Wild Wood

Solid 90s album, nothing special to me though.

Inoffensive early 90’s dad rock. As a dad it’s about three decades too early for me to enjoy.

It’s hard to believe that this is the same feller from The Jam. There are a couple of tracks that I recognised here, but I never made the link to realise I know the voice. This is much more subdued than you’d tend to find with The Jam. The lyrics feel more introspective, and the music more complex. As much as I do love The Jam, the music tends to be simple and catchy, whereas this maintains the catchiness while leaning away from a poppier sound. This was pretty great. Never knew I’d like Paul Weller this much.

Brilliant album. Have listened to a lot of The Jam but not really much solo stuff. This is a banger for sure. 54 minutes just flew by.

Meh. Very middle of the road. Got nothing else to really say about this. 2.5

When I first started to learn to play guitar I had a book that was something like learn guitar in 40 songs, and the first one was Wild Wood. I'd never heard it and had no way easy of finding it at the time, so I just guessed. I had the strumming pattern well off and it sounded terrible but I learned Em and Am, so cheers Paul. To the album, I had no idea this what post-Jam Paul Weller sounded like, what happened? He has a good voice that nearly saves a few of these Phil Collins-adjacent tracks but all of it is proper over produced middle of the road 90s mush. 1.5.

Incredibly solidly middle-of-the-road. I quite liked Shadow of the Sun and All The Pictures On The Wall, but not enough to save it from drudgery.

Never listened to Paul Weller before.... If you didn't know he was in the Jam, there is absolutely nothing about this solo stuff that would give you any hint of this. No similarities at all. I actually didn't dislike any of it, but it all just feels a bit fluffy...unsubstantial somehow. Needs more to it. But it isn't bad, just very forgettable. Sorry Paul, I'll stick to the jam

Decent for a Jam solo record. Admittedly some cool and good musical moments.

Great sound

This was alright. Kind of 'Eric Clapton Lite'. Interesting though not mind-blowing guitar work.

Yes, classic Paul Weller. Easy 3*

It was fine. I enjoyed it when I listened but also tuned out fairly regularly.

3.75

July 30, 2024 HL: "Sunflower", "Holy Man", "Country", "5th Season", "Shadow of the Sun" Okay, we're at Paul Weller #4, after two the Jams & one The Style Council. Does this need to be on the list? My answer is no, it sounds like from my extensive Wikipedia skimming that Weller wanted to make a Traffic album and succeeded, but we already have Traffic (plus the aforementioned Weller albums, plus John Martyn who was another major influence on this album). H O W E V E R This may also be one of the best ones on the generator this week, besides Bone Machine; the straightforward, easy-going nature makes it a great companion to the morning of my day off. "Shadow of the Sun" is the longest track by far, but it's also my fave

No sir, didn't like it at all...

7/10. It's a pleasant listen, but not too remarkable. :)

Pretty mid, though enjoyable. 3/5

Попса конечно, но такая, что понравилась.

His second best album....

I'm a bit stumped by this one. Weller has been so prolific, productive and so damn good for so long. There are songs and albums from the jam, style council and his solo stuff that will stay with me forever. The man oozes class and charm, musical ability and song writing finesse. I listened through this twice as I wanted to get my teeth into it. My reaction is slightly positive ambivalence. All the good stuff is there but it didn't grab me enough.

This is one of the first CDs I bought - the very first a 10,000 maniacs cd - had still pictures encoded for you to watch on a computer while you played the CD. this has aged much better - the most consistent songwriting of his now very long solo career, and brilliant playing and production. Warmth is not always a word you associate with the Modfather, but this has it in spades. Five stars.

I’m surprised I’m giving this egg for, I never heard of him and wasn’t sure what to expect especially from 30+ your old album. However, I was pleasantly surprised. What a mix, not just whiny acoustic work actually very good and excellent songs. Good job.

Never heard before but really good. Chill folk

Kind of boring

This was alright I guess as background.

Not exactly the jam, and that is a problem

It was good and powerful. I understand why some people were into Paul Weller like a cult.

At least it's not the Style Council

I was not expecting to dig this as much as I am. Already listened twice and feel like this is one I'll come back to. No real complaints about it. 5/5

molto interessante, gradevole e rilassante allo stesso tempo.

C'était correct mais sans plus.

