest records, a smooth, soulful excursion pitched precisely between the sophisticated swing of the Style Council and the rustic rock of Wild Wood. In the wake of the disastrous unreleased house album from Style Council, Weller chose to dig into his roots, relying heavily on Curtis Mayfield records and a dash of Traffic’s jazz lilt, creating a cool groove of an album, one that warmed well to light elements of acid house, whether it’s the extended coda of “Kosmos” or the many remixes of the album’s singles (all collected on Universal’s 2009 double-disc deluxe edition). As pure sound, Paul Weller is seductive -- it’s supple and relaxed, easing into its vamps and rhythms, maintaining its tone through shifts of tempos -- but it sticks because its Weller’s best set of songs in years, anchored by the tight opening rocker “Uh-Huh Oh Yeh,” the soulful lament “I Didn’t Mean to Hurt You,” the insistent pulse of “Bull Rush,” the gorgeous shimmer of “Bitterness Rising,” and the revitalizing rush of “Into Tomorrow.” Every one of these songs bears traces of Weller’s decade-long immersion in soul, but what makes it a leap forward is that no matter how familiar some of this feels -- and there really is no mistaking the lasting impression of Mayfield -- it all plays not as recycled but synthesized, Weller creating something new and true from his inspiration. He would soon underscore the rock and folk elements, quite wonderfully so, on Wild Wood, but everything here laid the groundwork for the third act of Weller’s career and it remains compelling and alluring in its own right. Generous as it may be, the deluxe edition doesn’t exactly deliver a lot of surprises for the hardcore Weller collector, but that’s only because this well has been tapped many times over, with all the stray tracks appearing as bonus discs in various territories, or as part of B-sides collections -- everything except an album-specific expansion, which this 2009 double-disc set is. Weller’s 1992 eponymous debut grows by 25 tracks here, with all the B-sides -- including “Fly on the Wall,” the lengthy jam “That Spiritual Feeling,” and a prescient cover of Traffic’s “Feelin’ Alright” that pointed the way toward Wild Wood -- spread over the two discs, along with a hefty dose of demos, alternate and acoustic versions, and the Lynch Mob beats remix of “Kosmos” that helped bolster his ties to Britain’s underground club scene. Again, none of this material is unreleased, but this may be the best way to hear it all, as it’s presented in historical context, and it’s sequenced in a smooth, entertaining sequence that enhances this already excellent album, turning it into a richer experience. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 30 Title: Wild Wood Released: 1993-09-06 Tracks: 43 Duration: 2:37:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Sunflower (04:08) 2 Can You Heal Us (Holy Man) (03:41) 3 Wild Wood (03:22) 4 Instrumental One, Part 1 (01:37) 5 All the Pictures on the Wall (03:56) 6 Has My Fire Really Gone Out? (03:51) 7 Country (03:38) 8 Instrumental Two (00:49) 9 5th Season (04:54) 10 The Weaver (03:43) 11 Instrumental One, Part 2 (00:33) 12 Foot of the Mountain (03:37) 13 Shadow of the Sun (07:36) 14 Holy Man (reprise) (01:50) 15 Moon on Your Pyjamas (04:02) 16 Hung Up (02:41) 17 Wild Wood (The Sheared Wood remix) (03:27) 18 Magic Bus (05:30) 19 Ends of the Earth (02:25) 20 This Is No Time (Royal Albert Hall live version) (06:04) 21 Another News Day (03:21) 22 The Loved (02:59) 1 Sunflower (demo) (04:13) 2 Wild Wood (demo) (04:03) 3 All the Pictures on the Wall (demo) (04:49) 4 Country (demo) (03:33) 5 5th Season (demo) (05:58) 6 The Weaver (demo) (04:16) 7 Shadow of the Sun (demo) (05:31) 8 Moon on Your Pyjamas (demo) (03:45) 9 Ends of the Earth (demo) (02:57) 10 Love of the Loved (demo) (04:42) 11 Price to Pay (demo) (03:37) 12 Changes (demo) (02:51) 13 I’m Only Dreaming (02:54) 14 Ohio (demo) (03:34) 15 Oh Happy Day (03:29) 16 Greetings (03:33) 17 Wild Wood (demo 2) (03:35) 18 Weaver of Dreams (demo 2) (03:28) 19 Foot of the Mountain (03:36) 20 Hung Up (BBC Recording) (02:57) 21 Black Sheep Boy (BBC Recording) (02:09) |
| Wild Wood : Allmusic album Review : Paul Weller deservedly regained his status as the Modfather with his second solo album, Wild Wood. Actually, the album is only tangentially related to mod, since Weller picks up on the classicism of his debut, adding heavy elements of pastoral British folk and Traffic-styled trippiness. Add to that a yearning introspection and a clean production that nevertheless feels a little rustic, even homemade, and the result is his first true masterwork since ending the Jam. The great irony of the record is that many of the songs -- "Has My Fire Really Gone Out?," "Can You Heal Us (Holy Man)" -- question his motivation and, as is apparent in his spirited performances, he reawakened his music by writing these searching songs. Though this isnt as adventurous as the Style Council, it succeeds on its own terms, and winds up being a great testament from an artist entering middle age. And, it helped kick off the trad rock that dominated British music during the 90s. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 30 Title: More Wood (Little Splinters) Released: 1993-12-17 Tracks: 12 Duration: 48:42 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 This Is No Time (04:04) 2 Fly on the Wall (03:13) 3 Another New Day (03:18) 4 Feeling Alright (03:58) 5 That Spiritual Feeling (New mix) (07:21) 6 The Loved (03:14) 7 All Year Round (05:05) 8 Everything Has a Price to Pay (03:32) 9 Ends of the Earth (02:28) 10 Black Sheep Boy (01:50) 11 The Strange Museum (03:17) 12 Kosmos SXDUB 2000 (07:19) |
| More Wood (Little Splinters) : Allmusic album Review : A sort of limited-edition addendum to Paul Wellers epic 1993 Wild Wood album, More Wood is essentially the second part of what would and should have been a double album. Far more than just a collection of outtakes from the sessions, the songs and recordings contained herein are easily on a par with the cuts on the official album. Of particular note are the soulful "There Is No Time" and an exquisite cover of Traffics "Feelin Alright." The Dave Mason song seems to be a sort of cornerstone to the whole project, which was heavily influenced by both Traffic as Neil Young. The overall "band" feel and organic vibe that surround the tracks and feel here is irresistible, and it proved that Wild Wood could and should have been a double set from the outset. As it stands, More Wood is a bit difficult to find, but for Paul Weller fans, its well worth the hunt. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 30 Title: Live Wood Released: 1994-08-19 Tracks: 14 Duration: 1:09:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Bull Rush / Magic Bus (05:39) 2 This Is No Time (06:03) 3 Remember How We Started / Dominoes (03:57) 4 Above the Clouds (03:55) 5 Wild Wood (03:39) 6 Shadow of the Sun (10:22) 7 (Can You Heal Us) Holy Man / War (04:33) 8 5th Season (04:51) 9 Into Tomorrow (03:06) 10 Foot of the Mountain (06:04) 11 Sunflower (03:54) 12 Has My Fire Really Gone Out? (03:51) 13 Hung Up (02:44) 14 Kosmos (Bonus Beats) (07:04) |
