release date: Jun. 2, 2008
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,48]
producer: Paul Weller, Simon Dine, Steve Cradock; Charles Rees
label: Island / Universal Music Group - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Light Nights" - 2. "22 Dreams" - 3. "All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You)" (4 / 5) (live session) - 4. "Have You Made Up Your Mind" - 5. "Empty Ring" - 6. "Invisible" (4 / 5) (live at the BBC) - 8. "Cold Moments" - 10. "Black River" - 11. "Why Walk When You Can Run" - 20. "Sea Spray"
9th studio album by Paul Weller following the release of two live albums: Catch-Flame! (2006), and Live at the Royal Albert Hall (May 2008), and a compilation album Hit Parade (2006) - the latter being released as both a single disc version with 23 tracks and as a 4 disc box-set - in both cases containing material from all his long career with tracks with The Jam, The Style Council, as well as compositions from his eight solo albums.
22 Dreams consists of 21 tracks and is Weller's first studio release to be issued as a double vinyl lp with a running time above 68 mins. Perhaps the title refers to 21 tracks + 1 album = 22 Dreams? Anyway, it was generally met by quite positive reviews. Here, he collaborates with a dozen of guests musicians, especially, performers from the britpop genre he more or less has been claimed to be a major source of inspiration to. Noel Gallagher and Gem Archer of Oasis, Steve Cradock from Ocean Colour Scene, Graham Coxon of Blur are all guests on several tracks - especially Steve Cradock plays on many tracks, and would become one of the staples in Weller's backing group. The band Little Barrie and Aziz Ibrahim of The Stone Roses and Simply Red also stars on the album. 22 Dreams follows more quietly in the footsteps of As Is Now (2005), and comes out as his perhaps boldest singer/songwriter album to date. The single "Echoes Round the Sun" / "Have You Made Up Your Mind" paved the way for the album, which topped the UK album charts list.
I too find it a rather strong album without a lot of fillers, but I also find it a wee bit anonymous. I know, it has been hailed as one of his absolute best, but I think the positive reception has more to do with how the Brits perceive (especially their own) musical history, and Weller really has built up his rock & roll stardom and celebrity status in front row in the UK. "The king of mod" and the perhaps strongest source to the britpop movement has had it coming no matter what at this time of his career. I like it - it's very fine, and despite a number of truly fine compositions, and two great ones, I just don't find it his best - I just tend to like his two previous albums slightly better; however, this is his third consecutive album in the high end proving that the naughts, musically, are great years for Paul Weller.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, The Guardian, Mojo, PopMatters 4 / 5, The Observer 5 / 5 stars ]
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, The Guardian, Mojo, PopMatters 4 / 5, The Observer 5 / 5 stars ]