I wasn’t a huge fan of this. It’s very 90s in an incredibly specific way, but one that is very hit or miss for me, and this is a miss. “Hung Up” was a bright spot, but that was about it. I wish I could give this a 2.5, but I’m rounding down.

First song was really good. Looking forward to the rest after that, but it just got bogged down by bland but inoffensive tunes. Only a couple stood out, but the rest pretty forgettable.

Weller proves himself a competent soul pop performer. The songs are good and his voice is almost rough enough. I think were it not Weller would this album be of signifigance? Its good but not remarkable.

So forgettable I'm not 100% sure I actually listened to it.

Paul and Jam another artist I should probably listen more too

A consistently fun and groovy rock album. Had some themes of love, idealism, religion. Good quality of songs throughout the project. The variety of instruments throughout the album helped make the songs distinct. Did feel a little long and the middle of the album I was more indifferent toward. Cut out that middle and I think you have an amazing album. Standouts: Sunflower, Can You Heal Us (Holy Man), Wild Wood, Foot Of The Mountain, Shadow Of The Sun, and Moon On Your Pyjamas.

I've had a The Jam and a Style Council album, and I had no idea they were related to each other through this Paul Weller. This album was completely new to me, and I haven't listened to a lot of 90s pop rock. It's supremely produced, the music and singing is really crisp and sounds great. For the tunes themselves, it's a nice sound; at times I was bopping along, and at others I zoned out because it sounded similar to other parts. My favorites here are probably Wild Wood, Ends of the Earth, and 5th Season.

Я странно себя чувствую по этому поводу, но это очень скучный альбом. Последние несколько песен ок, но возможно за час я просто привык. Лучшая песня - Shadow Of The Sun.

Yet another "midlife crisis of a dude 20 years past his prime" kind of album. It's one of those days when I remember that this book is actually more about old white guys circlejerking each other, rather than an actual showcase of interesting music. Sad, innit, but what can you do. My list would probably suck similar amounts of dick.

That was really good. My favourite tracks are Has My Fire Really Gone Out? Shadow Of The Sun & Wild Wood

I've heard of Paul Weller, mostly from reading about his activism in Dorian Lynskey's book 33 Revolutions Per Minute. I've reviewed Style Council's Café Bleu, but this will be my first solo album of Paul's to listen to. I'm not sure what to expect, but I'm curious dive into this one. I didn't love this album, but it was interesting. I'm a sucker for some good keyboard playing, and this album had a nice variety of keyboard parts, and some good guitar playing as well. Paul's vocals were nice as well, and they filled out the overall sound of this album nicely. It was really accessible and comfortable to listen to, and I can definitely hear Traffic's influence on this album, but I enjoyed this album more than I did either of the Traffic albums that I've reviewed. This album is well-made, but it's not without its flaws. As nice as it was to listen to, this album doesn't really push any boundaries or bring anything new to the table. I listened to a quite a bit of adult contemporary music in the nineties, and this album felt like it would fall in nicely in between some Hootie and the Blowfish and Alanis Morissette, but it would be overshadowed by both of them. As much as Paul Weller was a voice for change back in the seventies and eighties, I feel like this album is an allegory for an aging radical giving up on making the world better, and settling for internal happiness instead. And not there's anything unusual with that; a lot of the leftist rabble rousers of the seventies and eighties stopped championing their causes as they aged, and Paul Weller is a member of that club as well. This album was slightly better than average in my opinion, but I don't think I'd ever come back to it. Best tracks: "Sunflower," "Can You Heal Us," "Wild Wood," and "Shadow Of The Sun"

I read through a few of the 5 star comments, and I wish I heard this as they hear it so I can understand. But I was mostly bored. The title track is nice, but I really just felt an overwhelming blah vibe by the time I was through.

Mid 90s, Sunday afternoon, disappointing pub lunch.

good chill album

Decent enough.

Pretty killer album. A really good mix of some heavy guitar matched with some killer licks. Added this one to my Spotify collection, it’s a keeper for sure.

I like the style, and there is a lot of variety of sound. Some ROCK, some acoustic, some funk, some parts vaguely country. Can You Heal Us was a bit repetitive for me. All the Pictures on the Wall - love it. Has my Fire Really Gone Out - loved the ending, meh first half. A lot of mixed feelings, but overall a lot more good than bad. Sometimes I felt his voice was really good, but other times it felt pretty questionable, like it didn’t quite go with the background, or maybe just wasn’t quite precise enough when I wanted more precision. I’d never heard of Paul Weller before, but I’m glad I have now.

