Paul Weller "66" (2024)

66

release date: May 24, 2024

format: digital (12 x File, FLAC)

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,98]

producer: Paul Weller

label: Polydor - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Ship of Fools" - 2. "Flying Fish" - 4. "Nothing" (4 / 5) - 5. "My Best Friend's Coat" - 6. "Rise Up Singing" - 7. "I Woke Up" - 9. "Sleepy Hollow" - 11. "Soul Wandering" (4 / 5)

17th studio album by Paul Weller following three years after Fat Pop (Volume 1) (May 2021) is not the perhaps expected Volume 2, when focussing on the title - it's more than close enough though, 'cause fact is, Weller certainly has found his melody treasure box in recent years and simply seems unable to make an unrelevant album. By the way, 66 has a double meaning in that it both refers to the year 1966 and a time when music came through as something in strong growth, production-wise, terms of more fully arrangements, and to specific soul-hits of that year - the front cover art by Peter Blake (who also made the cover for Stanley Road) sets the tone of that particular year quite nicely - and then of course the title hints at his current age. The album is released the day before his 66th birthday and it's Weller's first in a long series not to feature his near usual musical kindred: engineer, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and co-composer Jan 'Stan' Kybert; however, the album both feature stable instrumentalists as well as several more prominent appearances, which count Suggs (aka Graham McPherson of Madness), Bobby Gillespie (of Primal Scream), Christophe Vaillant (of Le SuperHomard), Erland Copper, Steve Cradock, Noel Gallagher, Richard Hawley, Dr. Robert (aka Robert Howard), and Hannah Peel. For this, Weller has both written and composed, but also with inspiration from other songwriters found matching melodies, or simply co-written songs with various others. The remarkable side to that is a strong coherent collection of diverse songs, where Weller's vocal hardly ever sounded this expressive.

The album might as well be titled 'Volume 2 (66)' or something similar as it takes up the baton from the 2021 album. It's not strictly from the same night out on town as the '21 album came with more uptempo songs and this one appears more of a mellow-mooded breed - perhaps followed by a melancholy considering all the years gone by? Some tracks contain a certain The Style Council touch, at least when speaking Café Bleu-period quality, a nostalgic tendency also found on his most recent predecessors. And generally speaking, it's a well-balanced album soothing in blue and misty colours of softness that nevertheless still welcomes you inside with the impossible mix of musical aristocracy and working-class appeal and with a strong sense for stylistic diversity without losing one bit of coherency. On top of that, the melodies stand next to one another seeking your attention - it's simply filled with strong songs and already applies for the title as one of his majors. Impressive, that's what this is, and naturally highly recommended.

[ allmusic.com, 👍The Guardian, 4 / 5, Clash 3,5 / 5, Record Collector 5 / 5 stars ]

Paul Weller "Fat Pop (Volume 1)" (2021)

Fat Pop (Volume 1)

release date: May 14, 2021

format: digital

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,76]

producer: Paul Weller & Jan 'Stan' Kybert

label: Polydor Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Cosmic Fringes" - 2. "True (feat. Lia Metcalfe)" - 3. "Fat Pop" - 4. "Shades of Blue" - 5. "Glad Times" (live on Later) - 6. "Cobweb / Connections" - 8. "That Pleasure" - 11. "In Better Times" (4 / 5) (live in session)

[ special 5-track Fat Pop-performance ]

16th studio album by Paul Weller released only 10 months after his fine On Sunset (Jul. 2020), and again it's a release featuring producer and multi-instrumentalist Jan Kybert, who first worked with Weller on the album Studio 150 in 2004, and who has since then taken part on most of Weller's studio albums, either as musician or as co-producer.

The album nicely follows the musical expression you'll find on the 2020 album without being mere repetition. It rather seems as if Weller in his older days has come up with his very own expression, which lends from all sorts of genres and styles, but which nevertheless sounds unmistakably as Paul Weller only and no one else. It's British soul with strong roots in the golden beat music of the 60s, and then it's spiced up with mod, traditional American r&b, and equal parts of modern styles making him sound as a one-man Gorillaz band, and yet at other times you may sense it sounds oddly familiar, as on the both beautiful and heartfelt "In Better Times", where the mood alone brings back vivid memories of fine ballads from The Jam, The Style Council, or from Weller's early solo releases, and yet the track appears completely new and personal.

