Customer Reviews

This Is the Modern World

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

 

 

The Jam's second album suffers from similar draw-backs to their thrashy debut in that it's songs, while generally slightly more consistent, sound as if they've been laid down much too soon. There's exuberant ideas bustling here, which if patiently allowed to find their own way, would've finished up much better appreciated and elevated than they are now.

This what happens when greedy music majors pay huge advances to a young/unready pop-band and try to start recouping immediately.
All that said, 'This Is The Modern World' includes some top drawer Jam songs. 'I Need You (For Some-one)', 'Here Comes the Weekend' and 'Tonight at Noon' are three of Weller's best reflective ballads and his Keith Moon tribute; 'Life From a Window' is possibly his finest 4 minutes as a songwriter.

There's a couple of distant clunkers but generally 'This Is The Modern World' is an improvement on 'In The City', while still tilling familiar, albeit less stony and undisturbed land.

Youth anthems delivered at breakneck speed! Years ago I read a review of the Jam and someone wrote that line--I forget who it was, though. Nevertheless, while we in the US had Donna Summer and the Bee Gees, the kids in the UK had the Jam. How disappointing for us. As the Jam never made it in the US, they never got any airplay, nearly no one knew of them, and it was VERY difficult to find their records. I did find "Modern World", though, and fell in love with it right off. The fast pace and good rockin' were what I liked. Some people have criticised this album as being a collection of leftover songs. I didn't care, the group rocked! I particularly liked "London Girl", which was a bit more pop, but it moved, and "Midnight Hour." These guys took that old R&B song and turned it into a real rock n' roll classic.
If you want an album that really rocks, get this one. The songs are just as enjoyable as they were almost 30 years ago. One caveat, the CD is missing a song that appeared on the LP--"All Around the World", which I think is one of the Jam's greatest songs.

I've met folks who weren't born until the 80's and have only heard later JAM. You gotta hear the first two albums, this being the second. There's classic JAM songs on it as great as any they ever did and there's no 'approximating Motown' sound on this.
'The Modern World' is so snappy, it stands the test of time magnificently.
I've always enjoyed 'London Traffic', very energetic.
The vocals on 'In The Street Today' are some of my favorite by the JAM. Generally, how well they interweave their trio is a marvel. GREEN DAY, NIRVANA and the JAM really show that with three guys you can make total songs that are fully formed and, that it doesn't happen that often. URINALS/100 FLOWERS and the MINUTEMEN also proved it beautifully.
'I Need You (For Someone)' reminds me that the JAM really isn't a punk band at all. Mod I guess and the occasional love song sorta proves it. Very nice.
'Here Comes The Weekend' is lyrically so applicable to us workin' stiffs. I cherish such a song whenever I can find it.
'Tonight At Noon' is a prime example of their harmony skills without ever bein' sappy or sugar pop.
If only they did this sort of cover job of 60's songs:'In The Midnight Hour'. Now I could listen to that all day. Just keep away from the horn section boys (later albums) though I love horn sections generally, the wilder the better (Ray Charles' 45 Great Songs 2xCD has some incredible blarin' horn songs).
Anyone who says this is a weak album, including the band, is bonkers. For me, and probably a buncha other punx, the earliest stuff is the best for the JAM and this is right in there. Go get 'em. chrisbct@hotmail.com

As many are quick to point out, this album pails in comparison to the band's debut "In The City". That aside though, the album really isn't that bad. It's got a great amount of energy, and though the writing isn't as focused as other Jam albums, Paul & Co. still manage to knock out a few good tunes. Not necessarily there best, but definately not bad compared to so much else that was out at the time.

This album is so addictive,I still cant get enough of it.To some standards this would be connisdered Pop Punk, but this blows Blink182 and Green Day out of the water and The Jam has both bands beat by 20 years.

I don't know why everyone (including the band themselves) consider this the Jam's weakest LP. I think it's their second best effort (right after the masterpiece "Setting Sons"). The songs are more focaced and melodic than on "In the City". Plus, "Modern World" rocks out a lot more than "All Mod Cons" (which is also a great album). True, at the time, this LP wasn't too well received- it was recorded and released only MONTHS after their debut. It was thought to suffer from "second album shortage"- a common problem among late 70s punk bands. (The same was said for the follow ups of the Damned, the Dead Boys and Slaughter & the Dogs- all great albums today.) Even if you're not a hardcore Jam fan give "Modern World" a chance... right after "SEtting Sons"!

This second album is a letdown after their explosive first album (In the City) and their quieter third and fourth (All Mod Cons and Setting Sons). It has good songs but seems like leftovers from the first album.

Sandwiched between two of The Jam's very best records (In The City and All Mod Cons) and featuring a batch of mostly half-realized tunes, Modern World is basically a let down. Not a bad album so much as a hastily assembled collection of b side-worthy material that never really takes off. Buy every other Jam album first (yes, even The Gift).