Had never heard of this dude but he jams!!

Deceptively good. Nice to vibe too but there’s also a lot more too it. The main songs are great, but the background riffs and melodies would often play through as epilogues to each song. In a lot of the other albums I would be waiting for the next song, but in this album I was vibing hard to the minute or so instrumentals. Great stuff!

This is one of the reasons I love getting a random album from this list, sometimes it’ll give you some absolute heat that you probably wouldn’t have ever come across otherwise. You know how every now and then you’ll be at a bar or brewery with live music and the band is absolutely killing it? These were the vibes I got throughout the whole album. The mixture of blues and rock blended together perfectly. Paul Weller’s voice reminded me a little bit of Chris Stapleton and the lead singer of Collective Soul, and I wonder if there’s any influence on those artists. Definitely a strong four and an album I’ll be listening to again soon.

An album that I need to be in the right setting for to enjoy. Being forced to listen to this for as long as it is would probably get boring quickly for me. Lucky though, I had a 2 hour car ride with time to kill and was really vibing with this. I couldn't tell you a single song, but the whole album had me feeling good on a bright morning drive to the beach.

Pretty good stuff.

The Jam delivered excellent rock records and The Style Council released excellent pop records. This is wonderful! The composition and recording are so damn good!

There's plenty of music worth praising for the production, but there's something about music where the production is the main point of praise 💀

This one's got everything I want. It's a little jazzy, it's a little rocky, and it's got a weird spelling of Pajamas. Love it. Favorites were Sunflower, Country, and 5th Season

This was pleasant to listen to, but nothing here really stuck with me. Favorites were Sunflower, Has My Fire Really Gone Out?, and Shadow Of The Sun.

Listened to it twice. Enjoyed it

Some good songs here… better than I remembered.

not much to say, it was alright

Did not like this album. Seems inconceivable that "On 24 February 2010, Weller received the Godlike Genius Award at the NME Awards." Don't see any hint of genius here.

The instrumental aspect of the songs is good, if not a little boring, but the lyrics just feel...blah. I don't know what genre this would fall under, but I imagine some liberal boomers in early 2000s really liking this album. For me, it's pretty bland and flavorless.

I was so bored with this album, and it being a double album really wore me down. Barely got through it one time only. Almost every song felt identical, and I'm not really a fan of soulful music like this to begin with, so the closest I came to enjoying this was bopping my head to some of the drums and beats. I have no idea what to look for in this album, if it's in the lyrics, I wasn't tuning into those very much so I may have missed out on something there. It seems that his lyrics are a well praised aspect of his music by critics, so I'm giving this two stars to reflect that potential. I didn't actively hate this. but I really don't see myself listening to this album as a whole ever again.

sucks ass. midlife crisis core

Great album

Very inoffensive but also doesn’t try anything too daring. Sounds like it would be right at home in an outdoor setting like a block party or small town festival.

Just an album to chill to good music and comforting vocals.

Solid Standout songs: Sunflower Has the Fire Really Gone Out Shadow of the Sun

🎧this is solid. It sounds nothing like All Mod Cons by The Jam. Folky. Pleasant.

Paul Weller rocks. This album... ehhhhh... not so much

Dear Mr. Dimery, I wanted to tell you about something with which you appear unfamiliar: https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/countries_of_the_world.htm. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “hey wait, I know one of those!” And I wholeheartedly agree and concede that you are clearly very aware of the United Kingdom and its constituent … states? provinces? kingdoms? Also a few of its colonies that have regrettably and temporarily distanced themselves from their rightful owner. I do not dispute that. But what I wanted to point out is that there are at least 175 other names on that list with which you appear to be wholly ignorant. Maybe, instead of putting EVERY SINGLE 2.2-star and above album that was released between 1980 and 2010 from one of those countries on your list, you could put a 5-star album from each of those other countries? Just a thought. This book really needs to be done by a committee of individuals of different ages, races, sexes and nationalities. People are too affected by music they were exposed to from ages 16 to 26 to be unbiased when choosing albums everyone should hear. Or at least this dumbass was. What the fuck would make someone consider this an album everyone needs to hear before they die? I mean, it’s fine. If it were playing quietly in a Starbucks, it would be completely apropos. But to think people NEED to hear it? Good God. I don’t even know how to relate to a mind that would think that way. It’s too alien a concept for me to be able to even imagine holding. Anyway, Robert Dimery, you are a real honest to God dyed in the wool dumbfuck and this album is perfectly fine. It’s like if Jack Johnson came out 15 years earlier and was slightly less poppy and more British. Nothing bad about this album at all. Completely inoffensive. And I could have lived a thousand years without hearing it and been perfectly fine.

