Reviews (page 4 of 9)
It's solid but a little too safe and conventional for me
This is a legendary album from a legendary musician. Disappointed with some of the reviews, but we can't all love the same thing. How boring would that be. I love this album, it's a 5 from me.
Ok, so, kinda cool
Quality album
It was a fine album, no takeaways from me
Solid rock album. Wide palette of songs and arrangements. Great vocals.
Nice little listen, good background music. First of Weller I have listened to. A little long. Mostly harmless.
I've heard of this artist, not quite sure if I have listened to very much of their stuff, if any. Just not for me. Sounds alright. Just not for me
When I first looked at the cover I thought Don McLean folk. I was pleasantly surprised! His voice has an honest depth and his musical influences are varied yet work together. The funny part is I heard a heavy influence of a later Sturgill Simpson, a little Bob Seager and a touch of The Boss in there too. It works! For me this is one of those albums that wouldn’t have appreciated as much until I was older, so like now compared to 1993. Key songs for me was Has My Fire Really Gone Out, especially that jammy bit at the end, and Shadow of the Sun. I want to come back here again. I really dug this album, hence listening to it three times before writing the review…
Random thoughts: * This one was really good for one I'd never heard of before. I quite enjoyed this on a Monday morning. * I couldn't quite place this sound but I think it falls somewhere in between the Black Crowes, Jeff Buckley, and CSNY. * Shadow of the Sun is a really good track. * I'll definitely have to listen to this one a few more times but I feel like this one could really grow on me. This feels like it is one of the hidden gems 1001 is supposed to expose.
First Weller solo album I’ve heard… …Initial thoughts are pretty middle of the road, soft rock. Obviously, Wild Wood stands out but struggling to find much else to write about or capture. And maybe that sums up the kind of album it is. Basic, middle of the road and nothing to get excited about :-/ and 16 tracks!
I listened to Stanley Road a lot in the 90s at the height of Britpop but never really listened to this album. The title track is one of Wellers best but the whole album is very John Martyn or Van Morrison. Superb fair play
I was entering this one without any expectations and really enjoyed it, although there are no hits on. Some weaker tracks ("Wild Wood", "Country", "Moon On Your Pyjamas"...) don't make it easy for me to decide between three and four stars. favourite: "Sunflower", "Can You Heal Us", "5th Season", "The Weaver" 3,5
Pretty good!
quite enjoyed this one tbh
Pretty good
Not my thing but the production and the vocals are very good and compliment each other very well.
Interesting
I guess I am officially a Paul Weller fan now. Loved both The Jam records, obsessed with The Style Council record, and this one is also just as superb as the other 3 previously mentioned. Very catchy rock tunes, production is great, love the guitar playing
Aight
the jam vond ik top.. style council al veel minder... solo vind ik paul een beetje hits and misses...
1st Album. Instrumentals top tier, so much so that I wished he would stop signing at some points. It all began to blend into each other and felt so generic by the end. Sunflower was the best imo
i feel like a good 60% of albums on this list are on here because one writer was really annoying about them until the panel decided to include them
I mean, it's a good sound... but when you really stop to think about it, what makes something "good"? Is it distinctiveness? Weller completely misses the mark in that regard; every track, from start to finish, could've been innovated (and in some cases dropped as a B-side) by countless other rock musicians. But there's a reason for this: it's a kick-ass sound. And there are definitely elements of interest that pop up in some of the stronger tracks. Sunflower's "descending" chords, unexpected bridge, and flute cameo. The Elton John-esque gritty piano-rock of Can You Heal Us (Holy Man). The soft strings that join the arrangement at the end of Country. The glorious, never-ending jam-session that is Shadow Of The Sun, accompanied by a slew of instrument drop-ins that leave a pleasant footprint before moving on. The piano part on this last song, while simple, is really enjoyable here. I also like the guitar solo that appears around the 6:20 mark and how everything slowly builds up from there. The extended instrumental outro of Has My Fire Really Gone Out? is great. In general, the music throughout the album does seem to noticeably improve once the vocals drop out. Well, maybe that isn't quite true. Weller doesn't add much, so the instrumentals shine whether he happens to be singing or not. 5th Season is a staggering exception though. I don't know if they hired a session vocalist or if Weller decided to go entirely ham for one song (and one song only). Having a song called Instrumental Two and a completely different song called Instrument - Pt. 2 is a goofy choice. Neither of them wowed me (in fact, they're the only two songs I didn't add to my Spotify Liked playlist.) 4/5 Key tracks: Can You Heal Us (Holy Man), 5th Season, Shadow Of The Sun
Meh wasn’t crazy about it
Interesting album overall, Some songs were on point and others sounded like a demo... I couldn't really get into it but overall it was descent music but just moving on.
Everytime something good started to happen on this album, it was quickly replaced with something boring and then the boring thing lasted for a long time.
The rock songs were good then we get slow soft crap.
Not horrible but not great, just middle of the road.
Why do we have so many meh albums
Quite liked this. Sounded rocksy and folksy and many songs leaned one way or the other or were a nice blend of the two. His voice sounded great, lyrics and stories were solid, overall very nice experience. Could stand to lose like 15 minutes but that goes for a LOT of albums on this list.
not at all familiar with him & was pleasantly surprised. very laid back vibe & nice for background music. just goes on about 15 minutes too long. 3.5 stars
Very me.
Yes, it’s a bit dad rock and it goes on a bit too long but there are some lovely moments here. It’s wild how much Weller has changed his style over the years. 3.5 rounding up
This was fine. Steve Winwood-esque. He’s talented but can’t get over the edge of boring. I don’t like the way his acoustic guitar is mic’d. It’s more strummy than anything else.
Nothing special at all.
Subhuman scum
This album is just really nice and chill. An album you'll listen to sitting on your porch on a sunny spring day. Some call it boring, I call it chill and relaxing.
I wouldn't have recognized this as the guy from the Jam. Boy howdy, I do love the Jam, but this is nice too.
Came into this album with zero expectations, since I am completely unfamiliar with this artist or any of his songs. I was very positively surprised by this album, even though it is not one of my favorite genres. The entire album was very pleasant to listen to. However it could have trimmed just a tiny bit of fat of the album to make it perfect, not it falls just short of that perfect score. 4/5
Good album, surprised it came out in 1993... some of the fuzzed out tones and general style gives it a much earlier feel.