| Live Wood : Allmusic album Review : Wellers career was revitalized with Wild Wood, which sparked an equally successful world tour captured on the energetic Live Wood. The songs remain just as impressive, but what makes the live record worthwhile is the wonderful interplay of the band. They frequently launch into tight jams that never seem bloated, which is the mark of a good live album. | ||
 | Album: 6 of 30 Title: Stanley Road Released: 1995-05-15 Tracks: 12 Duration: 52:09 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Changingman (04:02) 2 Porcelain Gods (04:53) 3 I Walk on Gilded Splinters (05:23) 4 You Do Something to Me (03:38) 5 Woodcutter’s Son (04:43) 6 Time Passes… (04:55) 7 Stanley Road (04:19) 8 Broken Stones (03:17) 9 Out of the Sinking (03:51) 10 Pink on White Walls (02:39) 11 Whirlpools’ End (07:11) 12 Wings of Speed (03:14) |
| Stanley Road : Allmusic album Review : In many ways, Stanley Road is Wild Wood, Pt. 2, a continuation of the laid-back, soul-inflected rock that dominated his previous albums. Named after the street where he grew up, Stanley Road could be seen as a return to Paul Wellers roots, yet his roots were in the Who and the Kinks, not in Traffic. (At this point, the sound of the Jam matters little in what this music sounds like.) Wellers music has always had R&B roots -- the major difference with both Wild Wood and Stanley Road is how much he and his band stretch out. Stanley Road in particular features more jamming than any of his previous work. That doesnt mean he has neglected his songwriting -- a handful of Weller classics are scattered throughout the album. Unfortunately, too much of it is spent on drawn-out grooves that are self-conscious about their own authenticity. Still, he has the good sense to revive Dr. Johns "I Walk on Gilded Splinters" and invite his disciple Noel Gallagher (Oasis) along to jam. | ||
 | Album: 7 of 30 Title: Heavy Soul Released: 1997-06-23 Tracks: 12 Duration: 40:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Heavy Soul, Part 1 (03:55) 2 Peacock Suit (03:12) 3 Up in Suzes’ Room (04:23) 4 Brushed (03:26) 5 Driving Nowhere (02:57) 6 I Should Have Been There to Inspire You (05:13) 7 Heavy Soul, Part 2 (03:09) 8 Friday Street (02:20) 9 Science (03:32) 10 Golden Sands (02:54) 11 As You Lean Into the Light (02:46) 12 Mermaids (03:04) |
| Heavy Soul : Allmusic album Review : Like Stanley Road before it, Heavy Soul is more about vibe than songs. There are a few sharply written tracks here and there, but whats important is the rootsy, stripped-down atmosphere. Paul Wellers soul and R&B influences reign supreme on Heavy Soul, yet they are filtered through late-60s psychedelia, blues-rock and prog folk, as he takes songs into extended instrumental jams. The band sounds tight, but Weller has suffered a bit of a songwriting slump, which is evidenced by the handful of keepers that form the core of the album. "Up in Suzes Room" is a hazy, folky gem, the soulful apology "I Should Have Been There to Inspire You" is affecting, and "Peacock Suit" is a fine "Changing Man" rewrite, but too much of Heavy Soul is concerned with texture instead of content. That doesnt make it a difficult listen -- in fact, its quite entertaining while its playing -- but there isnt much to explore on repeated plays. | ||
 | Album: 8 of 30 Title: Modern Classics: The Greatest Hits Released: 1998-11-01 Tracks: 16 Duration: 54:57 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Out of the Sinking (03:51) 2 Peacock Suit (03:07) 3 Sunflower (04:08) 4 The Weaver (03:43) 5 Wild Wood (03:22) 6 Above the Clouds (03:51) 7 Uh-Huh Oh-Yeh (03:19) 8 Brushed (03:32) 9 The Changingman (03:32) 10 Friday Street (02:20) 11 You Do Something to Me (03:38) 12 Brand New Start (04:07) 13 Hung Up (02:41) 14 Mermaids (03:04) 15 Broken Stones (03:22) 16 Into Tomorrow (03:13) |
| Modern Classics: The Greatest Hits : Allmusic album Review : Wrapping up his contractual commitment to Go! Records, Paul Weller delivered Modern Classics: Greatest Hits, his first compilation of solo material, late in 1998. Modern Classics plays it safe, collecting all of his singles and adding a fine new song, "Brand New Start," which may not at first seem live up to its title, but eventually reveals itself to be a weightier ballad variation of the trad rock of Heavy Soul. Regrettably, the album is not sequenced in chronological order, but there was a consistency to Wellers solo work that makes the compilation hold together well. And while it certainly confirms that his solo work is easily his most conservative music to date, it also proves that it wasnt slight -- these singles are uniformly solid, whether its the driving "Into Tomorrow," the rugged soul-pop of "Uh-Huh Oh-Yeh," the passionate "Sunflower," the ersatz ELO tribute "The Changingman," or ballads like "Broken Stones" and "Mermaids." Like Snap! and The Singular Adventures of the Style Council, Modern Classics is a testament to Wellers strength as a singles artist and a terrifically enjoyable listen in its own right. [The U.K. edition of Modern Classics included a bonus live disc, culled from various shows, which was every bit as good as Live Wood.] | ||
 | Album: 9 of 30 Title: Heliocentric Released: 2000-04-10 Tracks: 12 Duration: 56:12 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 He’s the Keeper (05:15) 2 Frightened (03:56) 3 Sweet Pea, My Sweet Pea (04:07) 4 A Whale’s Tale (03:26) 5 Back in the Fire (05:00) 6 Dust and Rocks (05:43) 7 There’s No Drinking, After You’re Dead (05:24) 8 With Time & Temperance (05:02) 9 Picking Up Sticks (04:51) 10 Love-less (05:20) 11 Heliocentric (05:27) 12 Bang Bang (02:35) |
