Customer Reviews

Paul Weller (Deluxe Edition) (2 CD)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

First i could not disagree more with the first reviewer who gave this 1 star. While everyone is entitled to their opinion , Paul Wellers solo debut was and still remains a very solid effort with some great songs. Into tomorrow- the first single proved to be catalyst for his eventual reconquering of the uk and europe. Combining elements of The Style council with a litle fire from The Jam, Weller came back from his "disappointing" late 80s period with songs in hand. Quite simply Lenny Kravitz wishes he had half the song writing ability and knowledge of the era-no doubt Paul's big nods to Mayfield and Gaye but also pastoral english folk- a little funk and some trippy pschedelic and perhaps some prog if you listen to Kosmos. A year later Wild Wood would follow and Weller would once again be the Uks best songwriter by miles.(Winner of the Novello award for songwriting) To this very day Weller continually tops most of the european charts into his 50s. But back to this album- great lyrics reflecting Pauls own doubts and fears which are universal- great guitarwork and horn arrangements- Steve White's drumming never sounded better. To me this album is what the Style Council could have been without all the cheesy 80s synths and bad production. This album was basically the council going raw and earthy- many of these songs could have been council tunes and some were apparantly held back until Weller felt he could get them right. This album does have a 70s feel but thats exactly what it was going for and in fact thats what gives it more lasting power as it reflects a time when tunes and production were top notch( not the bad production of the 80s and early 90s). The only song on here that i didnt like was clues. As far as this version with all the bonus material- demos and bsides will either be an added bonus or a distraction depending on how you feel about Weller as an artist. I happen to think that most of his bsides and demos are better than most of other artists output but to be fair it doesnt all shine but as a fan im glad i have access to them. Coupled with the acoustic oriented Wild Wood this represents a golden period in Wellers solo years. This album is where Weller found himself again as in (Uh huh oh yeah)-"And in my mind i saw the place as each memory returned to trace Dear reminders of who i am The very roots upon which i stand". Exactly Mr Weller!!!

18 years after its first release this soulful album still sounds fresh and stands the test of time. In my humble opinion, it marks Paul's finest effort to date. It came out of nowhere and did receive the attention it deserved. It is great to have all the demo versions and previously unreleased tracks on CD no. 2. Great value and a must-have item for collectors and those who have recently discovered one of the greatest British songwriters. You will love the album if you enjoyed his last record '22 Dreams'.

This double CD is phenomenal. Often, these deluxe re-issues are major disappointments. There were usually very good reasons why the "extras" weren't on the original CD or on a subsequent one. With this release and with the later Wild Wood Weller took the requisite care to ensure that we would not be disappointed. These two CD sets are great packages - terrific sound from the re-master, totally different, though not necessarily inferior, versions of songs found on the original recording together with previously unreleased songs of quality. All in all I cannot recommend this CD more highly. If you have any interest in this artist or if you enjoy the original single CD you should pick this baby up.

AS for the one star review by Aparato Supersonico (his review begins with these words "Though I have no doubt the re-mastering of this album will be a vast improvement") all I can say is that this fellow should perhaps listen to the product BEFORE he submits a review!

This is my review of the 1992 release.

As I write Paul Weller is well into the 19th year of his second reincarnation. Last month he released his 15th album as a solo artist - to solidly positive reviews. I loved the Jam, still do; really enjoyed Style Council and still do; was cautiously optimistic when he decided (with a push from his record company) to go it alone. The resulting cd, Paul Weller, has now been with us for 18 years and it sounds as fresh and exciting as it did when I first bought it all those years ago.

Weller has one of the distinctive voices in the history of rock music. In the UK I`d venture to guess that 75% of today's grandparents would instantly recognize a the voice within seconds of the commencement of the vocals - he has been, and is, that popular. However, unlike say, Rod Stewart, he has remained relevant throughout his entire career, continually influencing myriad artists all over the world. I have seen him live a few times. The audience is always an eclectic one; consisting of old Jam fans now in their 60's all the way to the twenty-somethings fully familiar with every lyric from his latest hot off the press release. He puts on an energetic rocking show, always.

As I listen now to PW I recognize that when he went into the studio in 1992 to record his first solo cd Weller didn't fully abandon the jazzy and groovy style of music that he made with Style Council. Weller's road from SC to PW doesn't contain a sharp 90 degree corner but rather a gentle curve. That road continued to curve towards Wild Wood. For instance, I Didn't Mean to Hurt You and Round and Round would fit nicely onto a SC cd. On the other hand, on Bull-Rush, Clues and Kosmos we do find the unmistakable influence of one of my favourite groups, Traffic. Indeed, it wasn't until today that I noticed how, at times, Steve Winwood and Paul Weller sound like blood brothers.

PW is a terrific record. Although Weller veers from soul to rock and back, from rollicking to reflective, from earthy to warm, the consistency of the song-writing and the high quality of the musicianship keep it all hanging together beautifully. Now, I guess that I'll have to order the deluxe edition!

The thing with Weller (in the Jam-days) was great, strong songs with a skeleton to go. Here its mostly "groovie" sounds and rhythms and no bone to be found. And his voice of course which saves some of it. Great then to hear him sharp again in present time.

Though I have no doubt the remastering of this album will be a vast improvement Paul Weller fans should definitely appreciate, I must say that this first solo effort by the brains and driving force behind such successful and totally different bands such as The Jam and The Style Council, hits you like a great and bitter disappointment. On this album Mr Weller attempts to rekindle the "magic" of the psychedelic 70's sound, a la Lenny Kravitz, with an obvious difference: Lenny Kravitz's albums contain good songs: Mr. Weller's debut is a big letdown. Twenty years ago I bought this album on cassette, and though I really tried to like it - expecting ear candy such as with The Style Council, all I got was an earful of well produced 70's influenced songs that neither satisfied, nor convinced we had a winner here. Eventually I grew tired of my futile attempts to enjoy this tape so I threw it out the window on a lonely night on the Long Island Expressway on my way home. I listened to the samples online here thinking I would probably like this album this time around - almost 20 years later, but unfortunately I do not. It's not my hearing gone bad, but rather the songs - for their most part - remain hopelessly disposable after the first listen, devoid of any direction, and mostly designed to get you pissed you spent good money on these rejected tracks from the Style Council that should have never seen the light of day. BTW The same thing happened to me with XTC "Oranges and Lemons" where the bitterness of the lemons rendered the album useless to make lemonade with. Buy a "Greatest Hits" package instead.