Soft rock but not great....writing is solid but they are quite forgettable tunes. Marking it down cos he can do alot better
Honestly could have sucked and I was expecting it to be pretty mediocre after the first two tracks where the most redeeming elements were the nice guitar parts. It actually gets quite a lot better after that, at its best it is great Starbucks soft rock so that's a decent 6-7/10 for me!
The advent of butt rock. Fuck yeah.
It's a bit funny to hear Weller in such a laid back, vibes-forward rock setting, given the general tenor of The Jam (blistering, propulsive, angular) and The Style Council (jazzy, airy, poptimistic). Here he's triangulating between the two, and while it never really reaches the heights of anything he did with either band, it's got great "doing chores in the kitchen" energy, and those albums are more important in life than you think.
Decent album, reminded me of Delbert McClinton. Good writing.
Rock, Pop, 1993 -> 3
Couldn't finish. I like The Jam a lot, but this didn't work. Obviously, Paul Weller listened to a lot of Terry Riley, Joe Cocker, Manassas and a bit of Free. Good mimicry I suppose and good guitar but nothing original. Absolutely zero reason for this to be on the list.
Excellent album. I'm familiar with Paul Weller from his work with the Jam. Top notch songwriter and this one is no exception.
Good start, but too long. I really didn't enjoy the rest
1001 Albums Challenge (22/1001) 1. Sunflower (5/5) 2. Can You Heal Us (Holy Man) (5/5) 3. Wild Wood (5/5) 4. Instrumental (Part 1) (5/5) 5. All The Pictures On The Wall (5/5) 6. Has My Fire Really Gone Out? (5/5) 7. Country (5/5) 8. Instrumental Two (5/5) 9. 5th Season (5/5) 10. The Weaver (5/5) 11. Instrumental (Part 2) (5/5) 12. Foot Of The Mountain (5/5) 13. Shadow Of The Sun (5/5) 14. Holy Man (Reprise) (5/5) 15. Moon On Your Pyjamas (5/5) 16. Hung Up (5/5) Total (5/5)
I don't know much about this album or the artist himself, but just listening fascinates me from the perspective of the musical landscape at the time of its release. Released inbetween the popularity of grunge rock and britpop, yet not falling under either. More bluesy and folksy rock compared to what his Britain rock contemporaries were releasing in the early 90's. This was somewhat enjoyable, if not a tad unspectacular. It's an easy listen that sticks to its guns and doesn't really push any boundaries. Overstays its welcome a bit too.
Je ne connaissais pas, c'est un peu Paul Simon dans le style solo
Dad rock vibes a la Peter Gabriel
I like Paul Weller, I like this. 4 Star
4/5
Way better as it goes on. Didn’t realize this guy sang “ Town Called Malice”. Liked a lot of it.
Overall, this was a pretty chill album with nothing really exciting going on. It was alright having it in the background though, as it is a relaxing piece to listen to.
despite dipping into absolute dullness a few times, the strong tracks keep it afloat. 3
I don’t get the Paul Weller fascination. The Jam was a fantastic band that cut its own path. Weller’s subsequent acts have left me wanting more. This was better than The Style Council. But just barely. 2.5
A bit generic sounding to me, but also pretty enjoyable. Solid easy listening soft with some interesting instrumentation here and there.
Bit of a gentle mood
A bit bland, but a nice enough groove
Some of the songs are good (wild wood, foot of the mountain), but most just miss something
Classic dad rock, can imagine some old age guys thinking this is the peak of music.
Sellers stuff all sounds the same - slightly dull dad rock. It’s fine.
Some good tunes on this, but mostly forgettable
I think if I was rating this in 1993 it would’ve been 4 or 5 stars. Definitely an album that’s a sign of the times.
The Motown inspiration is clearly there but it doesn't really evoke the same feeling. I'm just left wanting to listen to Marvin Gaye instead. This feels similar to John Mayer. A talented musician's attempt at soul music that just feels emotionally limp. Between this and the kd Lang album, I'm thinking that the 90s lounge rock does nothing for me.
Quintessential dad rock. The instrumental tracks being the best kinda tells the whole story.
3/5 pretty solid a good "put on in the background album" 7.63/10
The definition of MOR.
A standard bearer of British punk/post punk cool blows all his cred making a blues dad album. It's easy going easy listening stuff without any edge. But the rubbery bass, whispy vocals, and generic funkiness are tragically middle aged. Some of the guitar sounds are really good at least and the looser jammier parts are fun. But the crooning smooth blues...oof. Favorites: shadow of the sun, has my fire really gone out
I have to say that i struggled to find some songs out of this album to really like,so barely i'll name a few: All the pictures in the wall Has my fire really gone out? 5th Season Shadow of the sun(7:36!) Hung up. it's a 2/5 for me cause songs could be shorter,yes even the 3:00 min or so ones and the instrumentals were unnessesary.
Weller gets his mojo back. There were one or two highlights in the previous decade, and a few in the years following, but this is his post-Jam 'statement'. Faultless.
Whats a pleasant suprise. Possibly a no skip album for me. Love the riffs on so many songs and really dig this general britpop vibe. The tone of the songs differ quite a lot and yet they work together well. Sunflower, all the pictures on the wall, moon on pyjamas and shadow of the suns are great.
Relaxing music, nice to work to.
Pretty good
Kind of a shame that this isn’t bigger than Clapton’s stuff.
Don’t get too Hung Up on this album. It’s a Sunflower at the Foot of a Mountain.
Unfortunately this failed the vibe check within the first 10 seconds. He says "I don't care how long this lasts, we have no future, and we have no past" and then proceeded to establish his history with the girl for the rest of the song. I can't stand when writers say something they don't mean just to land a rhyme. The vocals are earnest but I just didn't buy the writing. 2/5
Good stuff. Fun, interesting, good.
This feels like a lesson in not judging a book by its cover. Saw the album cover, thought this has to be from the 1960s given the aesthetic choices. Refused to believe that it was from the 1990s originally when I saw that, thought it had to be a reissue. Finally was convinced it was from the 1990s, saw the genre was rock. Refused to believe that too. But then I listened. And boy was I pleasantly surprised.