| Heliocentric : Allmusic album Review : Heliocentric is a lighter affair than the doggedly traditional Heavy Soul. It may be a subtle distinction, since hes using the same musical template he has since Wild Wood, plus the same producer and many of the same musicians. So, Heliocentric sounds very familiar, yet when it reaches its conclusion with the melancholy psychedelic sweep of "Love-Less," its clear that it feels a lot different than its two immediate predecessors -- its of a similar quality and emotional tenor as Wild Wood. Its also his strongest record since then, a remarkably sturdy and varied set of songs and performances. Sadness and regret are scattered throughout the album, but theres also humor, affection, and, ultimately, optimism -- three qualities missing on Heavy Soul. Heliocentric has many more musical quirks than its predecessor. Strings grace several songs, plus there are extended jams so psychedelic theyre almost prog. There really arent any rockers, but theres the wonderfully jaunty acoustic number "Sweet Pea, My Sweet Pea," one of his most unaffected and, well, sweetest songs. "A Whales Tale" is his own spin on a sea ballad, while "Back in the Fire" rolls along on a nearly jazzy beat. Those ever-changing moods keep the record fresh and interesting, yet Heliocentric still winds up sounding part of a piece, since Weller is focused here, as a songwriter and a record-maker, which he hasnt been since Wild Wood. Like that latter-day Weller masterpiece, Heliocentric grows stronger with each spin, as the songs catch hold and details in the production and nuances in the performances reveal themselves. That may not constitute a new direction for Weller, but its certainly a terrific record that signals a creative rebirth, which is the next best thing. | ||
 | Album: 10 of 30 Title: Days of Speed Released: 2001-10-08 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:08:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Brand New Start (03:46) 2 The Loved (04:23) 3 Out of the Sinking (03:33) 4 Clues (04:40) 5 English Rose (02:44) 6 Above the Clouds (03:45) 7 You Do Something to Me (03:43) 8 Amongst Butterflies (02:57) 9 Science (03:53) 1 Back in the Fire (04:57) 2 Down in the Seine (02:58) 3 That’s Entertainment (03:29) 4 Love-Less (04:48) 5 There’s No Drinking After You’re Dead (04:33) 6 Everything Has a Price to Pay (04:06) 7 Wild Wood (04:08) 8 Headstart for Happiness (02:51) 9 Town Called Malice (03:27) |
| Days of Speed : Allmusic album Review : Despite the unplugged boon of the 90s, Paul Weller steadfastly refused to succumb to the acoustic trend until the decade rolled over into the new millennium, and he did a solo tour shortly after the release of his fifth solo album, Heliocentric. This actually turns out to be a blessing in disguise, since Weller sounds relaxed and ready to confront his daunting back catalog, as happy to perform Jam tunes as he is to revisit his solo signatures. This results in a better solo live album than imaginable, since Weller is not only relaxed, hes loose and animated, giving an added dimension not just to his old Jam warhorses but from later Weller favorites. But the best thing about this album is that it sounds intimate and alive, as if he was performing his favorite songs in your living room -- an immediacy thats more apparent in these stripped-down arrangements than they are in full-fledged band versions. This doesnt necessarily result in an album thats packed in revelations for the doubters, but if youve spent any time with Wellers career, from the Jam to his solo albums, this will be a warm reminder of why youve grown with Weller -- and why it was worth it to devote the time. | ||
 | Album: 11 of 30 Title: Illumination Released: 2002 Tracks: 13 Duration: 47:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Going Places (03:33) 2 A Bullet for Everyone (04:10) 3 Leafy Mysteries (03:06) 4 It’s Written in the Stars (03:10) 5 Who Brings Joy (03:30) 6 Now the Night Is Here (03:53) 7 Spring (At Last) (02:27) 8 One X One (05:35) 9 Bag Man (03:21) 10 All Good Books (03:25) 11 Call Me No. 5 (03:27) 12 Standing Out in the Universe (04:50) 13 Illumination (03:05) |
| Illumination : Allmusic album Review : Paul Weller doesnt try anything explicitly new on his sixth solo album, Illumination, or at least it seems that way at first. Its firmly grounded in the soulful singer/songwriter style that he etched out on Wild Wood, but there are several subtle differences that give it its own character. As it turns out, Heliocentric was indeed a bit of a creative rebirth, signaling a return to stronger songwriting plus a willingness to play around with the arrangements. During the Stanley Road/Heavy Soul phase, it would have been unthinkable for Weller to loop a horn sample for a songs main hook as he does on "Its Written in the Stars," but he not only does that, he offers it as a lead single. And the horn sample is a good indication of where the sound of Illumination lies. There is little of the British folk and prog overtones of Heliocentric here, and soul takes the center stage; even when a track isnt explicitly soulful, it has a warm, welcoming vibe reminiscent of late-60s/early-70s soul. When the album drifts, as it does on the largely instrumental "Spring (At Last)," its for atmosphere, enhancing the open, warm feel of the record. Even when Weller tears loose on occasion -- flashing violent rage on the rampaging "A Bullet for Everyone," for instance, or fiercely playing his guitar -- it functions as an effective counterpoint, emphasizing the comforting feel of the majority of the album. Best of all, it all feels effortless (unlike, say, the labored efforts of his peer, Elvis Costello, on his 2002 release When I Was Cruel), from the production to the songwriting. This is unlikely to be a huge hit, like Stanley Road, nor will it likely win many new fans, but thats not the point of Illumination. This, like any Weller album, is a snapshot of Wellers mood at the time, and it finds him aging gracefully and appealingly. Anybody whos gone this far with him will surely find it very satisfying. | ||
 | Album: 12 of 30 Title: Fly on the Wall: B Sides and Rarities Released: 2003-08-25 Tracks: 39 Duration: 2:33:47 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Heres a New Thing (03:14) 2 That Spiritual Feeling (07:26) 3 Into Tomorrow (03:07) 4 Arrival Time (03:01) 5 Fly on the Wall (03:14) 6 Always There to Fool You (02:42) 7 All Year Round (04:26) 8 Ends of the Earth (02:25) 9 This Is No Time (03:58) 10 Another New Day (03:18) 11 Foot of the Mountain (live) (06:05) 12 Wild Wood (The Sheared Wood remix) (03:27) 13 Kosmos (Lynch Mob bonus Beats remix) (07:05) 1 The Loved (03:14) 2 Steam (06:16) 3 Its a New Day Baby (02:11) 4 A Year Late (04:18) 5 Eye of the Storm (04:21) 6 Shoot the Dove (03:19) 7 As You Lean Into the Light (02:41) 8 So You Want to Be a Dancer (05:53) 9 Everything Has a Price to Pay (03:33) 10 Right Underneath It (04:00) 11 Helioscentric (05:26) 12 Theres No Drinking After Youre Dead (Noonday Underground remix) (05:57) 13 The Riverbank (03:35) 14 Science (Lynch Mob remix) (04:29) 1 Feelin Alright (03:59) 2 Ohio (03:39) 3 Black Sheep Boy (01:50) 4 Sexy Sadie (02:41) 5 I Shall Be Released (03:06) 6 Id Rather Go Blind (03:58) 7 My Whole World Is Falling Down (03:22) 8 Aint No Love in the Heart of the City (03:17) 9 Waiting on an Angel (04:02) 10 Bang-Bang (02:34) 11 Instant Karma (04:15) 12 Dont Let Me Down (04:07) |
