Doug Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 I've been a long-time fan of The Jam (ever since I was talked into buying a "Snap!" cassette in 1986, when I was 13 and just starting to get interested in 70's British punk rock; The Jam stopped me from being a Sex Pistols/Buzzcocks/Damned/Clash man and more of a Jam/PiL/Fall/Wire man), but I've ignored Weller's solo stuff and stuff he did with The Style Council (except for a SC "greatest hits" thingie that I bought and promptly sold back to the store). What do y'all think of Weller's solo stuff? I've read a bunch of reviews, and for the most part they're positive, if not glowing. Would "Modern Classics" be a good place to start, or is there a particular album that I should get first? "Wildwood" seems to get tons of positive press. What do y'all think? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 Wild Wood is my favorite.In fact, that period is just about the only period that I listen to from his solo career.There is also an out-of-print B-Sides collection from those sessions called More Wood that is just about as good as the proper album. So yeah, start with Wild Wood. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied lightning Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 def get Wild Wood, but I love them all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 I'm a massive, massive fan. Wild Wood is, without doubt, his best, most accomplished solo album and one of my all-time favourites. Then it's hard to pick a really duff one - Stanley Road, Wild Wood, the self-title debut. The early stuff is great and lacks a bit of the "Modfather" polish of his later stuff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FourStrongWinds Posted November 16, 2007 Share Posted November 16, 2007 Porcelain Gods is proberly the coolest song ever recorded, so much swagger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied lightning Posted November 17, 2007 Share Posted November 17, 2007 hows this order Rich Wild woodPaul WellerAs Is NowHeliocentricIlluminationStanley Road then ya have the live recordDays Of SpeedCatch Flame Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted November 18, 2007 Share Posted November 18, 2007 That ain't a bad order, though I'd swap Stanley Road and As Is Now, but mainly becuase I have a huge connection with Stanley Road as it came out during my "mod" days Those live CD's are excellent - Days Of Speed is brilliant and I was gutted not to catch him on that tour The last time I saw him was in Cambridge, but the time before was at Brixton Academy in London and it was, quite possibly, one of the best gigs i've ever been to as he played "In The Crowd" which I never thought I'd hear live. He's dropped into sets quite a bit since then, but that was the first time in ages. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Somnambulist Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 Paul WellerWildwood I would start at the beginning. I loved the self-titled when it came out and listened to it to death. When Wildwood came along I was in heaven. Latter ones haven't grabbed me as much. Check out Ocean Colour Scene as well. It's basically Paul's backup band. Their output in the mid to late 90's was great. If you can get a hold of the B-sides collection, I recommend that as well. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Sandoz Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 one of my favorite songs of all time is "Above the Clouds" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FourStrongWinds Posted November 19, 2007 Share Posted November 19, 2007 our bands rehearsal space is just off stanley road, mr.wellers stanley road and i'll second Days of Speed, really awesome..brand new start kills Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Prose Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I have a live album titled Live Wood which is from the awesome tour following Wild wood(his show at the Metro that tour was outstanding). Great stuff as he stretched out those songs live. Not sure if its a ltd release or what. Have not seen it around at all since I got it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
rwrkb Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 i'm a big Jam fan, but have failed to even listen to any of weller's solo stuff, but after this thread, i'm definitely gonna give 'em a go Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted November 20, 2007 Share Posted November 20, 2007 I have a live album titled Live Wood which is from the awesome tour following Wild wood(his show at the Metro that tour was outstanding). Great stuff as he stretched out those songs live. Not sure if its a ltd release or what. Have not seen it around at all since I got it. I'd actually forgotten about that! Yeah, you can get it as a CD or a DVD of the live performances too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied lightning Posted April 24, 2008 Share Posted April 24, 2008 Paul Weller, solo star and former frontman for the Jam and the Style Council, has returned to the spotlight with a lesson for the current crop of Brit-rock whippersnappers. That lesson takes the form of Weller's ninth studio album, the official follow-up to 2005's As Is Now. The