Once again, Weller ranks among the finest English songwriters without sounding old-school or out of sync with present-day.

Recommended.

[ allmusic.com, NME 4 / 5, Clash, American Songwriter, musicOMH 3,5 / 5 stars ]

Paul Weller "On Sunset" (2020)

On Sunset
release date: Jul. 3, 2020
format: digital (15 x File, FLAC - Deluxe)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,68]
producer: Paul Weller & Jan Kybert
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Mirror Ball" - 2. "Baptiste" - 3. "Old Father Tyme" - 6. "On Sunset" - 8. "Walkin' " - 10. "Rockets"

15th studio album by Paul Weller, once again teamed up with Dutch producer Jan 'Stan' Kybert.
With the album Weller doesn't introduce us to a lot of new styles or genres but he does combine some of his latest outputs into one unifying sound. On the predecessor, True Meanings (2018) his output was acoustic and simple, on A Kind Revolution (2017) he sought a more electrifying form of pop soul and chamber pop, and before that he embraced alt. rock and mod revival more explicitly on the strong Saturns Pattern (2015). All this is found here, and mostly not as various pieces pointing here or there but as a nicely woven conglomerate that is so Wellerian. His mod revival and pop soul, and even his sophisti-pop traces of the past are all represented here in a combo of folk rock and singer / songwriter. 

A first listen may not reveal strong single hits but on returning points it comes out as something original, which is an accomplishment. He works with many returning associates, guitarist Steve Cradock, bassist Andy Crofts, keyboardist Charles Rees, drummer Ben Gordelier as well as multi-instrumentalist Jan Kybert. The album also welcomes back former associate Mick Talbot from The Style Council on three tracks.
The Deluxe Edition adds another five compositions of which two are alternate instrumental versions.
It does seem as if Weller has found his niche on his older days by maintaining a high quality level as a mature musician.

Paul Weller "True Meanings" (2018)

True Meanings
release date: Sep. 14, 2018
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
producer: Paul Weller
label: Parlophone - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "The Soul Searchers" - 3. "Mayfly" - 6. "What Would He Say?" - 7. "Aspects" - 13. "May Love Travel With You" - 14. "White Horses"

14th studio album by Paul Weller, who is also credited as sole producer like he was on A Kind Revolution (2017).

Where his latest solo albums all have been in the alternative rock genre showing various contemporary musical influences, this is something quite diverse. It's a primarily acoustic-driven folk rock and singer / songwriter album, although, it also bears traits of a mellow chamber pop with bold use of strings. The overall sensations, however, is a quiet sincere collection of songs that bonds nicely with the ballads he has written throughout his entire career, be it with The Jam, The Style Council or as solo artist.

As Mark Beaumont of NME remarks "Paul Weller’s career has always ebbed and flowed between the incisive and the pastoral, one minute joy-riding through a town called Malice, the next punting soulfully down the Cam." And yes, that might be so, and what if? It's not entirely up to Weller to release cutting edge game-changing music where he do have his hits and misses - and mostly the latter. It's always nice to hear his own true-meant ballads instead of pretending he's shaping new styles with the young ones, and this album may not be his Nebraska or King of America album, but it does suit his voice and age very nicely.

Recommended.

[ allmusic.com, The Guardian, 4 / 5, NME 3 / 5 stars ]

Paul Weller "A Kind Revolution" (2017)

A Kind Revolution
release date: May 12, 2017
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,02]
producer: Paul Weller
label: Parlophone - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 3. "Long Long Road" (live on later) - 4. "She Moves With the Fayre" - 5. "The Cranes Are Back" (live on later) - 6. "Hopper" - 8. "One Tear" - 9. "Satellite Kid" - 10. "The Impossible Idea"

13th solo studio album by Paul Weller is his first album to be entirely produced by himself only. Musically, it follows closely in the steps laid out on his splendid Saturns Pattern from 2015. It's full of style influences but mainly falls in the genre of alt. rock and singer / songwriter where he once again explores the style of pop soul. Some tracks are energetic rockers, some are ballad-like and rich of strings - touching on chamber pop, others reflect his many tours into the many stylistic landscapes of modern popular music.
This is another strong release from Weller just before his 59th birthday showing just how well he's doing in his senior years. He hasn't always been able to combine all his stylistic influences into coherent albums, but lately he seems to have found the formula to bring everything into a synthesis.
This is one of the best albums in 2017 and thus a highly recommendable album.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, 👍The Guardian 4 / 5, PopMatters 4,5 / 5 stars ]