I really loved this album, also because now I finally know what Julia Louis Dreyfus was singing on Veep and it makes the scene that much funnier. As usual, I can't understand lyrics for the most part until after multiple runs, but I did appreciate the stripped down nature of this album, especially given when it came out. That said, a few were great, a few were just ok.
I don't know that I've ever heard a Paul Weller song before today (I presumably have, on the radio or when out an about), but I found myself really enjoying this album. I'd describe it as really good dad rock; very much inspired by folk. A+++ Would Paul Weller again
Decent album. Straight forward and no frills. Hard to believe this guy was in The Jam and The Style Council - such a different sound.
I am a little torn on this one, listened to it three times and it is very well done and produced. Solid songwriting and performance but maybe lacking some special spice or something truly memorable. I don’t see myself listening to it regularly but I think it is very good when in the right mood.
Album was only 53 minutes but damn did it drag on. A few decent songs and a bunch of meh.
Masterpiece
Know Paul Weller from The Style Council whom I like. Don't think I ever heard this before but am very glad I now have. Liked it a lot.
Excellent voice.
A nice listen but didn't feel particularly unique. Was surprised to see this was from the 90's and not the 80's.
I’m like 70 albums into this and I’ve had to review two albums by The Jam and one now by Paul Weller. As the kids say, I’m tired, boss. It’s fine but, as the kids also say, suss.
I have come to enjoy The Jam through this project. Paul Weller, of course, was the lead singer of The Jam. You would not know that based on the sound of Wild Wood. I am more of a greatest hits type of person when it comes to Paul Weller's music but I do not recall a lot of the songs I have being as mellow as this one is. I was reminded of Eric Clapton's music from the 90's on quite a few of these songs. That's not necessarily a compliment. I'm not sure why this album is in the book, other than Paul Weller is British, because the songs aren't bad by any stretch of the imagination but this feels like a very competent solo album by a musician who fronted an influential band. Maybe "Competent Album by the ex-lead singer of an Influential Band" is a genre of music this project's editors think this is missing. I would have thought albums from: David Crosby, Stephen Stills, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Syd Barrett, Manassas, Paul Simon, Gene Clark, Peter Gabriel, David Byrne, Donald Fagen, Frank Black, Robbie Williams, Bjork and Jack White would have completed the need for this genre to be represented by Paul Weller, but what do I know? I only listen to the music. The songs I enjoyed the most were: Sunflower Can You Heal Us (Holy Man) Wild Wood Has My Fire Really Gone Out? The Weaver Shadow of the Sun Hung Up
Oups, j'avais complètement oublié cet album, qui est pas mal bon d'ailleurs. J'aime l'énergie, pis sa voix me fait penser à un mix des Doobie Brothers et de Joe Cocker. En vrai, l'album en son ensemble a un big Cocker energy
Good classy music.
This one was pretty good. Didn't quite hit enough to give it a 4 but definitely is a very high 3.
what if you took jimi hendrix, removed most of the talent and emotion, and stirred in a heaping helping of U2? ah well, someone had to make music for moms in the 90s to half listen to while they drove their kids to school
Meh, kinda corny
Secret banger alert
I always note down my favorite tracks when listening to an album on this project. Of the 16 only 2 got consideration. Totally forgettable and I’m so curious why this was included. 2/5
This is a stunning album!
Got a lot of time for Paul
Paul gets one star just for showing up, wild wood is 2 stars by itself - yeah good album this
Definitely some good stuff here, but overall a little dull. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? Just the singles Owned: Yes. 9/1001, 9/40 (22%) Will I get? No
I like the vibe. Guitar and the music plays well. Never heard this album before.
bluesig, singer/songwriter, „trockener“ sound, handwerklich gut gemacht. mit emotionen hat es mich nicht gepackt .. zu „mainstream“. 3
Eher langweilig
Mostly harmless.
Overall not a bad listen, but it felt a little more like a collection of songs rather than a cohesive record. Best Track: All The Pictures On The Wall
Shrewder critics than me have remarked on Weller's decision to make what is basically an early Seventies Traffic album - but there's been relatively little discussion of *why*, out of everything he could have made (and this is a guy with a lot range) he made an early Seventies Traffic album. What need is he attempting to meet here? I wonder if the answer is found on this album's eleven o'clock number, "Shadow of the Sun," where he sings "I plan to have it all while I'm still young" multiple times - first quietly, then with more force and up an octave - before launching into an extended coda that fades out, then rises again to a sublime little solo. He's hearkening back to the bloozy hey-baby-hey era of his youth, looking for a purity and clarity of purpose to guide him in middle age. (Insert Erik Erikson cross-reference here.) It makes sense, because Weller occupied for Britpop the same role David Coverdale filled for hair metal - the wizened bloke who knows how to do this, can see where the form is going, and is willing to show the kids how. (My own first exposure to him, like probably most people my age's, was via his guest turn on "Champagne Supernova.") Lyrically in particular, Weller frequently hits the sweet spot between directness and abstraction - I would have definitely scribbled some of these lines in a journal alongside my thoughts about a crush at some point. (I love Oasis with all my heart but even I'll admit the Gallaghers could have taken a few more notes on that point.) Obviously, you may not have the same enthusiasm for Claptonesque guitar figures that Weller does, and if so that will limit your enjoyment here. But I find this a worthy effort, and not just for the inspration it gave to the aforementioned kids.
Really liked it
this sucks
Fave track: sunflower. Would I revisit this: no.
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Shadow Of The Sun, Holy Man (Reprise) Very middling, bland adult contemporary music with a few good pieces of guitar work. Some of the acoustic tracks are okay too. Very little risk-taking; nothing even remotely transgressive or controversial. Little by way of interesting hooks, catchy lyrics, or exciting stylistic choices/decisions. This is going to be one of those albums that I will forget immediately after the day has passed. It occupies no space in my mind. I've never heard of Paul Weller and I suspect I'll never come across him again unless he - bizarrely - has two albums on the List.
My dad is a huge Paul Weller fan, so as a kid I always sort of tuned it out. Have appreciated it more as a adult, but still not a super-fan. Do prefer his pre 2000s projects.
