Fire & Skill: Songs of the Jam

Various Artists - Alternative - Pop/Rock | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 25, 2000)
• Original Release Date: January 25, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000488U5
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #335,426 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Carnation

2. That's Entertainment

3. The Gift

4. Art School

5. English Rose

6. Going Underground

7. The Butterfly Collector

8. The Modern World

9. Town Called Malice

10. To Be Someone (Didn't We Have a Nice Time)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fire & Skill: The Songs of The Jam, February 23, 2000

By 

Brian (the Southeast United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fire & Skill: Songs of the Jam (Audio CD)

This is a well-conceived tribute to a very deserving band. The eclectic array of artists who cover The Jam's songs (not all of the songs covered here are "the hits") is a nice indicator of how influential The Jam were, despite never really busting wide open in America.

Although the Beastie's cover of "Start!" and Garbage's cover of "Butterfly Collector" are a bit redundant and predictable, there are some wonderful highlights on the album:

Everything But The Girl do themselves proud with "English Rose", an amazing love song that Tracey Thorn nails perfectly, recalling her best "Eden" and "Love Not Money" performances.

Ben Harper's cover of "Modern World" is a pleasingly reckless and sonic awakening at the album's end. I think Weller would be proud of Ben's emotional delivery, both vocally and on that guitar-like thing he plays.

Heavy Stereo's cover of "The Gift" (one of my all time favorite Jam songs) is priceless; equally rock and soul-infused funk.

Gene's cover of "Town Called Malice" is flawless and is the album's high point. Martin Rossiter's vocals are pained, urgent, and sincere. The percussion is also staccato heavy and smooth all at once. Hmmm...I wonder where I've heard that drum sample before! ...

Noel Gallagher's version of "To Be Someone" is both an ironic and poetic choice, and a beautiful and sorrowful acoustic update of Weller's classic rocker. Listen to the lyrics, Liam. Your brother is trying to tell you something!

The hidden Weller track might be the album's most anticipated bummer. It failed to move me at all.

All in all, this album deserves a listen. If you were a fan of The Jam back in the day or if you only recently discovered their music, you will enjoy this album. I suggest buying The Jam's box set or buying the old records and playing them side by side for a nice comparison.

A pleasant surprise among so many mediocre "tribute" albums in the bins these days.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Can I buy just half?, January 27, 2000

By 

Trek Daniels (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fire & Skill: Songs of the Jam (Audio CD)

How could you let someone ruin "That's Entertainment" the way Reef did? It's like letting Motorhead cover "For No One" by the Beatles. Morrissey's version was a million times better, but unfortunately, it didn't end up here. You can rip the Gallagher's but they did some of the best work on this record, hands down. Borrow this cd from a friend and just tape or burn the good tracks.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars 3 out of 4 Oasis wimps agree, January 3, 2001

By 

Ewan Wadharmi (mage) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fire & Skill: Songs of the Jam (Audio CD)

I disagree with 100% with the previous posts. What a pitiful record.

"Carnation"- Liam Gallagher & Steve Craddock--Paul Weller never wore the Beatles influence on his sleeve. So this is a little like hearing an Elvis impersonator sing the Cramps. Anemic bubblegum from the Oasis frontman.

"Start"-The Beastie Boys & Miho Hatori-By removing the vocals and subtlety, they've created a stylized Gap-ready caricature of an important song. More of an homage to Beck, really.

"That's Entertainment"-Reef-All the elements are in place. The bitterness, the immediacy, the youthful outrage are on board this runaway train. It may not be pretty, but it is beautiful.

"The Gift"-Heavy Stereo--Heavy Stereo fearlessly grabs this song with the sort of desperation that someone is going to steal it out from under them and make a mockery of the Jam.

"Art School"-Silversun--Silversun forego the Urge Overkill 70's consumer sound. They opt instead for dirty garage punk. Vocals aren't quite as adolescent as Blink182.

"English Rose"-Everything But The Girl--Listenable, without being an album buyer.

"Going Underground"-Buffalo Tom--. This awful version slowed down to Cowboy Junkies speed has the singer struggling to breathe. If he doesn't want to sing, he should be hanging around downtown with Marcy Playground.

"The Butterfly Collector"-Garbage--Altering the rhythm of this bitter, pointed tale would seem like a travesty, but it works perfectly. Surprisingly, the most enjoyable dish here.

"This Is The Modern World"-Ben Harper--In an odd turn of events, he has managed to suck every bit of venom out of the vocal delivery. It brings to mind Mel Torme's version of "Superstition."

"Town Called Malice"-Gene--The music is tight and driven, but Martin Rossiters warblings float over it like a detached entity.

"To Be Someone"-Noel Gallagher--Noel has a much more interesting voice than his brother. When he gets out of control, he sounds a bit like Ozzie.

"No One In The World"-Paul Weller--has him sounding like Bowie after an all nighter and 3 packs.