2017 Favourite releases: 1. St. Vincent Masseduction - 2. Paul Weller A Kind of Revolution - 3. Love Shop Risiko

Paul Weller "Saturns Pattern" (2015)

Saturns Pattern
release date: May 11, 2015
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,06]
producer: Jan 'Stan' Kybert, Paul Weller
label: Parlophone Records - nationality: England, UK

Tracklist: 1. "White Sky" - 2. "Saturns Pattern" - 3. "Going My Way" (live on CBS) - 4. "Long Time" - 5. "Pick It Up" - 6. "I'm Where I Should Be" (live on CBS) - 7. "Phoenix" - 8. "In the Car..." - 9. "These City Streets"

12th studio album by Paul Weller is a very strong release. He has tuned down on the electronic part, as heard on the predecessor Sonik Kicks (2012) and successfully made a new blend of his own, incorporating mod revival, pop soul and singer / songwriter without repeating former successes and put that cocktail into a contemporary context.

As a first impression I found it one of the best releases in 2015, and also making it Weller's best solo.. album.. ever. The album kept growing, and by the end of the year it was for some time my absolute favourite in a strong year.

Highly recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

2015 Favourite releases: 1. Mellemblond Fra et sted - 2. Paul Weller Saturns Pattern - 3. Alabama Shakes Sound & Color

Paul Weller "Sonik Kicks" (2012)

Sonik Kicks
release date: Mar. 26, 2012
format: cd
[album rate: 2,5 / 5] [2,68]
producer: Paul Weller, Simon Dine
label: Universal Island Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "The Attic" - 6. "That Dangerous Age" - 8. "Dragonfly"

11th studio album by Paul Weller follows two years after Wake Up the Nation (Apr. 2020) is once again with producer Simon Dine but is still a bit of a new turning point. The album is Weller's first with a bold use of electronics. Sometimes the blend of pop soul and electro pop / indietronica works out fine or say sufficiently here, as on "The Attic", on "That Dangerous Age", and on "Dragonfly"; however, at other times, which actually is 'mostly', it falls flat like on "Kling I Klang", and on "Sleep of the Serene". The album fared well, sold well, topping the albums chart list in the UK. But to me, this is no less than his least appealing and his least successful solo album to date. It feels like more than a bitter pill to swallow.
Not recommended.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, Pitchfork 6,5 / 10, Mojo, 👉The Guardian 3 / 5 stars ]

Paul Weller "Wake Up the Nation" (2010)

Wake Up the Nation
release date: Apr. 19, 2010
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [2,90]
producer: Simon Dine
label: Island Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 2. "Wake Up the Nation" - 3. "No Tears to Cry" - 8. "Find the Torch, Burn the Plans"

10th studio album by Paul Weller following 22 Dreams (Jul. 2008) finds him on repeat - I think. This is his usual formula, as heard on all of his post 2000 albums: in search of producing another Wild Wood (Sep. 1993) album with the right blend of mod revival, singer / songwriter, with hints of pop soul, but it basically lacks great melodies and memorable songs. However, the album was generally met by positive reviews in Britain and it reached number #2 on the UK albums chart list. Furthermore, the album was nominated the Mercury Prize for best album of the year, which was handed to The xx for the album xx.
I'm fully aware that the album is highly regarded, but to me, it simply never unfolds and I don't find it a recommended release.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Slant 4 / 5, Q, The Guardian, The Independent 5 / 5 stars ]

Paul Weller "22 Dreams" (2008)

22 Dreams
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 ]

Paul Weller "As Is Now" (2005)

As Is Now
release date: Oct. 10, 2005
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,53]
producer: Paul Weller & Jan 'Stan' Kybert
label: V2 - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Blink and You'll Miss It" (4 / 5) (live) - 2. "Paper Smile" - 3. "Come On / Let's Go" - 5. "The Start of Forever" - 9. "I Wanna Make It Alright" - 10. "Savages" (live on later)