Was positive in the beginning of the album, but halfway through I got bored
Pretty decent. Lot's of cool riffs and melodies. I liked it!
Helemaal niets aan.
This is a good album. It sounds like something my dad would listen to, in a good way. It has a feel of 70s folk rock, it's well composed and well written. I admit I wouldn't probably seek it out, but I wouldn't skip if it came on again.
Another selection that highlights my lack of knowledge when it comes to musicians of this time period. I had no idea that Paul Weller was in the Jam, although I do question the Spotify write up that claims the Jam were the “most popular British rock band of the punk era”, perhaps I’m biased but… I would think the Clash are in that conversation. Anyway I digress, this album was good, maybe not 4 stars good, but I’ll call it 3+ for now.
Not what I expected from Paul Weller. Easy 3 stars, I didn't immediately hate it and there were some good moments. Makes me curious to listen to more of his stuff and go back to the Jam as well.
Some ok songs, one or two songs that caught my ear and then more than one clunker….
This is really exceptionally boring. I would be very hard pushed to elaborate on that.
Generic dull dreadful Rock. Wanted to quit long before the first CD was over, being very disappointed it's not even close to the end in the first third of the second CD.
Not quite my style. Some interesting tracks on here. I liked country
There were a few songs on here that were really good. It started off slow and didn't draw me in early but the second half was really good.
Is this the adult contemporary middle aged white guy music that I never knew that I was missing? This is some pretty good modern blues. Some moments remind me of Blues Traveler or Black Keys. The instrumentation is great with soulful grooves. Nothing is over the top or sensational but it all holds together well for a good listen. Favorites are Sunflower, Has My Fire Really Gone Out? and 5th Season (that one is funky!)
This sounds way more Americana than I expected, given that he is British. But I'm always surprised by who's British, so what else is new! There are a lot of musicians that come through my town with this same vibe, so while the sound feels familiar and not terribly original, I imagine this was a pretty innovative and modern take on the bluesy/folk rock/Americana genre when it came out in 1993. It's cool music overall, I feel like Ben Harper was the first artist I heard that was comparable to this, and I really dug his sound at that time (early aughts). This album is well done. I like his soulfulness and the instrumentation is rockin’. And this style of music has stood the test of time, I dug it!
Never gave a thought to listening to him thinking he wanted to reincarnate the Jam but man was i wrong. Excellent album. Hints of Derek & the Dominoes to Cat Steven's to Richie Havens. 4 star surprise.
I kept thinking about this album being made by that one uncle who always wanted to make an album and finally sat down and made it happen.
It’s okay I guess
Smooth like Johnnie Walker Blue
Mid.
A revelation when I first heard it. This is what a great Steve Winwood record should sound like.
i thought it was ok. Im gonna need a few more listened because a lot of folk who's opinion/taste im usually in line w keep insisting on this albums brilliance. I found it "solid" but also not essential. Will try again a few times but for now a 3.5
- Quality throughout, something that can too often go unappreciated these days. Also, once again, look at the release date and put this in the context of it's time; the record seems both late (kind of a throw-back) AND early, prefiguring the coming wave of looking back at 70's music. A solid 5. -
Ne
Cool. I've only vaguely heard this guy or his Jam. Straightfoward catchy rock. I hear hints of Neil Young/Allman brothers - not style wise, but like real familiar chords and melodies. Maybe thats strong songwriting, maybe he got borrow happy? At its best on the less straightforward rockers.
It's a weird one. I've never bought a Paul Weller album, or ever downloaded anything of his. When any of his tracks come on I usually quite enjoy them, but I've never had the desire to seek out any more of his music. This was a really good album, some really good tracks. It did feel a bit drawn out and repetitive. I would happily listen again, but I'm still (oddly) not being driven to listen to anymore of music.
ok
Very strong overall, rich and warm, if not quite My Ever Changing Moods. "Moon On Your Pyjamas" is lovely, one of best all-time songs about kids. "Sunflower" title cut and "Country" are all excellent, but there's quality and depth throughout. And don't sleep on Illumination, one of his later solo efforts.
This is a good album. Well written, well performed and the production is great. No arguments there. It’s front loaded, and - for me - it begins to lose its appeal around the half hour mark. Well executed, but too safe.
Way more 70s soulful than I would have expected from the leader of The Jam. More 70s-era Steve Winwood than 60s-era Who. Still, I enjoyed it. Some very good tracks on here. My dad would've loved this.
Extremely mid rock. 3 stars.
Super distracted listen, but I enjoyed this quite a bit more than I expected going in. Surprisingly jammy and loose. Really enjoyed the guitar play throughout and the guys voice is really solid -- calming and familiar in tone. No specific notes, because I wasn't paying attention to song titles, but this was a solid 4 in my book.
Just a decent album that picked up a bit in the second half. Felt pretty jammy. High 3
Really solid rock album from a fella I have never heard of. Nothing wrong at all with this being almost an hour, I could have kept it going if it was longer. Really liked the random guitar shredding that came in every so often. Had a great mix of good singing and solid instrumentals. Would love to give this a re-listen, doesn't quite get to a 5 but a very high 4
This sounds like such a safe 90's album. Nothing egregious about it. Debated giving a 2 because it kinda bored me but I did find some alright stuff in it. Meh 3.
Record didn’t hit until the second half. Some really incredible tracks. Unfortunately while the first half was fine it honestly just okay. Loved his voice. Best Track: 5th Season
Pas sûre... assez convenu, et pas tout le temps tight musicalement, mais sans les hooks mémorables de ses contemporains comme Oasis. J'embarque pas
Not as bad as a lot of people seem to think here.
Went into this one blind, and found myself enjoying it. Weller has a powerful voice, and the music was a blend of blues with a modern rock sound. Overall- good album
Why would that album be among history's best or most memorable?