Very good. 3.5

Starts off really good but loses steam half way through

i do not know this man and i loved this album thank you mr weller

Very cool. Recognize some of these tracks but never knew him as a solo artist. This goes in the rotation and deserves some more unpacking.

It was fine easy listening music, but nothing stood out to me but the cover track with its particularly groovy guitar bit.

I'd never heard of Paul Weller before, but this was good stuff. I didn't like it *quite* enough to buy it, but I wouldn't mind listening to it on Spotify again sometime. This was as good as pretty much any other 90's pop-rock band. 4.1

Just shy of perfect for me. I was familiar with the name, but not the music. I am very glad to get some exposure.

paul weller reminds me of a neil young type, but his voice is less rough. there's country present, like in young's music, but weller leans more into rock than country, resulting in a smoother sound. this album definitely sounds straight from the early seventies, and weller channeled that era well in 1993. at some points, i'm reminded of elevator music, which isn't necessarily bad. wild wood is a very easy listen as a result. the instrumental pieces seem strongest. the whole album is tied together with a nature theme.

If I had to try to pin this album down, I would say it's like a British singer's attempt at and take on American style folk-rock, country-rock, and blues-rock. At the same time, it also feels like a bit of a precursor to some alternative rock sounds of the 90s. I thought this was enjoyable and diverse, though maybe not groundbreaking. It was also an easy listening experience; it was very chill, but engaging.

Very fun easy listening with a bit of variety throughout the album to keep it feeling fresh.

not really for me. Production is aight but this is boring. whoever said dentist rock nailed it lol.

One of my favorite surprises so far. Really enjoyed the atmosphere, instrumentation and his voice.

Snooze fest 1993 deluxe edition. 2/5

Das ist ein Rockalbum. Ich finde, nicht eines der besseren. Der Titelsong des Albums ist gut. Alles andere eher durchschnittlich

I like the sound and tone of this guy's voice but the songs are so melancholy, I don't feel excited or particularly sad listening to it. Is he the guy from The Jam?? That doesn't make sense. 2 stars

01) Sunflower - 7,5 02) Can You Heal Us (Holy Man) - 7,0 03) Wild Wood - 9,5 04) Instrumental (Pt 1) - 8,0 05) All the Pictures on the Wall - 7,0 06) Has My Fire Really Gone Out? - 7,0 07) Country - 7,5 08) Instrumental Two - 7,0 09) 5th Season - 7,0 10) The Weaver - 7,5 11) Instrumental One (Pt 2) - 7,0 12) Foot of the Mountain - 6,5 13) Shadow of the Sun - 7,0 14) Holy Man (reprise) - 7,0 15) Moon on Your Pyjamas - 7,0 16) Hung Up - 7,5 TOTAL: 7,31 (73/100) Current ranking: 112/184 When I was a teenager I always saw Paul Weller as boring, too serious, something that adults listen to. And now that I'm an adult, I still don't see it as something I would listen to. It seems to me that this is music for an even older generation ;-) There are still some good songs here like "Wild Wood".

Arguably Wellers benchmark album, a level to which many of his later works seemed to reach. A classic.

This album is probably one of those that is relegated to the second table at the wedding. I hear both Eric Clapton and Leonard Cohen in the music which is a great thing! On the other hand I can opt to listen to either of those musicians directly and kind of skip the middleman. It isn't so much that it is "like" something else as much as it doesn't have enough unqueness on its own to be distinct from something else...

Great album. Catchy riffs, clever lyrics and the album takes you down different melodic routes without ever straying too far from the soul/rock elements that gave Weller his unique sound. Found myself getting into this and even had to relisten to certain songs as it felt like a few minutes just wasn't enough. Great.