8th studio album by Paul Weller (released in North America by independent Yep Roc Records) follows his covers album Studio 150 (Sep. 2004). Here, Weller is back as main songwriter and composer and back with producer Jan Kybert from his near-mediocre 2004 album.
The cover may suggest a close link to his time with The Style Council but this is anything but a sophisti pop release, in fact it's a rather strong album from Weller with fine pieces of mod revival, his familiar pop soul textures in a pop / rock context with stress on rock and singer / songwriter, which also points back to his later years with The Jam.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5, NME 3,5 / 5, The Observer 3 / 5 stars ]

Paul Weller "Studio 150" (2004)

Studio 150
release date: Sep. 14, 2004
format: cd (SACD)
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,06]
producer: Jan Kybert & Paul Weller
label: V2 - nationality: England, UK

7th studio album by Paul Weller following two years after Illumination is a collection of cover songs of various styles from standards, rhythm & blues, soul, classic pop, folk rock, and pop / rock, and most songs are originally from the 1960s.
The album is not all bad, and the material of songs of course represent Weller's influences but I really don't find it a pleasant listen altogether. Some songs are a wee bit hard to listen to in Weller's arrangements and with his pop / rock vocal, e.g. the traditional "Black Is the Colour", Bacharach and Hardin's "Close to You" - legendary in The Carpenters version - Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" - strongly covered by many others, and then he has made room for a song by britpop composer Noel Gallagher of Oasis, which simply seems out of place, when putting him alongside Bob Dylan, Billie Calvin, Neil Young, Gil Scott-Heron, Burt Bacharach and Nile Rodgers but it also points to how diverse and redundant this collection of songs basically seem.
[ allmusic.com, The Music Box 3 / 5 stars ]

Paul Weller "Illumination" (2002)

Illumination
release date: Sep. 16, 2002
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Paul Weller, Simon Dine
label: Independiente Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Going Places" - 3. "Leafy Mysteries" - 4. "It's Written in the Stars" (4 / 5) - 6. "Now the Night Is Here" - 8. "One X One" (live) - 10. "All Good Books" - 12. "Standing Out in the Universe"

6th studio album by Paul Weller with a new producer marks a strong return to form. I really enjoy this album, which I find almost pars his so far best solo album, Wild Wood from 1993. This is not just the usual recipe. Here he challenges his talent - adds new layers to a solid style, sometimes more polished than ever, sometimes more naked and simple, and in other places just adding hints of new styles and by that producing a fine collection of soulful songs. He has turned to funk, blues, and (British) folk giving a edge to his albums over time, but I find his best when adding elements of soul. It's not sophisti-pop, which also has its source in soul, and by that could have put this closer to the music of The Style Council. It's more singer / songwriter, soul, and pop / rock in a fine blend. 

The album topped the UK album charts list.
[ almusic.com 4,5 / 5, The Guardian 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3 / 5 stars ]

The Jam "The Jam at the BBC" (2002)

The Jam at the BBC (compilation)
release date: May 21, 2002
format: digital (3 cd) (LTD.)
[album rate: 4 / 5]
producer: Malcolm Brown; Jeff Griffin; Tony Wilson
label: Polydor / Universal - nationality: England, UK

An original 2 cd compilation album by The Jam with (almost) all tracks from BBC Radio sessions (including three John Peel sessions) recorded from May 1977 - Dec. 1981. The Limited Edition includes a bonus disc with a concert held at the Rainbow Theatre in London, Dec. 4, 1979. This is a fine album both showing what a great live band The Jam was. At the same time many of the tracks are mere studio recordings, alternate versions of the original tracks, but the album also contains two short interviews with the band, and two full radio concerts, including 10 tracks from a concert at the Paris Theatre, Jun. 1978, and a 12 tracks concert at The Hippodrome, Golders Green, Dec. 1981, both recorded, presented and broadcast by BBC Radio 1. Needles to say, the compilation is a collector's item but as such also quite interesting.

Paul Weller "Heliocentric" (2000)

Heliocentric
release date: May 9, 2000
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,38]
producer: Paul Weller, Brendan Lynch
label: Island Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "He's the Keeper" - 2. "Frightened" - 3. "Sweet Pea, My Sweet Pea" - 6. "Dust and Rocks" - 7. "There's No Drinking, After You're Dead" (live)

5th studio album by Paul Weller is his fifth consecutive album but also final to be co-produced with Brendan Lynch. Weller sticks to a formula he found useful when making the fine Wild Wood (1993) using a familiar bunch of musicians who has been selected for studio and live recordings ever since. 