 | Album: 13 of 30 Title: Studio 150 Released: 2004-09-14 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:04:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 If I Could Only Be Sure (03:41) 2 Wishing on a Star (05:09) 3 Don’t Make Promises (03:20) 4 The Bottle (03:04) 5 Black Is the Colour (03:30) 6 Close to You (03:07) 7 Early Morning Rain (03:47) 8 One Way Road (03:20) 9 Hercules (03:29) 10 Thinking of You (03:51) 11 All Along the Watchtower (05:57) 12 Birds (03:29) 1 Corrina, Corrina (02:48) 2 Family Affair (03:17) 3 Coconut Grove (02:56) 4 Needles and Pins (03:03) 5 Let It Be Me (04:18) 6 Don’t Go to Strangers (02:40) |
| Studio 150 : Allmusic album Review : For Studio 150, his seventh solo studio album, Paul Weller delivers his first official covers album. Not that hes been reluctant to cover other songwriters, of course. Throughout his career, hes made covers a staple of his records and concerts. In fact, he cut so many as B-sides in the 90s that his 2003 B-sides and rarities compilation Fly on the Wall had a whole disc devoted to material from other songwriters. Studio 150 feels like a sister album to that disc, and not just because it shares a similar sensibility and has songs by both Tim Hardin and Neil Young. Musically, Studio 150 sounds as if it could have been recorded in 1995 as the missing link between Stanley Road and Heavy Soul, containing the swinging mod vibe of the former with the tough, muscular punch of the latter. While it could be argued that Weller is treading water, or even retreating after the subtle shifts forward on Illumination, its almost a moot point since the band sounds terrific and hes in fine voice. Plus, this is a covers album and innovation isnt exactly expected on covers albums. What is expected is that the artist puts his own signature on songs from another writer, and Weller does that. True, as a whole Studio 150 doesnt sound all that different from other records in his catalog, but hes managed to find new spins on perennials like "Close to You" and "All Along the Watchtower," interpretations that fit within his signature blend of 70s soul, mod pop, and singer/songwriter introspection. Not surprisingly, the bulk of the album consists of songs from the late 60s and 70s, with selections from singer/songwriters like Tim Hardin, Gil Scott-Heron, Gordon Lightfoot, and Neil Young sitting comfortably next to relatively obscure soul and disco singles (with a previously unrecorded song from Weller disciple Noel Gallagher blending into the surroundings nicely). Some of these songs are familiar, but these arrangements are distinctly Wellers own, and it makes for an effective listen -- maybe not a major effort from the Modfather, but an enjoyable one all the same. | ||
 | Album: 14 of 30 Title: As Is Now Released: 2005-10-11 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:08:18 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Blink and You’ll Miss It (03:23) 2 Paper Smile (03:05) 3 Come On/Let’s Go (03:16) 4 Here’s the Good News (02:57) 5 The Start of Forever (04:55) 6 Pan (02:26) 7 All on a Misty Morning (04:30) 8 From the Floor Boards Up (02:27) 9 I Wanna Make It Alright (03:38) 10 Savages (02:58) 11 Fly Little Bird (03:44) 12 Roll Along Summer (03:39) 13 Bring Back the Funk, Parts 1 & 2 (07:15) 14 The Pebble and the Boy (05:03) 1 From the Floorboards Up (03:03) 2 Come On/Let’s Go (03:00) 3 The Changing Man (04:18) 4 Town Called Malice (04:32) |
| As Is Now : Allmusic album Review : If 2002s Illumination was a warm, laid-back record, Paul Wellers 2005 sequel, As Is Now -- a likeable but unremarkable covers album, Studio 150, appeared in the interim -- is its flip side, a lean, hard-hitting soulful rock & roll album. Not that Weller is returning to the sound of the Jam: hes still with the same band that hes been with since Wild Wood, anchored by drummer Steve White and featuring Ocean Colour Scene members guitarist Steve Cradock and bassist Damon Minghella, and hes working the same musical territory, grounded in Traffic, Humble Pie, 60s soul, and guitar pop. There may be absolutely no surprises here -- even the change of pace "The Start of Forever" is reminiscent of many of his gentler folky tunes, echoing Illuminations mellow vibe -- but for as familiar as As Is Now is, it never sounds lazy; its a tighter, better record than most of his late-90s albums. The closest antecedent to As Is Now in Wellers solo catalog is Heavy Soul. Like that 1997 effort, this is a straightforward, no-frills record, heavy on rockers and with few pretensions, but where that album could drift, this is focused and exciting, boasting a stronger set of songs and livelier performances, plus a greater variety of colors and textures in the production. Those subtle differences wind up making a huge difference in the overall effect of As Is Now -- on the surface, it certainly sounds familiar to what came before, but thanks to Wellers muscular, memorable songs and musicianship, it stands apart as one of his more satisfying solo albums. | ||
 | Album: 15 of 30 Title: Come On/Let’s Go Released: 2006-02-08 Tracks: 10 Duration: 47:39 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Paper Smile (Audio Twitch remix) (05:17) 2 Alone (03:40) 3 Golden Leaves (03:50) 4 Super Lekker Stoned (07:19) 5 From the Floorboards Up (Lynchmob remix – vocal version) (03:51) 6 Come On/Let’s Go (acoustic demo) (03:16) 7 Here’s the Good News (live in Rome) (03:41) 8 Into Tomorrow (live from Guilfest) (03:20) 9 Super Lekker Stoned (Richard Fearless mix) (08:15) 10 Wishing on a Star (Steve Mason remix for The Beta Band) (05:10) |
 | Album: 16 of 30 Title: Catch-Flame! Live at the Alexandra Palace Released: 2006-06-12 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:53:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Weaver (03:49) 2 Out of the Sinking (03:28) 3 Blink And Youll Miss It (03:24) 4 Paper Smile (03:08) 5 Peacock Suit (02:56) 6 From the Floorboards Up (02:31) 7 The Changingman (04:01) 8 Savages (03:04) 9 Going Places (03:32) 10 Up in Suzes Room (04:23) 11 Porcelain Gods / I Walk on Gilded Splinters (10:54) 1 In the Crowd (09:14) 2 Come on Lets Go (02:59) 3 Foot of the Mountain (08:03) 4 You Do Something to Me (03:46) 5 Wishing on a Star (04:23) 6 Wild Wood (04:25) 7 The Peeble & The Boy (04:47) 8 Thats Entertainment (04:11) 9 Broken Stones (04:37) 10 Long Hot Summer (06:42) 11 Shout to the Top (04:34) 12 A Town Called Malice (04:09) 13 Amongst Butterflies (02:50) 14 Heres the Good News (03:13) |
