Live Wood - Paul Weller

Days Of Speed - Paul Weller

Many of you who have read some of my reviews will know that I am a huge Paul Weller fan, and even more so when he plays live, as this is when he is truly at his magnificent best. I hate the term “The Modfather” which seems to have been tagged onto him, as this gives the idea that he is only on the scene to nuture others, which is certainly not the case, as I think after a few decades on the music scene he is still finding new ways to evolve as an artist. This album was eagerly anticipated by me, as it is a compilation of some of his most popular tracks but played live on an acoustic tour, which as I have mentioned is where he really shines for me, although this time he ...

Days Of Speed - Paul Weller

to the British music scene with a bang after releasing a live compilation album Days Of Speed, featuring some of his greatest hits. For those of you that don’t know, Paul Weller was in a group called The Jam along with a couple of school friends. For five short years The Jam were involved in reshaping the British music scene, along with groups like The Clash and The Sex Pistols. Paul became discontented and left to form Style Council, who were never as highly acclaimed, although Paul’s writing had progressed massively, drawing on influences from Motown. Eventually he left the Style Council and decided to go it alone and has been ever since. This Album was ...

Heavy Soul - Paul Weller

should be allowed to write songs as ponderous as 'I should have been there to inspire you', the title is enough to send you to sleep. But, Paul knows his drum-heavy rock as well as anyone -'Peacock Suit' is the archetypal Britpop Weller song, all jangly guitars, booming drums and the voice of pure gravel, and he keeps coming back with upbeat, thumping tracks after that: 'Up in Suzes' room', 'Science' and 'Golden Sands' are all stonkers. 'Mermaids', the last track, is actually one of my favourite all-time songs; it starts in a flash, the mixture of rock and a violin quartet sounds effortless, and it doesn't go on ...