Heliocentric is a bit more polished without that clear direction, and also without the same immediate energy and originality as found on the '93 album. Weller is a fine songwriter, a skilled craftsman, a that's basically what hold this together and just prevents it from being a lesser release. It may not contain obvious great standouts, although, on the other hand, it doesn't present anything mediocre. It's like Weller looking in his pockets, dragging up... pocket wool, a mixed bag of something familiar sounding, perhaps a few second hand hooks, but still establishing himself with his latest product. Despite being slightly better than the predecessor Heavy Soul (1997), I'm not fully entertained with this and would not recommend it as a starting point if you're unfamiliar with the music by Paul Weller. The album is Weller's most recent studio release after divorcing Dee C. Lee in 1998 - the two married in 1987, at the heights of The Style Council, and rumours suggest that Lee found his drinking habits incompatible with their family-hood of raising two kids.

[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, NME 4 / 5 stars ]

The Style Council "Modernism: A New Decade" (1998)

Modernism: A New Decade
release date: Oct. 26, 1998
format: digital
[album rate: 2 / 5] [2,02]
producer: The Style Council
label: PolyGram - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 6. "That Spiritual Feeling"

5th and final studio album by The Style Council - an album the record label rejected upon its completion in 1989, which led to band splitting up. The bands first three albums had all sold very well in the UK, all reaching at least #2 on the national charts list but the fourth album Confessions of a Pop Group only made it to #15, so what made the band risk a major stylistic change, was not accepted by the label. However, here it is - released a decade after its completion. Apparently, Weller said that the band should have split two-three years before they actually did, meaning before or after recording The Cost of Living (1987). Anyway, this is strange. Not for its time, but for being a release by a sophisti-pop band. And then again: thinking of how well Everything but the Girl made their move from sophist-pop to dance-pop and electronic, would make this an accepted decision. However, Paul Weller and Co. simply weren't accustomed with the genre nor did they get the same and perfect helping hand from someone who knew about the style they boarded. Na, this is weak, though, not worse than the band's '87 album, but frankly, it shouldn't have been released.
[ allmusic.com 1,5 / 5 stars ]

Paul Weller "Heavy Soul" (1997)

Heavy Soul
release date: Jun. 23, 1997
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,33]
producer: Paul Weller, Brendan Lynch
label: Island Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Heavy Soul (Part 1)" - 2. "Peacock Suit" - 6. "I Should Have Been There to Inspire You" (live on Later) - 8. "Friday Street" (live) - 12. "Mermaids" (live)

4th studio album by Paul Weller is not as tight as his two previous albums. It's more relaxed in funky, bluesy and / or soulful ways. There's some fine songwriting, lyrically, I just don't like the sound and resulting tone. There's too much 'jam-session' in it for my taste. In its most mediocre places it's like Weller jamming with Keith Richards and James Brown at the same time, and that would most likely be a dream come true for a lot of fans. I just do not like that. To me it's a bit like The Style Council rendezvous when they were most unorganised, and to me it's also a bit like the natural follow-up to his solo debut only less poignant.
[ allmusic.com hands it 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 3 / 5 stars ]

Paul Weller "Stanley Road" (1995)

Stanley Road
release date: May 15, 1995
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,48]
producer: Paul Weller, Brendan Lynch
label: Go! Discs - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "The Changingman" - 3. "I Walk On Gilded Splinters" - 4. "You Do Something to Me" (4,5 / 5) (live) (live with Adele) - 5. "Woodcutter's Son" (live) - 9. "Out of The Sinking" (4 / 5) - 10. "Pink on White Walls" - 12. "Wings of Speed"

3rd studio album by Paul Weller. The album is one of Weller's best reputed solo albums. It's more pop / rock founded, and after being lauded by almost all the new bands and artists in britpop as a national icon - as the source to the style of contemporary British working class pop / rock, Weller himself takes a sort of a look down memory lane. Stanley Road hosted his childhood residence in Woking.

The album was released positive reviews and has found its way to Mojo's "The 100 Greatest Albums of Our Lifetime" (2006).