| Catch-Flame! Live at the Alexandra Palace : Allmusic album Review : Another year, another live album. Paul Weller has turned out to be as predictable as the Rolling Stones in how he follows a new set of material with a live album, following every album since Wild Wood with a live record. Because of this its hard not to superficially see 2006s Catch-Flame! Live at the Alexandra Palace as just another live album, but take the time to listen to Catch-Flame! and it soon reveals itself as a surprise every bit as bracing as Wellers 2005 studio album As Is Now: a record that doesnt sound all that different from its predecessor, at least on the surface, but underneath that surface, its apparent that Wellers fire is again burning intensely. Theres a vigor and vitality to this performance that eclipses all his other live solo albums; its as kinetic as early Jam, but without abandoning the Traffic-inspired, jam-heavy aesthetic that marked his solo work. As such, its satisfying both as an exciting, energetic live album and as one to savor, to really enjoy the interplay between the musicians, and it makes Catch-Flame! something far more than another Weller live album; indeed, it makes it closer to being the live Weller album instead of just another live record. | ||
 | Album: 17 of 30 Title: Hit Parade Released: 2006-11-06 Tracks: 23 Duration: 1:19:51 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Town Called Malice (02:54) 2 Going Underground (02:54) 3 Shout to the Top (04:15) 4 From the Floor Boards Up (02:27) 5 Down in the Tube Station at Midnight (04:01) 6 Peacock Suit (03:07) 7 The Changingman (03:32) 8 The Eton Rifles (03:59) 9 Come On/Let’s Go (03:16) 10 Sunflower (04:08) 11 Beat Surrender (03:25) 12 Walls Come Tumbling Down (03:24) 13 Thats Entertainment (03:18) 14 Broken Stones (03:22) 15 Out of the Sinking (03:51) 16 Long Hot Summer (03:50) 17 Youre the Best Thing (04:25) 18 Wild Wood (03:22) 19 You Do Something to Me (03:38) 20 Hung Up (02:41) 21 My Ever Changing Moods (04:03) 22 Speak Like a Child (03:17) 23 Start! (02:32) |
| Hit Parade : Allmusic album Review : Teenage rock & rollers often dont last. Certainly, they rarely keep performing into middle age, but Paul Weller has never been ordinary. From the outset, Weller was different -- too tense, too difficult to fit into the crowd even when he was the most popular musician in Britain, as he was when he led the Jam at the turn of the 80s. That ornery side gave his music an edge and also gave it a riveting humanity that earned him a passionate, devoted audience who stuck with him through a roller coaster of ups and downs in his career, from his abrupt disbandment of the Jam to form the slick, soulful Style Council to his comeback as the trad-rocking Modfather in the 90s. Its one of the great careers of the post-punk era, and the four-disc 2006 box set Hit Parade is the first attempt to tell it in its entirety, from the bright, brilliant early years of the Jam to his role as an elder statesman in the new millennium. Given the great wealth of music that Weller made during these three decades, the compilers picked the simplest and best solution to whittling down his rich, complicated career to the basics: they picked the A-sides of all of his British singles. This means that there are great songs left behind -- whether its the Jam B-side "Tales from the Riverbank" or the soulful "Can You Heal Us (Holy Man)" from Wild Wood -- but thats the nature of hits compilations: great songs get left behind. Whats impressive with Hit Parade is not whats absent but whats present, which is not only enough to make a case for Wellers strengths as a songwriter and restless rocker, but which helps explain the transitions in his career in a way that may be revelatory even for longtime fans. For instance, in this context the stylized café-soul of the Style Council seems like a natural outgrowth of the high-octane Motown-pop of the last Jam singles, and while its hard to argue that the Style Council didnt drift in its latter years, its easier to hear how revitalized Weller was as a solo artist when "Into Tomorrow" follows the fallow final gasps of the Council. Then again, by trimming his career down to the singles, the weak patches in his career arent as evident: even when Wellers albums were patchy, the singles were often strong, and when theyre taken together they arent just an enjoyable, exciting listen, they tell one of the greatest stories in rock history, one that provides revelations even to those who have been with him since the beginning. And thats what makes Hit Parade a truly great box set. | ||
 | Album: 18 of 30 Title: 22 Dreams Released: 2008-05-30 Tracks: 21 Duration: 1:08:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Light Nights (03:44) 2 22 Dreams (02:48) 3 All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You) (04:36) 4 Have You Made Up Your Mind (03:15) 5 Empty Ring (03:03) 6 Invisible (04:06) 7 Song for Alice (03:38) 8 Cold Moments (05:00) 9 The Dark Pages of September Lead to the New Leaves of Spring (00:44) 10 Black River (03:47) 11 Why Walk When You Can Run (04:13) 12 Push It Along (02:52) 13 A Dream Reprise (01:09) 14 Echoes Round the Sun (03:08) 15 One Bright Star (02:57) 16 Lullaby für Kinder (02:23) 17 Where’er Ye Go (02:47) 18 God (02:02) 19 111 (02:23) 20 Sea Spray (03:55) 21 Night Lights (06:06) |
| 22 Dreams : Allmusic album Review : Of all the many things Paul Weller has done in his career, he has somehow managed to survive three decades without a double album to his credit. 22 Dreams rectifies that wrong, offering a luxurious sprawl thats proudly, staunchly classicist, just like Wellers solo career itself. Wellers embrace of rock & roll tradition might suggest that he has taken his double album as an opportunity to offer a summation of his career, to summarize where hes been and perhaps where hes going. Tempting though this may be, especially given the records elastic, elegant eclecticism, this isnt quite a self-conscious summation, nor is it quite a risk-taking tour de force in the vein of The White Album, even though this encompasses everything from fragile folk to the resurrection of the sophisticated collegiate jazz of the Style Council. Instead, 22 Dreams has a floating romantic quality that justifies the dreams of the title, drifting from sound to sound, sometimes taking elaborate detours, sometimes stopping for a brief picturesque sideshow. In some ways, its the flip of the piledriving As Is Now, where Weller indulged in harder inclinations, as this finds Weller exploring his softer side, often in ways he hasnt quite done before. Theres still a crustiness to Weller -- hell get sensitive, but he wont get sappy -- but theres an openness to 22 Dreams, in how he eases into a Curtis Mayfield homage as comfortably as he pays tribute to Alice Coltrane with Robert Wyatt in tow. Wyatt isnt the only guest here, either, as Weller expands his core band -- without leaving right-hand man guitarist Steve Craddock -- with cameos by Graham Coxon and Noel Gallagher (only he could unite these Brit-pop foes), the latter collaborating on a thick, hazy psychedelic "Echoes Round the Sun." This is about as dense as 22 Dreams gets, as it has a lighter touch, so graceful that it can disguise the number of styles Weller touches upon here, as he skips from electronica and pastoral jams lingering from Wild Wood to jazz and soul. Initially, this doesnt sound radical -- it is recognizably of a piece with his solo work, fitting neatly alongside either Stanley Road or Illumination -- but more listens reveal just how finely textured and woven this tapestry is. And although it shares superficial sonic similarities with his other records, 22 Dreams is really unlike any of Wellers other albums, as its rich in sound and feeling, possessing a shimmering dreamy quality. Its an album to get lost in. | ||
