As Is Now

Paul Weller | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 11, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Yep Roc Records
• ASIN: B000B5KROS
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,485 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Weller's Solid New Album, October 16, 2005

By 

Juan Mobili (Valley Cottage, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: As Is Now (Audio CD)

That Paul Weller is extremely talented is not news, whether you caught up with him back in The Jam days, around the time of Style Council, or since he chose to go at it solo, that has been made abundantly clear.
At every stage, his singing -part gutsy rocker, part blue-eyed Soul "heart in his sleeve"- has offered songs to remember and, at times, albums that hit the mark from beginning to end. I'm thinking here of the romantic grit of "Wild Wood" -his solo best in my opinion- or the fury and passion of "Stanley Road" or the acoustic showstopping versions in "Days Of Speed."
Still, when you look at his extensive discography, particularly since the Style Council, you may find that the list of great albums is short. Of course, you can always find some great tracks -"Heliocentric," "Illumination" or "Heavy Wood" had them- but the memorable always has found an equal counterpart in the forgettable.
This album is, without a doubt, a solid effort, akin to "Illumination" in tone and sound, but also willing to reach back and offer some of the raw energy and heartfelt confessionals of older recordings. "Blink," "Come On/Let's Go" and "From The Floorboards Up" are strong numbers showing Weller can still play hard, and some ballads -"The Start Of Forever," "Roll Along Summer" and "Savages"- prove, without reservations, that he still has a stirring voice.
So, again, this is a solid album, not a classic. If you are looking for more of what Weller had to give in the past, you'll find some new favorites, If you are looking for something that stretches the boundaries of what he's done before, you may be a bit disappointed.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Firing on all cylinders!, October 27, 2005

By 

Kelley "BTs Rule!" - See all my reviews

This review is from: As Is Now (Audio CD)

I recently took in a Weller show at the Avalon in Boston; most of the front two rows was filled with fans who had seen him in New York the night before and they were still shaking their heads in amazement at the energy and passion Weller displayed. This is an artist at the peak of his creative powers - he truly was a man on fire, and as another reviewer stated, could teach many a 20 or 30-something what a real rock star looks and sounds like. His voice is strong and soulful with a tinge of cigarette-induced rasp; his guitar work is muscular and passionately nuanced (he's vastly underrated for his guitar work). Simply, the new album is one of his best. My favorite solo efforts are the hippy-trippy Paul Weller and more soulfully introspective Wild Wood. The material is nicely balanced between urgent rave-ups and soulful ballads. It can't be left unsaid just how much Steve White and Steve Craddock contribute respectively to the overall sound - White's wonderfully galloping, jazz-influenced drumming style and Craddock's elegant guitar leads and fills are now part and parcel of the Weller sound. There are the usual unpredictable production flourishes that we've come to expect from Weller, as well as nods to the Who, the Beatles, and an awkward but credibly funky tip of the hat to Nile Rogers. Some tracks crackle and hum right out of the box (Blink, From the Floorboards); others take a while to grow on you (Pan, On A Misty Morning). This has been my experience with Weller - he takes so many chances, ventures down unexpected paths - that it takes a few listens to let it all sink in. There are a few weak tracks, but really strong material overall. Having followed Weller's solo career with much more interest anything he did with the Jam or Style Council, Weller's current work combines elements of his Traffic/Small Faces infatuation, his affection for soul music, the urgent passion and fury of the Jam years, and the more playful Continental musings of the Style Council - and he wraps it all together with skill and artistic maturity. It's criminal that he gets so little press recognition stateside. By all means - if you ever get a chance to catch him in concert, get there however you can! He's ferociously good. This album is a great primer for those new to Weller. The expanded edition of this release has some video clips, a short film, and a booklet - thoughtful extras for the true fan. On a final note, even though the Modfather is approaching the big 5-0, this guy is a stone cold Super Fox. We should all age so well. WELLA 4-EVAH!

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Portrait of an Artist as a Middle-Aged Man, November 18, 2005

By 

Kevin Sedelmeier (Louisville, KY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: As Is Now (Audio CD)

While last year's Studio 150 may have been a stop-gap for Paul Weller as he took a break from songwriting and regained his muse, it was an extremely important record for him. It was the freshest sounding record of his solo career. It was crisp, varied, and marked the best production of his music since his late Jam and then Style Council days with producer Peter Wilson. It felt like Studio 150 marked the beginning of a new phase of his illustrious career that is going on 30 years.

As Is Now comes a year after Studio 150 and is arguably Weller's best solo album. It simply sounds better than his other releases. The string arrangements on 2000's Heliocentric were wonderful, but certain tracks retained that plodding, hushed production. His other records just didn't cut it sonically. Thanks to co-producer Jan "Stan" Kybert, the new Weller sound is a lot like the old Weller sound - old meaning pre 1992.

For the first time on a solo record, there are songs here that would have been at home on Jam and Style Council records. This is a varied album, fitting for the man with the ever changing moods. He has always included a few brilliant songs on every record, but this one consistently delivers with just a few trite efforts. Here's a track by track listing:

Blink And You'll Miss It - Solid rocking opener. This album's Sunflower. But the guitars sound better on this one.
Paper Smile -Melodically challenged. Sort of more in line with some of his lesser solo material. Not bad, just nothing for him to write back to Woking about. I often press the skip button on this one.
Come On/Let's Go - That's Entertainment 25 years later. Excellent and infectious. Jam-like and fresh sounding.
Here's the Good News - Pleasant and light-hearted fare from an oft-alleged curmudgeon. Piano-based horn-tinged number is a nice change of pace.
The Start of Forever - This proves he can still write ballads. Understated and effective. Sincere vocals and a nice melody make this one a keeper. They should have, however, done without the guitar insert tagged onto the end of the song. This unnecessary flourish has plagued many of Weller's solo records.
Pan - Haunting and wonderful. It harkens back to the Style Council - offering one of his best, most hummable melodies since the mid-80s. The arrangement is nice, and Weller's piano playing has gotten excellent. Odd subject matter, though - the goat-man of Greek mythology.
All on a Misty Morning - Good playing and sort of Wildwood- esque, but I can't really get into this one as much as I'd like. Some fans say it is the best on the album. Not bad, mind you, but a little limp.
From the Floorboards Up - Turn this one up to 11. Jam-ish rock and rock at its finest. It's only fault is that it's too short. A great one to turn up in the car and roll your windows down.
I Wanna Make it Alright - Slight but pleasant enough.
Savages - Quintessential Weller. He takes on violence and terror and all who attack "those whose love is growing." Great tune with great vocals.
Fly Little Bird - OK, so it's repetitive. But it has a lilting, soothing tune that makes me care less about the refrain. It feels like a song about healing.
Roll Along Summer - The Style Council meets the pastoral solo Paul. Great playing although it doesn't pack an emotion wallop.
Bring Back The Funk - Truth is, most critics and fans really don't like this one, but a few seem to praise it readily. I'm with the group who likes it. It is very Style Council, and it really works. People have written that it's very white soul. Not sure what the problem is with that. It has a good groove, and the band sounds great. Very different from his sometimes rigid solo sound.
The Pebble and the Boy - This could have fit nicely on the Piano Paintings side of The Style Council's Confessions of a Pop Group album. It is as brilliant as a pop song can be. Piano, voice, and strings swell to provide a musical opportunity for introspection. Classic Weller.

With a new producer and a reignited fire, Paul Weller once again rises to the top. He is a mature artist whose work reflects that. Hopefully, this time even the US audience will take notice.