I have never loved this particular album all that much, although, I find it slightly betting his solo debut. Yes, it does contain great songs, and the level is above most other pop / rock releases, but overall, and being anything but mediocre, it simply lacks more than just a general appeal to me, anyway.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 3 / 5, Uncut Magazine 4 / 5, Mojo 5 / 5 stars ]

Paul Weller "Wild Wood" (1993)

Wild Wood
release date: Sep. 6, 1993
format: 2 cd (2007 remaster Deluxe Edition)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,62]
producer: Paul Weller, Brendan Lynch
label: Island / Universal - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Sunflower" (4 / 5) - 2. "Can You Heal Us (Holy Man)" - 3. "Wild Wood" - 6. "Has My Fire Really Gone Out?" - 7. "Country" - 10. "The Weaver" - 12. "Foot of the Mountain" - 16. "Hung Up"

2nd studio album by Paul Weller originally released on Go! Discs shows us a matured musician. The album is reissued in 2007 in a remastered 2-disc Deluxe Edition with Disc One: "Original Album & B-Sides" (22 tracks) and Disc Two: "Bonus Tracks - Demo Versions" (21 tracks) and a total of 43 tracks. The original album contains 15 compositions. 

His heydays with The Jam, his transition period with The Style Council linger in the shadows of this. His first solo album was a mixed bag of all sorts, still with much pop soul and sophisti-pop, which basically seemed like yet another collection of songs that were intended to be issued with The Style Council, but here he comes out very strongly and primarily as a contemporary singer / songwriter building on folk rock, pop soul, influenced by r&b roots. 

This is more than just fine. The album is (the only by Weller to be) enlisted in "1001 Albums You Must Here Before You Die", and in 1994 it was nominated the British award, The Mercury Prize (alongside e.g. The Prodigy, Blur, and Pulp), which eventually was handed to M People for Elegant Slumming.
[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 4 / 5, Uncut Magazine 5 / 5 stars ]

Paul Weller "Paul Weller" (1992)

Paul Weller [debut]
release date: Sep. 1, 1992
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,42]
producer: Paul Weller, Brendan Lynch
label: Go! Discs / London Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "Uh Huh Oh Yeh!" - 2. "I Didn't Mean to Hurt You" - 5. "Remember How We Started" - 6. "Above the Clouds" - 11. "Bitterness Rising"

Solo studio debut by Paul Weller after leaving The Style Council, and after leaving behind various stylistic attempts. This is a better effort than his last releases with The Style Council. On this, he continues his fascination for pop soul but blends it nicely within a modern context of jazz pop influences and mod revival elements, which again links to his glorious days in The Jam. He makes an original blend without making it sound entirely as sophisti-pop, and he builds songs with a stronger sense of singer / songwriter and mature pop / rock. It's still a first sketch with hints pointing here and there, but generally it's just nice to hear him challenge his talent on his own instead of wasting time on polished posh. This is his first solo album in a long journey that propels him up to current time. Some tracks sound like shaped for The Style Council and in that way makes it a half success.
[ allmusic.com, Mojo 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 2 / 5 stars ]

The Style Council "Confessions of a Pop Group" (1988)

Confessions of a Pop Group
release date: Jun. 20, 1988
format: digital
[album rate: 2 / 5] [2,12]
producer: Paul Weller, Mick Talbot
label: Polydor Records - nationality: England, UK

Track highlights: 1. "It's a Very Deep Sea" - 2. "The Story of Someone's Shoe" - 7. "Why I Went Missing" - 8. "How She Threw It All Away" - 10. "Confessions 1, 2 & 3"

4th full-length studio album by The Style Council. After releasing Our Favourite Shop in '85 the band released a third album The Cost of Loving in '87, which may be seen as the band's low point. I honestly didn't think they would continue much longer after that, but this is an improvement. Technically, it's superior to anything they have released but it doesn't bring about anything new and sometimes it sounds more like an anachronism. With 'do-bi-doo' backing vocals, greasy slick harmonies that make one think of The Carpenters, and a strange but often use of marimbas... What is this, Mr. Weller? The New Manhattan Transfers? The 'soul' and originality has nearly disappeared completely and what remains is pastiche pop, or lounge when it's least daring. This is below mediocre, and the album became the last studio release before the band split up in 1989. A final album had been recorded prior to the disbandment; however, it wasn't released until 1998. Paul Weller and Dee C. Lee married in 1987.
[ allmusic.com 1 / 5 stars! ]