 | Album: 19 of 30 Title: Weller at the BBC Released: 2008-11-03 Tracks: 74 Duration: 4:40:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Fly on the Wall (03:33) 2 Pink on White Walls (02:46) 3 Amongst Butterflies (02:31) 4 Wild Wood (03:35) 5 Hung Up (03:00) 6 Out of the Sinking (03:47) 7 Clues (03:55) 8 Whirlpools End (06:49) 9 Out of the Sinking (03:28) 10 Broken Stones (03:21) 11 Time Passes (04:15) 12 The Changingman (03:46) 13 I Walk on Gilded Splinters (03:21) 14 Broken Stones (02:30) 15 You Do Something to Me (03:24) 16 Brushed (03:46) 17 Peacock Suit (03:03) 18 Up in Suzes Room (04:36) 19 Friday Street (02:30) 20 Mermaids (03:12) 21 The Poacher (03:15) 1 Driving Nowhere (02:50) 2 Friday Street (02:31) 3 Science (03:34) 4 Wishing on a Star (03:29) 5 Thinking of You (03:11) 6 Corrina, Corrina (02:27) 7 Early Morning Rain (04:00) 8 Foot of the Mountain (03:21) 9 To the Start of Forever (04:25) 10 Out of the Sinking (03:09) 11 Paper Smile (03:02) 12 Come On / Lets Go (03:01) 13 Amongst Butterflies (02:52) 14 Frightened (04:04) 15 Thats Entertainment (03:09) 16 All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You) (04:08) 17 Cold Moments (04:57) 18 Push It Along (02:49) 19 Pretty Flamingo (02:42) 1 My Ever Changing Moods (05:49) 2 A Man of Great Promise (02:26) 3 Kosmos (06:37) 4 Speak Like a Child (02:56) 5 Just Like Yesterday (05:35) 6 Work to Do (02:55) 7 Pity Poor Alfie (03:22) 8 Whats Goin On (04:00) 9 Uh Huh Oh Yeh (03:37) 10 Hercules (04:06) 11 Bull Rush / Magic Bus (05:12) 12 Above the Clouds (04:05) 13 Everything Has a Price to Pay (03:29) 14 Headstart for Happiness (03:17) 15 Into Tomorrow (03:17) 16 Porcelain Gods (06:44) 17 Stanley Road (04:12) 18 Can You Heal Us (Holy Man) (04:06) 1 Shadow of the Sun (08:39) 2 I Walk on Gilded Splinters (04:05) 3 Out of the Sinking (03:36) 4 Hung Up (02:41) 5 Sunflower (03:58) 6 Broken Stones (03:26) 7 Fly on the Wall (03:19) 8 Tales From the Riverbank (03:29) 9 Peacock Suit (03:01) 10 Heavy Soul (08:09) 11 Science (04:03) 12 I Didnt Mean to Hurt You (04:10) 13 Brand New Start (04:13) 14 Wild Wood (03:45) 15 Friday Street (02:25) 16 The Changingman (03:45) |
 | Album: 20 of 30 Title: Just a Dream: 22 Dreams - Live Released: 2009 Tracks: 13 Duration: 59:01 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 From the Floorboards Up (02:41) 2 Have You Made Up Your Mind (04:03) 3 Broken Stones (05:32) 4 Porcelain Gods (07:51) 5 Shout to the Top (04:07) 6 Come On / Lets Go (03:17) 7 Echoes Round the Sun (03:50) 8 Wishing on a Star (07:16) 9 You Do Something to Me (03:36) 10 Invisible (03:56) 11 Sea Spray (05:24) 12 Push It Along (03:07) 13 The Eaton Rifles (04:19) |
 | Album: 21 of 30 Title: Wake Up the Nation Released: 2010-04-19 Tracks: 16 Duration: 40:03 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Moonshine (02:08) 2 Wake Up the Nation (02:18) 3 No Tears to Cry (02:24) 4 Fast Car/Slow Traffic (01:58) 5 Andromeda (01:53) 6 In Amsterdam (01:27) 7 She Speaks (02:14) 8 Find the Torch, Burn the Plans (03:08) 9 Aim High (03:07) 10 Trees (04:18) 11 Grasp and Still Connect (02:15) 12 Whatever Next (01:37) 13 7 & 3 Is the Strikers Name (03:23) 14 Up the Dosage (02:40) 15 Pieces of a Dream (02:25) 16 Two Fat Ladies (02:38) |
| Wake Up the Nation : Allmusic album Review : Prior to 2008’s 22 Dreams, Paul Weller was shorthand for stalwart rock & roll, never disappointing but rarely challenging, either. With 22 Dreams, he reconnected with his spirit of adventure -- the thing that drove him to split up the Jam at their peak to form the Style Council -- and created a rich pastoral double album that thrived on risk. Buzzing with guitars and gurgling effects, and built upon a succession songs that barely crest the two-minute mark, Wake Up the Nation doesn’t share much with 22 Dreams, apart from that sense of adventure with Weller cramming a suite’s worth of twists into a song. As packed as these tunes are, they’re drawn with crisp lines; for as busy as these are, nothing feels cluttered, they’re all teeming with life. Many of the left turns arrive via the arrangements -- witness how everything careens out of control after the chorus of “Grasp & Still Connect,” the elastic psychedelia of “Andromeda,” the updated New Orleans shuffle of “Trees’ -- or the unexpected collaborations, whether it’s the tightly wound reunion with the Jam’s Bruce Foxton on “Fast Car/Slow Traffic” or bringing in My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields to craft the dense dangerous heartbeat of “7&3 Is the Strikers Name,” but this isn’t window-dressing: the entire effect is 22 Dreams in reverse, contracting where its predecessor expanded, substituting introspection for action, swapping contemplation for excitement. Wake Up the Nation pulsates with an energy considerably different than the stomping rock & roll of As Is Now. That was all musical muscle, but this is music of the mind that remains fiercely visceral, music that feels of a piece of Weller’s entire body of work, but is quite unique in its execution and impact. | ||
 | Album: 22 of 30 Title: Find the Torch, Burn the Plans: Live at the Royal Albert Hall Released: 2010-11-29 Tracks: 18 Duration: 1:12:46 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Andromeda (03:52) 2 From the Floorboards Up (02:51) 3 7 & 3 Is a Strikers Name (03:56) 4 Into Tomorrow (06:36) 5 Aim High (03:56) 6 Moonshine (02:52) 7 Up the Dosage (03:38) 8 Trees (04:34) 9 Wild Wood (05:15) 10 The Eton Rifles (04:04) 11 That’s Entertainment (05:10) 12 Fast Car/Slow Traffic (02:07) 13 Start! (02:38) 14 Sea Spray (05:07) 15 Strange Town (04:38) 16 Broken Stones (03:52) 17 How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You) (04:55) 18 No Tears to Cry (02:38) |
