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Paul Weller

Polydor, 2024

http://www.paulweller.com

REVIEW BY: Tom Haugen

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 12/09/2024

If Paul Weller's name seems familiar to you, it should. The frontman for the highly influential British mod-rockers The Jam, he later went on to form Style Council. Since 1992 he’s been a solo artist, and this 17th album on his own has the “Modfather” reflecting on a life very well lived at the age of 66. my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

The cozy guitar and soft singing of “Ship Of Fools” starts the listen with a soulful quality, where Max Beesley’s gentle vibraphone and Jacko Peake’s dreamy flute won’t go unnoticed. “Flying Fish” then builds into a fuller presence of lush, ’70s influenced rock that’s flowing with melodies and beauty.

Further into Side A, the elegant “Nothing” uses brass in very charming, pretty ways that complement Weller’s smooth meets slightly gritty pipes, while “Rise Up Singing” employs Ben Gordelier’s agile drums and Le SuperHomard’s keys, harp and guitars for a very mature delivery that even recruits an orchestra.

The opening tune from Side B, “I Woke Up” is alone worth the price of admission, where gorgeous acoustic guitar and emotive singing welcomes graceful strings, though “Sleepy Hollow” makes an impression, too, thanks to Steve Cradock’s electric guitar and Peake’s subtle but effective tenor and baritone sax.

Closer to the end, the setting gets a bit more rock focused, thanks to “Soul Wandering,” which uses soulful backing vocals amid a more rugged approach. “Burn Out” exits, and is a hazy, sax-focused moment of stunning eloquence and heartfelt song craft.

Weller will always be most known for The Jam’s “That’s Entertainment,” but he's made so much great music since then. The songs here take contributions from Noel Gallagher, Bobby Gillespie, Suggs, and Richard Hawley, among others, and will inspire, mesmerize and touch the fan of introspective music.

Rating: A

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