new album is called 22 Dreams. Yep Roc will release 22 Dreams in the U.S. on June 24, while Island will put it out in the UK on June 2. The U.S. version fits the entire double-album length extravaganza on one CD, while in the UK, it will be available as a single CD, a 2xLP vinyl set, and a deluxe 2xCD set. The deluxe edition features sturdier packaging, a short story by poet Simon Armitage, and a bonus disc of demos, instrumental tracks, and other goodies. One such goodie is the instrumental version of the song "Big Brass Buttons", a collaboration with Bobby Gillespie and Andrew Innes of Primal Scream. (The non-instrumental version is slated for release as a B-side in the future.) As for the music on 22 Dreams, some of it comes from Weller's whippersnappin' Brit-rock followers, including former Blur guitarist Graham Coxon and Oasis members Noel Gallagher and Gem Archer. In fact, the contribution from the Oasis mates, "Echoes Round the Sun", will be released in the UK May 26 as a double A-side single with "Have You Made up Your Mind". Until then, Weller has his May full up with UK tour dates. 22 Dreams: 01 Light Nights02 22 Dreams03 All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You)04 Have You Made up Your Mind05 Empty Ring06 Invisible07 Song for Alice08 Cold Moments09 The Dark Pages of September Lead to the New Leaves of Spring10 Black River11 Why Walk When You Can Run12 Push It Along13 A Dream Reprise14 Echoes Round the Sun15 One Bright Star16 Lullaby Fur Kinder17 Where'er Ye Go18 God19 11120 Sea Spray21 Night Lights Bonus disc: 01 22 Dreams [original demo]02 Rip the Pages Up [previously known as "Better"]03 Light Nights [original demo]04 Cold Moments [original demo]05 Love's Got Me Crazy06 Invisible (Marco Version)07 Big Brass Buttons [instrumental]08 22 Dreams [instrumental] Quote Link to post Share on other sites
auctioneer69 Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 Been a Jam fan since 1981 and have seen Weller three or four times live. His solo career started strongly and has been somewhat patchy since. It sounds like he is really trying to mix it up on the new record. I totally respect him. He has always followed his own muse and in his contrary nature I find him somewhat similar to Neil Young. My personal faves are : "Paul Weller", "Wild Wood" and "Illumination". I thought the latter album was criminally underrated. The acoustic album "Days Of Speed" is great too. I saw him at the Albert Hall on the "Wild Wood" tour in 1993. One of my top ten gigs of all time. After being written off after the end of the Style Council four years earlier the sense of vindication was so palpable that day as he and his band put on a magic show and had a great time on stage. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 I'm actually looking forward to this new album - heard positive things about it so far. Shame his May tour isn't coming to Cambridge... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PotKettleTug Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 I'm a Peter Weller fan myself. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied lightning Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 shame he's not coming to the US ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 "Snap!" cassette This is the only Snap Cassette I owned in the 80's At the majority of concerts I've been to in LA, they play the Jam's "That's Entertainment" over the PA before almost every show I've attended.I need to explore The Jam and Paul Weller a bit further. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 now playing:Paul Weller - Days Of Speed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
John Smith Posted April 28, 2008 Share Posted April 28, 2008 I've been a long-time fan of The Jam (ever since I was talked into buying a "Snap!" cassette in 1986, when I was 13 and just starting to get interested in 70's British punk rock; I might still have my vinyl copy of Snap somewhere. But solo Weller is great. My favorite of the bunch is the live "Days of Speed", good stuff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Calexico Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 I heard 3 or 4 songs off this album on the radio the other night and was really impressed. The again I am a huge Weller fan and have been since about 1978/9. Plus he is playing in the tent in Cork over the summer! W00t indeed! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tongue-tied lightning Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 loving this new record. He's such a great writer that most people forget. he keeps moving up my list of all time fav artists Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted May 30, 2008 Share Posted May 30, 2008 Wild Wood is, without doubt, his best, most accomplished solo album and one of my all-time favourites.That's good to know because it is the only solo Weller I own. Someone gave me a free copy with the bonus CD as I recall. LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Welsh Rich Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 The new album is really good. Very laid back. A bit all over the place on some tracks, but there's something really nice about that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.