Interesting sound, I enjoyed it but upon having to write this review I realize I remember nothing about it really. Going 3/5 for now and will need to revisit
He empezado a aceptar que el nombre del libro debería ser "1001 álbumes que te van a gustar si eres un boomer británico". Ahora álbumes como este ya no me molestan, sino que me pongo cómodo y los disfruto. Blues rock tan típico e insustancial que parece mentira que lo haya compuesto la misma persona que fuera líder de The Jam. Pero bueno, es un álbum que se deja escuchar muy fácilmente, perfecto para conducir o poner en la oficina. Sobre todo, la producción es impoluta, donde cada instrumento aparece en la posición precisa para que la mezcla sea lo más placentera posible. Por lo demás, este álbum no dice nada nuevo. A veces suena a Neil Young, a veces a Traffic o a Eric Clapton, y en general a rock setentero con veinte años de retraso. Pero todavía me queda algo de dignidad, así que lo voy a dejar en dos.
Great album
Wasn’t for me
6/10
I enjpyed this choice . I would go back to this when I am looking for somthing out of my usual.
I enjoy it a lot remind me of a bunch of different artists. The slower songs sometimes feel like Nick drake
Eeee. Esta ok. Hay momentos buenos pero en general acaba siendo un album bastante insípido de rock. No hay nada que destaque ni nada que arruine la experiencia. La producción es tibia, por ponerlo de alguna forma, y en general no me aportó demasiado, sin tampoco desaportar. Mediocridad en forma musical 5/10->3/5
If you think the Kings of Leon are edgy, wait till you get a load of this
Nope. Not vital at all. A beige niche record for England only. I've realized that I do not enjoy Paul Weller or The Jam in any fashion. It is a slog getting through these records. Too much imitation of earlier times instead of creating timeless music. This album feels like a 90s artist's take on a 1973 album and it is borinnnnnnnng.
I really like Paul Weller's vocals, and I think he is a great artist. I just think this album is a bit boring. It started off fairly strong, but I had trouble really focusing on the music the further in I got. I want to give it a higher rating, but I just can't, in good conscience, say that this is equal to other albums I gave a higher rating.
Muito bom
Killer guitar tones and classic rock sensibility right in the middle of the '90s—how have I never heard of this guy?
Dull legacy rock albums from the 90s and 2000s, one of my most dreaded sub-genres. The Jam kicks ass, by the way.
The riff that pops up about halfway through “Sunflower” really works for me, then comes some welcome fuzz and drum fills (but not too much). Still, my corny alarms were warming up for a ring. Paul Weller is, as far as I know, a talented musician and songwriter, but this album fell completely flat to me. Outside of some momentary highlights (like the riff mentioned above, or that warbling synth on “Shadow of the Sun”) this was sonic wallpaper. I’m not sure what makes this album required listen outside of it being made by Weller, which feels like a disservice to all parties. I was leaning towards three stars because it’s not unpleasant to listen to, but I’m becoming less and less generous with boring albums as time goes on. (And his voice kind of bothers me. Not to be mean, but it’s giving folky buttrock.)
Britpop’s grown-up brother with mod grit. Some great moments, but not quite transcendent…or whatever.
Decent , good pacing
Day 16- First listen- A pleasant album, I can see myself coming back to it time and again. (4/5)
This is a rock album by a frontman of a band from decades prior who still has something to say! That should set your expectations for how it feels and sounds Makes me feel more like a retiree than Clapton ever could Thinking about listening to Sleepless by Peter Wolf after this, anyone with me?
Not an amazing album, but it grew on me as it went on and I had a pleasant time with it
4/10 Favorite: Moon On Your Pyjamas
I really like the Jam, but this is so, so boring. I have no idea why this would ever be on a list that people need to hear before they die. He has a great voice, but everything else about this album is completely forgettable.
★★★½
I feel like I've listened to this one before? Not bad, just generic.
Nope
Generic to a fault. Missing the spark for greatness, and, come to that, any memorable songs. Forgettable 2/5.
Very generic-sounding. Supposedly British, but the vocal styling and baby, baby, baby lyrics give away the game of wanting to be the next great 1970s all-American songwriter. It's really a 2/5, but because it's way too bland and also way too long, and I didn't sleep well last night, here we are, 1/5
boring, hard to distinguish one song from the other. Specific moments and songs are quite good, but do little to bring up the rest of the album.
Sunflower Wild Wood
I really enjoyed this album. I had never heard of him before.
Awful production. Second track has some bass rattling that almost sounds intentional. Lots of background “tones” that sound bad. Nothing stuck here. A few good moments.
I feel like I've heard it before, and heard it better. Maybe he inspired the other ones, or maybe he's a cheap knockoff. Either way, I'm done thinking about it.
What in the Hootie, Sweat, and Tears is this? I had to double-check to make sure that this is the same Paul Weller as the one who was in The Jam. Any one of The Jam's first three albums should be on this list. This piece of radio-friendly Adult Contemporary fluff does not belong here. The music on this album seems dated for 1993, as his earlier Neo-Mod/New Wave/Punk vibe probably would have gone over quite well at the time. Instead, he trades his edgy roots in the dangerous city for a comfortable and compromised life in the suburbs.
Meh…
Retro, relaxed. A bit boring.
Day558 - how is this the same guy from the jam?
Wild Wood is an enigma. It sneaks up on you. I kept fading in and out of paying attention, but the music kept grabbing me. I somehow feel this could become one of my favorite albums if I kept listening. The closing tracks - Shadow of the Sun and Holy Man (Reprise) - are especially delightful. It doesn't feel like 1993 deserved this music, not least because Paul Weller came of age in the 70s.
I don’t see why this album has so much hate online. I was surprised it came out in the 90s because of its sound. It was groovy and fun to listen to! Enjoyed it more as it went on
Some good funky moments, but overall found this one boring. Don't like his voice much either.
I really don’t have a lot to say about this record. I tried giving a review of each song, I really did, but I just completely zoned out after the first instrumental. The only way I can put it is that these songs weren’t made for an album. Individually, they would…well they’d still be pretty garbage. But putting them in a near hour long album just makes them far worse. I was initially gonna give this a 2, but then there were 30 more minutes of the exact same song. I have no idea who these songs are even made for. The lyrics are as uninspired as the instrumentals. The album stars out with Sunflower: “We have no future, we have no past.” I’ve heard that line probably more times than minutes are on this album. It continues with the ugly repetitiveness of “I miss you so.” It’s fine if a song has a repetitive chorus but at least make it mean something. Also, throughout the album are these Marvin Gaye-ass lyrics that fall completely flat about peace and war and love and humanity. They sound good coming from Gaye. Not you, Weller. Be more poetic about it next time. Really needed those two instrumentals so that I couldn’t hear the god awful lyricism. But yeah, in short, the singing is boring, the lyrics are boring, the drums are boring, the guitar “solos” are SO boring, etc. etc. I wish I could remember anything from this album. Actually, scratch that, glad I don’t. Well, the title track was fine.
