The Jam – Sound Affects

Introduction

In a bit of Jam phase at the moment (as well as SmallVille), just listening to every album back to back and finding  some acoustic shows as well. After listening to all of them numerous times I’ve decided that ‘Sound Affects’ is my favorite album  The Jam brought out. However it was a very close with the likes of ‘All Mod Cons’, ‘In the city’ and ‘The Gift’ (not one of the most recognized albums but I’ve got a soft spot for it).

‘Sound Affects’ was released in late 1980 on the record label ‘Polydor’, and was produced Chris Parry who also help produce ‘All Mod cons’ and ‘In the city’. This is also Paul Weller’s favorite album of The Jam, I think this because it was different from anything The Jam had done up until then. Also Paul Weller said that it was a mixture of Michael Jackson’s ‘Off the Wall’ and ‘Revolver’ (I’m sure we can all see that from the riff in ‘Start’)

The Album features songs like ‘Start’, ‘That’s Entertainment’ and one of my personal favorites ‘Pretty Green’ (just love the bass on it)

The Album

The album starts off with that bass from ‘Pretty Green’, which I think is one of the catchiest of bass riffs I’ve heard along with ‘The Stone Roses – She Bangs the Drums’. I think what I like most about the song is the aggression, also It’s something really good to shout at the top of your voice.

Weller’s a brilliant songwriter all round, lyrics, rhythm, melody and he does all that and making it catchy, it doesn’t sound so heavy. If you look at all his solo albums, they all show signs of this look at ‘sunflower’ which featured on the album ‘Wild Wood’.

The first single off this album was ‘Start!’, and it very nearly wasn’t as Polydor wanted to release ‘Pretty Green’ first but the band got the record label to bring out ‘Start!’, and how very right they were to do this as this is easily my favorite on the album and easily one of my favorite Jam songs of all time. Yes, it rips of ‘The Beatles – Taxman’ slightly but, okay more than slightly but I don’t think that takes anything away from the song. You could rip off something from a really good song, and it might be terrible. Either way they still had the job of using it and changing it to suit their style, which they did with ease. Also the solo on ‘Start!’ is pretty good as well.

The final song that gained credibility over time was ‘That’s Entertainment’, a simple acoustic song, with simple chords however with a less simple strumming pattern. Apparently Paul wrote this when he came home pissed one night (pissed means drunk) and he wrote it in 15 minutes. Don’t know if this actually happened or not, but I’d like to think it happened this way, i’m a sucker for a story. I love how it was recorded because it’s not entirely clear feels like Paul is shouting and your struggling to hear him slightly. Lyrically I think this  is one of the best pieces he’s ever done.

 

Overall 8.5

Whether you think it’s the best album The Jam ever done or not, I think you have to agree that it is an incredible album. Let me know what you think of the album, and whether you think it deserves the top spot that I’ve given it.

Paul Weller – Sonik Kicks

The Modfather.

Introduction

So as music is horribly going more digital, and forcing everyone to come with them, for example Mr.Weller. He’s decided to stream his whole album live, before he brings it out, which I suppose is nice because you get a chance to listen to it all before you buy it or download it, I’d suggest to do the latter. It’s also good that he’s done this because I could do my review on it before it actually comes out, and I’ll feel ahead of the game, which clearly I’m not. After Wake up the nation, I expected Paul to take another step in that direction, and he has and done it one better, because I think it’s better than wake up the nation.

Wake Up The Nation Artwork

Why is it better than Wake up the nation?

In ‘Wake up the nation’ there were a few songs that I weren’t keen on e.g. -‘Fast Car/Slow Traffic’, ‘In Amsterdam’. I always found myself skipping them, and because I did that a lot to the album I think that’s why I don’t play it as much, which is a bit unfair because it’s only because of a couple of songs but oh well. That is the reason why I believe Sonik Kicks beats it hands down.

The Songs

Every song I listened to sounded exciting and different to anything that I’ve really heard before, I’m sure in one track I listened to I think it was ‘Green’, my brain didn’t know what the fuck was going on, but that’s what made me listen to it again and again. Also in the song ‘The Attic’ you hear a hint of the song off south park ‘Shut your fucking face uncle fucker’, which made me laugh a bit, then I realised it wasn’t funny and stopped laughing. On the album you still have those interludes with songs on there called ‘Sleep of the Serene’ and ‘Twilight’, not a massive fan of interludes really, but these are quite soothing and nice to listen to, while you’re making a brew or something. I did a blog a week or so ago, I can’t remember unimportant things like that, on ‘That Dangerous Age’, and if I remember rightly I liked it (like I like everything I post about). ‘That Dangerous Age’ is probably one of the strongest songs on here, it’s the most catchiest on the album and I like the lyrics on it  as well. So Paul has sort have dropped that acoustic sound, not for good obviously but he clearly sees his music going in one way. However, there is an acoustic style song here which is called ‘By The Water’, now I don’t mean to be soppy but it’s beautiful, the lyrics, Paul singing, the strings in the back and the gentle sound of the guitar lying under it makes it just sound (shit I’m gonna say it again) beautiful.

Songs to give a listen

‘That dangerous age’, ‘Green’, ‘By the water’, ‘Around the lake’ and ‘Dragonfly’

Rating

7/10