| Find the Torch, Burn the Plans: Live at the Royal Albert Hall : Allmusic album Review : Always treated with the utmost of respect by his peers and younger Brit-pop upstarts, Paul Wellers Modfather reputation has been further bolstered by a shower of accolades including an Ivor Novello Lifetime Achievement Award, a Godlike Genius statue at the NME Awards, and a Mercury Music Prize nomination for his most well-received effort in years, Wake Up the Nation. Its that particular record that makes up the bulk of the set list on Find the Torch, Burn the Plans, Wellers fifth official live album, which features 12 tracks cherry-picked from his five-night sold-out tour at Londons Royal Albert Hall, alongside six songs specially recorded at the Radio 2 Theatre for the stations In Concert strand. Indeed, eight tracks appear from his eclectic and reenergized return to form, including a funky take of "Aim High," an urgent rendition of acid rock opener "Moonshine," and a blistering performance of "Fast Car/Slow Traffic" that recalls the strident new wave punk of the Jams late-70s heyday. But while Weller has sometimes previously shied away from his mod revival past, here he appears to embrace it actively, as not only does former bandmate Bruce Foxton turn up on bass duties, but there are also four tracks originally recorded by the Jam, including number one single "Start" and signature tune "Thats Entertainment." While his Style Council days are ignored, the rest of his eventful 18-year solo career is represented by a smattering of tracks, from his 1992 self-titled debut ("Into Tomorrow") to 1995 commercial peak Stanley Road ("Broken Stones") to 2008s star-studded 22 Dreams ("Sea Spray"), while guest appearances from Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones on a turbocharged duet of "Eton Rifles," U.S. soul vocalist Lauren Pritchard on a cover version of Marvin Gayes "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)," and singer/songwriter Richard Hawley on Wellers last Top 40 single, "No Tears to Cry," show just how highly regarded he is by his fellow musicians. Find the Torch, Burn the Plans is the sound of an artist who, at 51 years old, appears to be in the prime of his career and having the time of his life in the process. Anyone who still considers him to be the grumpy archaic dad-rock figure hes become renowned for should think again. | ||
 | Album: 23 of 30 Title: Sonik Kicks Released: 2012-01-01 Tracks: 14 Duration: 43:30 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Green (03:03) 2 The Attic (02:15) 3 Kling I Klang (03:14) 4 Sleep of the Serene (02:00) 5 By the Waters (03:29) 6 That Dangerous Age (02:30) 7 Study in Blue (06:37) 8 Dragonfly (03:41) 9 When Your Garden’s Overgrown (03:11) 10 Around the Lake (02:11) 11 Twilight (00:20) 12 Drifters (03:07) 13 Paperchase (05:01) 14 Be Happy Children (02:45) |
| Sonik Kicks : Allmusic album Review : Take the title of Sonik Kicks as literally as that of its predecessor, the galvanizing 2010 Wake Up the Nation. Sonik Kicks delivers upon its titular promise immediately, coming to life with the stuttering electronic pulse of "Green," which immediately sweeps into a brightly colored psychedelic chorus, one of many dense collages and sudden shifts Paul Weller offers on his 11th solo album. Some of this contains echoes of the sprawling, picturesque double-album 22 Dreams, the 2008 record that began his latter-day renaissance, but Weller is determined not to repeat himself on Sonik Kicks, pushing himself into startling fresh territory with abandon. Whats striking about the record is how much mileage he gets by rearranging old tropes, finding freshness in familiar sounds twisted so heavily they no longer sound comfortable. Aside from a slight hint of Krautrock, filtered through Berlin-era Bowie, theres no unexpected new sound or style here, but Sonik Kicks vibrates with vitality, Weller and his co-producer Simon Dine finding unexpected connections and crevices within his signature vintage soul, mod rock, and progressive folk. As good as these songs are -- and they are, whether its the sly self-laceration of "That Dangerous Age" or the gentle sway of "By the Waters" -- what truly defines Sonik Kicks is, well, its aural stimulation. This is a record that buzzes with ideas, its giddy with the noise it makes, and once its initial rush fades away, it still has plenty to offer in substantive songs and sheer sonic pleasure. | ||
 | Album: 24 of 30 Title: Bankbusted Nuclear Detergent Blues Released: 2013-04-20 Tracks: 6 Duration: 41:45 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Soft Soap Flakes Kill (07:35) 2 Our Wonderful Culture (08:01) 3 It’s the Economy That’s Stupid (06:53) 4 Shock ’n’ Awe - What’s It For? (03:29) 5 Mutually Assured Destruction = MAD (08:25) 6 Talkin’ Bout Degeneration (07:22) |
 | Album: 25 of 30 Title: More Modern Classics Released: 2014-06-02 Tracks: 21 Duration: 1:03:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 He’s the Keeper (03:38) 2 Sweet Pea, My Sweet Pea (04:07) 3 It’s Written in the Stars (03:10) 4 Wishing on a Star (03:28) 5 From the Floorboards Up (02:27) 6 Come On / Let’s Go (02:58) 7 Wild Blue Yonder (03:28) 8 Have You Made Up Your Mind (03:16) 9 Echoes Round the Sun (03:04) 10 All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You) (03:34) 1 Push It Along (02:52) 2 22 Dreams (02:48) 3 No Tears to Cry (02:24) 4 Wake Up the Nation (02:18) 5 Fast Car/Slow Traffic (01:58) 6 Starlite (03:41) 7 That Dangerous Age (02:30) 8 When Your Garden’s Overgrown (03:11) 9 The Attic (02:15) 10 Flame-Out! (03:02) 11 Brand New Toy (02:49) |
 | Album: 26 of 30 Title: Saturns Pattern Released: 2015-05-18 Tracks: 9 Duration: 43:36 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Allmusic Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 White Sky (04:57) 2 Saturns Pattern (03:24) 3 Going My Way (04:15) 4 Long Time (02:12) 5 Pick It Up (06:16) 6 I’m Where I Should Be (03:26) 7 Phoenix (05:56) 8 In the Car… (04:44) 9 These City Streets (08:26) |
| Saturns Pattern : Allmusic album Review : Parting ways with Simon Dine, the chief collaborator on every one of the records in his great new millennial revival, Paul Weller settles into a celestial groove on Saturns Pattern. Aligning himself with Jan "Stan" Kybert, a producer who has been in his orbit since 2002s Illumination, Weller veers left from the bright modernism of 2012s Sonik Kicks, choosing to soften his edges and expand his horizons. As the album comes crashing into view via the heavy blooze of "White Skies" -- a collaboration with neo-psychedelic pranksters Amorphous Androgynous that seems closer to Black Keys than Humble Pie and not all that trippy, either -- it doesnt seem that Saturns Pattern would get quite so mellow, but it doesnt take long before Weller happily lets himself drift away in a haze. So spacy is Saturns Pattern that when it circles back toward a heavier blues on "Long Time" or "In the Car," the riffs get deliberately chopped and halted in favor of the kind of spiraling, soulful harmonies that populate the rest of the record. These production twists arent belabored: theyre slid in, adding atmosphere and texture to a record that already relies on vibe. Such subliminal accents freshen Wellers longstanding obsessions with 60s soul and expansive 70s rock, turning Saturns Pattern into something that feels nearly as modern as Sonik Kicks. When he indulges in a wash of Vox organ and a rush of 12-string guitars, or when he updates Curtis Mayfield on "Phoenix," they play like transmissions from the past on an album that is focused on the now, and the willful, harmonious collisions of history and the future give Saturns Pattern its kick, while the warm thrum of the grooves gives it its soul. | ||
