Customer Reviews

Setting Sons

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

 

 

This collection of songs from 1979 hit me during my junior year in college, and I was hard pressed to decide what to put on my turntable -- Setting Sons, or London Calling. Lyrically and musically, these two albums represent the artistic height of the Punk/New Wave music that started around 1975-76, and ended with the music-biz backlash of the 80's. Setting Sons is a rich collection of beautiful words and melodic harmonies, interlaced with some heart-thumping rock chords. What a band! What an album!

This CD (LP at the time) was the first album that made me realize how important lyrics could be to the overall impact of music. I related easily to the "angst" and frustration Paul Weller filled his songs with. A cliche perhaps, but that's the way I felt at the time. It would be nice to get this album on CD.

P.S.

I bumped into Paul Weller at Market City Cafe in Pasadena, CA around 1990. I bought him and his date a drink. My brush with greatness...

"Setting Sons" is about the best The Jam ever did as far as consistency goes. Though each album has great tracks, especially my other favorite, "In the City," this one is more listenable because the songs sound more like they are part of a bigger composition (incidentally, this was intended to be a concept album, but the design fell through). I recommend the other version of the CD with more tracks. My first experience with the album came with what I believe is the U.S. version in which the first half of the album is the second half in the U.K., so I prefer it that way. "Burning Sky" is a beautiful song, and I think it makes a better opening than "Girl on the Phone," as well as "Smithers-Jones" which is a perfect follow-up to the opening track. The other way seems odd to me. This version also included "Strange Town," which would make any album a classic. This album has some incredible moments, and it's a shame that it does not get more recognition as a pivotal pop record, at least here in the U.S. where it gets no air play.

I know that "All Mod Cons" will always be regarded as their masterpiece, but the follow up, "Setting Sons" is also very good and underrated in my opinion. Originally intended to be a concept album, only half the songs follow the story. Paul Weller continues in his storytelling mode throughout, and his narrative on "Private Hell" is powerful and a bit disturbing. Perhaps the slightly overpolished feel of the album production-wise is why Weller doesn't regard it as his favourite Jam album, but the quality of the songs can't be argued with.