Pretty cool album, lots of well played instrumentals. Could imagine this album would be cool to see played live.
Extremely solid. I've always enjoyed the title track but this is my first venture beyond that in any meaningful way. I can see how he's been so influential for British rock and indie music.
I love The Jam. I’m a fan of Weller, not as much as the guys you see with the same haircut, but countless hours of hearing his music as my dad would regularly play it. That said, beyond Wild Wild Wood, I’d say Stanley Road is better. I can’t work out if it should be on here or not but the talent is undeniable even if it is a bit mid-life crisis bought Audi TT and have a style mood board based on episodes of Top Gear “when it was good”.
When I saw this was big in the UK, I expected either some whiney Oasis-esqe crap or else electro-synth pop garbage. Instead, this had a bluesy, but not quite, vibe that could be from some band that had been kicking it around I the south playing the bar circuit until they were discovered at some club in Beale Street. What was most striking was how similar his voice was to the guy in Blood Sweat and Tears that sang Spinning Wheel. Deep, but not too low, not quite gravely, but not quite clean either. All in all a pleasant surprise and would listen again.
This sounds like the type of rock you listen too after you hit rock bottom and you take a long car ride contemplating your entire existence. Unfortunately, I hit rock bottom once of month so this resonated with me 🤷🏾♂️.
It was fine! Better than fine, actually, but nothing that will stick with me.
Kind of 90´s rock, bit grunge, its the kind of band mainstream rockers consider underground. Nice
This is very pleasant. The bluesier stuff didn't land for me, but there's a lot to like on here—especially the opening track, "Sunflower." I need to dig into Weller's discography.
It was a solid, solid album. Glad to be familiar with Paul Weller a bit. I feel like a bit of an ass giving this 3 stars and, say, Nick of Time 4 stars, but for these straight ahead guitar-based pop/rock songs, I just don't think I'd come back to this without some earlier life connection to it. Good on the UK for making Paul Weller a beloved star.
This was pleasant but I definitely need to be in a specific mood to listen. Really nice discovering a new artist (to me).
Wasn't familiar with Paul Weller at all, but this album has some Peter Frampton vibes going on with this one. It has a 60s/70s English rock & blues sound style with a 90s modern sensibility. An enjoyable and refreshing change of pace.
This was surprisingly mellow and enjoyable. A rather nice find on this list.
Boring.
How had I missed this - now understand the Paul Wellers standing after The Jam
It’s fine. I get some 70’s vibes, which is not too bad. I’m not sure I am going to listen again, though
mid
Didn't get time to listen to much of this, nothing outrageous, nothing particularly interesting either. It was nice enough but didn't invoke any emotion in my either way.
I felt like I'd heard this name before, I'm still. It sure, and I didn't really enjoy it
Hmmmm okay
This felt like a generically good album. I enjoyed listening to it, there was nothing that stood out as groundbreaking or anything, just nice background music to my day
This might be my least favorite album I've had to listen to for this. Hated it. Excercised the rare "skip" halfway through the Stars on my Pyjamas song or whatever that was called. Nails on chalkboard.
90s grocery store soundtrack but it had some nice moments
This was fine? Enjoyable while doing something. A little gritty.
dragged out a little, but hits really great parts with some sick guitar work and little jam sessions
I didn't find this all that compelling, which isn't a big surprise, it's another UK act from the late 1980s to early 1990s. The author of the book has an affinity to this time period for UK artists, because that's when he was a young person in the UK and listening to a lot of music. It's a little annoying at this point.
So I’m not too familiar with Paul Weller, but after hearing this album, I’d say he’s pretty good. To me, it sounds like a combination of rock, Britpop, and singer-songwriter. One thing I really enjoyed was the use of organ and Mellotron. Sometimes it gives the music a loose, jam session feel. I’m not sure if it’s something I’d come back to often, but overall, it was a good listen.
I started listening, and was unimpressed. Enough to seek out who IS Paul Weller, because I didn't recognize the name. Found out he was responsible for the Jam (also not my style) and The Style council! So I went and listened to my favorite 'Confessions of a Pop Group. I ,ay come back and listen to more of this album, but I doubt it.
Sounds uninspired
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Banger
Sympa dans l'ensemble. Un peu longuet
Very pleasant.
Have not heard this before. Liked very much.
Its boring although a good production but nothing special
A couple of ok to good songs ("Sunflower" and "Wild Wood") and a whole lot of MOR pre-Britpop style rock. I used to like Weller a lot, but I've honestly barely listened to anything by him in 25 years now, it just makes me think as a young and impressionable teen in the days when this came out, maybe I was too easily dazzled?
1. Good intro. Tolero su voz, nice guitaring. Kinda boring pero nice ending riff. 2. Boring. 3. 4. 5. 6. Redneck boring shit. F... Mostly boring shite, couple liked. 1.5 actually
meh
Fine. I know some folks are really into Paul Weller, but he never clicked for me.
Fine, didn’t really do much for me. Really really not what I was expecting, pretty unlike The Jam. Maybe that made me like it less. Dunno, but it was fine.
I was very ready to complain about us getting our, what, 20th? hour long boring album from the 90s in a row. But this was great!
A bit of a weird one for me. I like the music but feel that almost every song goes on too long. Also Paul’s voice can not be my favorite at times.
интересный чувак, надо будет потом ещё послушать. микс джаза, кантри и чего-то традиционного американского
Bro probably thought he was hilarious when he put instrumental two between instrumental one parts 1 and 2.
Not so much breaking new ground as breaking old ground. Paul Weller seems to be inspired by the best of 60s blues and folk rock, and maybe psychedelic rock as well. He pulls it off so well and it sounds wonderful, like a world in which 70s soft rock and 80s hair metal never happened.