 | Album: 27 of 30 Title: Jawbone: Music from the Film Released: 2017-03-03 Tracks: 7 Duration: 37:33 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Jimmy / Blackout (21:30) 2 The Ballad of Jimmy McCabe (04:03) 3 Jawbone (03:04) 4 Bottle (01:59) 5 Jawbone Training (02:16) 6 Man on Fire (01:34) 7 End Fight Sequence (03:05) |
| Jawbone: Music from the Film : Allmusic album Review : Thomas Nappers Jawbone is a British independent film about a former youth boxing champ who returns home in an effort to rebuild himself after hitting a personal low. Its a quasi-autobiographical effort from its lead actor Johnny Harris -- who also wrote the film and co-produced it -- and hes the guy who brought Paul Weller into the project. Weller has done a lot in his career, but hes never composed a soundtrack, so Jawbone is noteworthy for that reason alone, but its also interesting because it doesnt follow conventional paths for soundtracks. Jawbone is a hybrid between long-form orchestrations, sculpted songs, and ambient soundscapes, a broad sonic panorama that also reflects many of Wellers strengths. The songs "The Ballad of Jimmy McCabe" and "Bottle" hail back to "English Rose," while "Jawbone" simmers to funky wah-wah rhythms and swaths of psychedelic guitars. These grab the attention -- the other three short selections are essentially incidental music, even "Jawbone Training" with its hyperactive hi-hats -- but the albums centerpiece is its opener, "Jimmy/Blackout," a 21-minute suite that builds from atmospheric electronics to a shimmering sung denouement from Weller. If "Jimmy/Blackout" drifts instead of commands attention, thats the point: like so many of the best soundtracks, its mood music to be absorbed and felt, not heard. | ||
 | Album: 28 of 30 Title: A Kind Revolution Released: 2017-05-12 Tracks: 10 Duration: 42:48 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Woo Sé Mama (03:44) 2 Nova (03:58) 3 Long Long Road (03:23) 4 She Moves With the Fayre (04:22) 5 The Cranes Are Back (04:23) 6 Hopper (03:14) 7 New York (04:42) 8 One Tear (06:06) 9 Satellite Kid (05:17) 10 The Impossible Idea (03:39) |
| A Kind Revolution : Allmusic album Review : Theres gentleness at the heart of the title A Kind Revolution, a suggestion that Paul Weller is getting softer as he approaches the age of 60. In 2017, hes still a few years away from that milestone but hes letting himself take things a little slower, absorbing the spaciness of 2015s Saturns Pattern and reviving the sculpted soulful grooves of Wild Wood. This combination means A Kind Revolution feels straighter than any record Weller has released in the past decade -- in other words, anything hes done since he started his collaboration with Simon Dine, who acrimoniously parted after 2012s Sonik Kicks -- but where As Is Now hit hard, this has an easy touch even when the events kick off with the raver "Woo Sé Mama." This isnt the only time guitars are cranked on A Kind Revolution -- "Satellite Kid" descends into an extended jam -- but soul is Wellers guiding star on this record, leading him to the well-manicured upscale Boy George duet "One Tear" and the sharp funk of "She Moves with the Fayre," which features a cameo from Robert Wyatt. These guest appearances, particularly Wyatts, suggest how Weller isnt content to settle into a familiar groove -- the lovely vocal harmonies on the closing "The Impossible Idea" are further indication of that -- but A Kind Revolution nevertheless feels cozy, a record designed to provide nothing but comfort and thats an unusual twist for Paul Weller. | ||
 | Album: 29 of 30 Title: True Meanings Released: 2018-08-14 Tracks: 14 Duration: 54:53 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Soul Searchers (05:01) 2 Glide (02:18) 3 Mayfly (04:00) 4 Gravity (02:33) 5 Old Castles (03:20) 6 What Would He Say? (04:00) 7 Aspects (04:33) 8 Bowie (03:53) 9 Wishing Well (04:36) 10 Come Along (03:03) 11 Books (04:35) 12 Movin On (04:31) 13 May Love Travel With You (03:01) 14 White Horses (05:24) |
 | Album: 30 of 30 Title: Other Aspects, Live at the Royal Festival Hall Released: 2019-03-08 Tracks: 25 Duration: 1:35:58 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify AlbumCover | 1 One Bright Star (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (04:15) 2 Glide (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (02:27) 3 The Soul Searchers (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (04:55) 4 Boy About Town (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (02:55) 5 Have You Ever Had It Blue (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (03:58) 6 What Would He Say? (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (03:55) 7 Wild Wood (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (04:07) 8 Country (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (03:50) 9 Aspects (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (05:07) 10 Strange Museum (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (04:01) 11 Amongst Butterflies (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (02:57) 12 Old Castles (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (03:14) 13 Gravity (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (02:55) 14 Whereer Ye Go (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (02:51) 15 A Man of Great Promise (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (02:52) 16 Mayfly (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (03:49) 17 Private Hell (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (05:19) 18 Tales From the Riverbank (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (03:30) 19 Movin On (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (04:40) 20 Long Long Road (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (03:45) 21 Hopper (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (03:02) 22 White Horses (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (05:47) 23 Books (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (04:15) 24 You Do Something to Me (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (04:02) 25 May Love Travel With You (Live at the Royal Festival Hall) (03:21) |