The Sound Of The Jam - The Jam

As some of you will know from reading previous reviews, The Jam is one of my favourite groups. Before I start, you can get this from Amazon for a fiver, £7.99 from iTunes. The raw energy that messrs Foxton, Buckler and Weller produced through their music was incredible and whilst they certainly courted the Mod scene, in terms of clothing and imagery, their music, was, in my opinion, intelligent punk. A guitar, drums, lead singer (of course they drafted other musicians in) was the core of the Jam and they stand alone in what they did, almost instantly recognisable, great lyrics, energetic music and generally a message. I think if I ...  Read the complete review

Punk imperative number one: never admit you like a melody Punk imperative number two: never admit you can play Punk imperative number three: use safety pins and tears Now if that was the case how the hell did Paul Weller and the Jam become darlings of the new wave, because that was certainly what they were back in the late 1970s. Weller, Foxton and Buckler flew madly in the face of the accepted wisdom of the time with their nice haircuts, smart clothes and fiendishly clever reworkings of songs by the Beatles and particularly the Who. It was odd that they were always accused of being Who ...  Read the complete review