This is a really good album. I love how Paul Weller breaks into 92, in the middle of Grunge, with a folk album that is more alt than pop, and has a nice psychedelic rock underpinning. I love how he moves between solid folk/rock tracks and near anthems with control. He is strong lyrically, and dares you to engage with the narrators of his songs. I don't know a whole lot about his career, but he sticks the landing with Wild Wood and has fun doing it.
silly little solid album. nothing too crazy almost bit lazy but it works
pretty easy listen. pleasant singer-songwritery folk-rock; not my usual cup of tea, but this was pretty nice, especially instrumentally. however it overstayed its welcome a bit.
I'm conflicted about Paul Weller. I like some The Jam, dig a bit of Style Council, but his solo work is just a bit too chill, even banal. Tell me a story, Paul. Remember being down in the tube station at midnight? Or two lovers missing the tranquility of solitude? Or when the walls came tumbling down? This album is the band at the end of the night at the pub, playing to the last 6 people, trying not to be engaging because the barman wants to pack up and go home. He's putting the stools up and closing the till. No lock-in tonight. You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here. Still, it's not fucking Morrissey though, is it, so it can't be all that bad. You got too comfortable Paul. We all do, I suppose. Three stars.
Better than Coldplay
First listen to a really good album.
Is it weird that Sunflower had me thinking of Collective Soul? Well I listened to Gel and that song still kicks ass. Wild Wood didn’t hit me like the punchy riff on Gel, it was definitely a grower for me. There’s a lot of extra musicianship that elevates this album from a standard folk rock album to something a bit more with harp or a little organ, a subtle guitar riff. Aside from Sunflower and the title track I really enjoyed the lengthy Shadow of the Sun which truly showcases how well the band works together and it has the sickest guitar riffing. I thought this was great. 4 stars
Meh
i liked the melancholic and atmospheric sound of some of the songs (wild wood, all the pictures on the wall and country) but the rest was just fine, which isn't great for an album that's so long
Sunflower and the title track are good but all feels a bit stuck in 1968.
have and like this album - it is a 3.5/5 - it will round to a 4 #albumsky #musicsky #musicchallenge
His second solo album. Sunflower is a good opening. Nice guitar licks. Never heard this album before. I was expecting something more up tempo and The Jam like. This is quite mellow and tired sounding vocally. If you think about the artists and bands around on 1993 this is kind of 'Dad Rock' sounding. As Weller goes this is Diet Pepsi. I prefer the full sugar of Coca Cola that is Weller in The Jam. A tad same. Nice production though.
I'm not a fucking dentist.
Nothing wrong with this, just kind of more generic coffeehouse music. 2.5/5
Many critics of Weller’s solo work seem to expect his stuff to sound like the days when he was in The Jam. Nope. And while I’m a rabid Jam fan and fair weather Style Council fan, I’m pretty hit or miss with Weller when it comes to his solo stuff. This album has a number of nice moments and the production is excellent. Still, it leaves me searching for more. Regardless, Weller remains one of the best songwriters and wistful lyricists out there today.
This was…fine. I don’t know, it just felt like something was missing for me. Like it didn’t have that “it” factor that would have me rate it higher. Good songs but not the level of song writing like a Dylan or cat Steven’s or Paul McCartney. Decent guitars but not as gripping as a Clapton or George Harrison. Or missing the catchiness of a bob Seeger or even some of Steve winwood. Probably not a fair list but hopefully makes my point. 2.75
Found this to be a bit on the bland side…was waffling between 2* and 3*. But then I found myself rocking out to the last couple minutes of Shadow of the Sun, so I’m being kind and rounding up. 2.75/5
Mild Mood by Maul Mellow.
mild wood
Tried to approach this with positive mindset - but this album just triggers me with TFI Friday / Chris Evans / Loaded mag late 90's bell ends. Did really enjoy Wild Wood and the other singles are okay - but alot of the album slips into dad rock and I don't particularly care for Weller's rock vocals.
Wild Wood I’ve never really realised how Traffic influenced this album is, until now. It’s not quite as jazzy as Traffic, but it still has that nice keyboard bumpiness and acoustic guitar sound. It definitely benefits from Weller arguably being a better, or at least more consistent, songwriter and melodicist than Winwood, from it’s retrospective take on classic rock, folk and soul (Moon on your Pyjamas is very Style Council), and from the context of Weller’s career to that point - finding his way out of the wild wild wood might be a bit literal but it’s pretty true. The singles/well known songs, Sunflower, Wild Wood, The Weaver and Hung Up are all excellent, but I’ve always particularly loved Wild Wood. In the context of the album it really is superb, encapsulating all the themes of contemplation and introspection, and alongside the melancholic-pastoral and folk influenced tracks like the superb All the Pictures on the Wall, Has My Fire Really Gone Out, Country, Foot of the Mountain, Shadow of the Sun, it gives the whole album a very sweet tone of thoughtfulness and reflection. I listened to Stanley Road not that long ago, and while there are some superb songs on there, and it was of course far more commercially successful and culturally zeitgeisty, I think this is a better album, the folk and pastoral elements give it a deftness and lightness that is missing from some of the plod of Stanley Road. It’s perhaps 3 or 4 songs/10 minutes too long but it’s a great album, interesting songs and influences and some excellent tracks. Not sure it quite gets to 5, so I’ll go with a high 4. 🪵🪵🪵🪵 Playlist submission: All the Pictures on the Wall
This definitely feels like the start of a new Weller period, his solo career proper, after the youthful post-punk of The Jam, the stylistic cul-de-sac of The Style Council, and the hangover that was his first solo album. Where it loses my interest less is when he slips into Dad rock, which I also find of Stanley Road here and there. '5th Season' has a Clapton feel - albeit Journeyman-era which I like a lot - with a blues bent, and gospel backing on the chorus. Steve Winwood hangs over all of the album it seems, but with that comes something of the MoRs. Overall, this feels a rebirth, pulling together elements if the Style Council and the Jam and producing something new. There are some classics here, there are some great album cuts - and there is some MoR. On balance, a great album.
2,5/5
I was not previously familiar with the artist or the album, but I really enjoyed this. Pretty accessible, would listen again.
Bit too bland for me. Couldn't connect with it. At least I know not to listen to it again. To be fair did like some of the instrumental sections
Sounds like Traffic at times. Entirely different from his Jam sound.
Steve Windwood in a fake mustache and glasses playing 90s rock.
Intriguing yet not quite compelling. Genre bends enough to meet several criteria for my personal enjoyment but not quite demanding of further praise. Just adequate 90's rock music that blends in with its counterparts quite well. I hear Oasis influence, Blur and Pulp, as well as some southern rock like allman brothers and neil young, and even some googoo dolls type sappy love song rock as well. I wished this moved me because the albums that inspired this work are far better than the output. A meer 3 stars from me, dawg.
Mid. Reminds me of Clapton, without the virulent racism or the charisma either.
Not gonna lie, this album is not what I expected out of the 90's? Overall, I didn't hate the experience of listening to this album, but I also didn't love it. And I'm just thinking that might be worse than really loving or hating it. It's a little too blues-y for my taste, though interestingly, the bluesiest track on this record is the one I actually enjoyed most (because at least it knew what it was doing).
There's some good stuff on here, but I dislike the vocal style in some places.
I’ve always considered Wild Wood to be Paul Weller’s finest solo album—better, in my opinion, than Stanley Road. I’m revisiting it today to see if that still holds, and it absolutely does. This album is packed with some of Weller’s most iconic solo tracks. Sunflower, Wild Wood, and The Weaver are all brilliant, timeless songs that really showcase his songwriting and sound. But what lifts this album even higher for me are the deeper cuts. Tracks like All the Pictures on the Wall and Has My Fire Really Gone Out? add real depth and emotion, making it feel like a complete piece of work rather than just a collection of standout singles. I also found myself really enjoying the instrumentals, which is rare for me. They add a subtle atmosphere and help the album flow beautifully from start to finish. Favourite tracks: Sunflower, Hung Up, and The Weaver Least favourite tracks: None, it’s a flawless listen from start to finish Album artwork: An iconic Weller cover, simple, earthy, and instantly recognisable Rating: 5/5
The Jam is a blindspot for me and maybe I'd feel differently if it wasn't? Probably not, there's a distinct lack of bangers and it veers to the corny pretty frequently. Feels a lot like the grating naivete of that first Lenny Kravitz album but this guy was older and should've known better.
I liked the Joe Cocker-like vibe.
Definitely not my thing. The best parts are the instrumentals, when he’s not singing. What’s weird is that his voice is pretty good, so I’m confused. I sense a lack of spirit, perhaps?
The shocking part is I’d never in a million years guess this was the guy from the Jam. Other than that this is so generic. It’s inoffensive and occasionally something comes up that shines but. Nah. Nothing doing in this
As much as I like The Jam, Paul Wellers solo material has never clicked with me. I did enjoy this though so I will be more open minded listening to more of his stuff.
Pleasant listening, but a bit bland... 2,5/5
Not bad. I enjoyed some of the album and can definitely see myself listening to one or two songs in the future, but nothing about the album really stood out to me.
It seemed like this album tried really hard to be cool. It really wasn’t. It just seemed so unbelievably corny to me. There was something about it that came across as trying way too hard. Maybe it was because I had poisoned the well by reading a review that said it sounded like dentist rock 😂 I hadn’t any idea what dentist rock could be but when I listened to this album I finally understood.
The album equivalent of talking about the weather. Nothing much to say, nor very memorable. 2/5
A common arc - going through a period of youthful exuberance and creativity where "rules" are meant for breaking and studios are for capturing the essence of that energy - once that well dries up after, let's say your 30s, you start to appreciate the craft of songwriting, arrangements and studio precision; the rules were there for a reason and the creative challenge is to work within their confines. Can yield some late-career gems or some incredibly lame music - Wild Wood falls firmly in the latter category.
Alright to listen to.
I don't see anything special about this album. The most bland, generic, 90's rock album. I don't like this one bit. 3/10
I forget what almost all of this sounded like. It was very bland Brit pop that I couldn’t connect with at all. It’s not for me. It would be fine as background music, but I was again, looking at how long the next song was each time, hoping they were short.
will wood
What an unexpected surprise this one was. Really solid tracks, covering many genres. A natural progression from The Jam.
Dog Stephans
Much as I loved the Jam (especially) and Style Council, I have always struggled a bit with Weller solo. This album illustrates why, a mixture of real beauty and overwrought sometimes even pretentious filler - I mean what's the point of those weird instrumentals for starters?
Fun sound. (Full disclosure, I listened to this album on repeat while I tried to sleep on the flight to Magaluf surrounded by a stag, so any sound was an improvement. Upon closer inspection I had also only downloaded the first song on the album, so this review is coloured by listening to “Sunflower” approx. 32 times.)
A pleasant and easy listen but I found most tracks a bit forgettable and samey. Wasn't offended but won't be revisiting either!
This is what happens when you give a white man a guitar. It was average, nothing stood out to me
Was ready to hear some basic pop rock slop, but was pleasantly surprised. As usual with pop rock, the slower and acoustic songs didn't leave any impression on me whatsoever, but there's only a couple of those here and the rest is pretty good. There are well-written, energetic riffs and melodies and fun vocals. Nothing out of this world but still fun. There are even some really good instrumental parts, which I really like. Solid album. 7/10
Wild Wood was ok, everything was a bit boring.
Definitely a throwback. This doesn’t sound like a 90s record. I locked into some of it. There’s certainly a mastery of creativity even if it’s not something I’ll come back to. 3/5
Think I may have vaguely heard his name, but definitely heard of his former band the Jam and enjoyed a couple of their songs before. I enjoyed it, some songs were really nice, but I don't think I would seek it out again? Maybe?
His voice is nice - kind of raspy. But I'm a bit bored.
Sometimes the punks grow up. Was The Jam punk? I don't know. The Jam had some good songs, but I don't really know much about them. That Weller has a long solo career after The Jam was completely unknown to me. Sadly it's because these songs fail to register anything except a ho hum feeling. Disappointing really.
3-4 Bland
File under: “Why is it on the list?” Not bad, pleasant enough, but lyrically and musically relatively uninteresting.
pretty standardly cool rock album, the instrumental songs were my favs cause they had a bit more diversity in instrumentation to them :)
Didn't expect such a mature voice from Weller, as someone who appreciates his stuff from the Style Council. Anyways, it was alright, and I loved Has My Fire Really Gone Out for some reason.