Delightful! Giving as four so I will definitely listen to again

This album takes the worst impulses of 90s adult alternative and throws them all together. The lyrics are bad, the music is bland, and the jams remind me of bands that play at local farmers markets and get all the 50 and 60 year olds dancing horribly. Paul Weller's musical pedigree is impressive, and while I can see the appeal of this album despite what I've written so far, I don't believe it is anywhere near as groundbreaking as the Jam. However, the musicianship is good and the production is very good. A lot of work was put into this album in the studio and it shows. Maybe the resources would have been better spent somewhere else.

Seems a bit generic. Some decent instrumentation, but overall dull songwriting.

Not bad. Not great. Meh.

Didn't know who Paul Weller was. The dude has a nice, soulful voice - it sounds familiar. The music is good, just nothing outstanding. A high 3/5. Edit: I found out afterwards, Paul Weller was in the band The Jam. I don't remember much about the album I heard (300 albums ago), "All Mod Cons," but I rated it a 4/5.

Some great tracks in here!

I’ve never listened to anything by Paul Weller that I didn’t like. I’ve heard this is a good album but I’ve never got around to listening to it. I gave it three listens front to back, which was necessary because it’s definitely a record that rewards multiple listens. It has really good songs, great playing, varied instrumentation, and it flows great from beginning to end. Paul's singing voice isn’t my favorite perhaps, buts it’s effective and sounds great at times, especially on songs like Moon On Your Pyjamas. The guitars sound awesome throughout the record. Sunflower, All The Pictures On The Wall, and Has My Light Really Gone Out? are the highlights to me. Probably an album that would be five stars for me with more listens.

Had never heard of him… loved the album!

Hmm this is all pretty good but nothing I really enjoy. The instrumentals are probably my favorite. It’s like almost a 90’s John Martyn but not at all.

The first couple of songs showcased some nice vocals and component music, but as the album went on it was kind of all over the place and very boring. 2.4 stars

It was ok 👌

I do like me some Paul Weller

Production and music are decent, but nothing outstanding. Overall a quite boring experience.

I've listened through a few times now, and each time I spend the first 20 minutes thinking it's a pretty nice album and the last 20 minutes thinking Man, it really should be ending around now. It's a decent album! Nice guitars! Nothing too special though overall

Totally listenable but also forgettable.

Maybe it me lately, but this album is very bland. Very listenable but nothing to make you say let me turn this one up .

4/5. A really solid collection of soft rock songs that have an edge to them, with the vocals and guitar providing that hardness. I think the album is a little long but even despite that, each song delivered an enjoyable head-bobbing experience. The production and instrumentation is also well-done, giving it a old sound but almost timeless. Best Song: Sunflower, Holy Man, 5th Season

Verrassend goed

Weller has a soulful voice and some of the music is decent but it's just so boring. The Jam were great, The Style Council were groovy but his solo work leaves me cold apart from the odd tune. I saw him live at The Royal Albert Hall about 14 years ago and all the bald mods were getting antsy cos he hadn't played any Jam hits yet and I could empathise.

Wild Wood doesn't deserve to be on here. It's bland stuff that thousands of other artists have done over decades, and just because it comes from a leading name in the industry doesn't make it any less bland. A boring low 2.

This is perfectly fine, decent enough to have on but it's not going to change anyone's life. It's pretty middle of the road, gets fun in places (The Weaver probably my favourite), but not a huge amount there. Think there's plenty better Weller stuff not on this list... 2/5.

This is another great album that I had never been exposed to. I have heard The Jam before but never delved deep into their catalog. I was not aware of Paul Weller's solo music or his music with The Style Council. I will be checking out some more of his stuff.

Nice, but pretty conventional

Kinda nice, kinda gentle. An evening album after a day of work, but not a day of exhaustion. An album to be gentle around, and to be gentled to. It reminds me of Jack Johnson, but maybe Mr Weller was there before Jack was Jack? There is a place for an album in my group. I see it as light and joyous background music in a summer afternoon house after swimming in a crips ocean and the sun is escaping for the evening that will be long and conversational. Listening with my ears on, that could happen too. But its not there for me currently. Lets go 3 stars. ... nah, not quite. Lets go 2.

It was fine

Het is een beetje rockey, beetje country, beetje folk achtig? Ik heb eerlijk waar geen idee waar dit album in valt, welk genre. Wat ik wel weet is dat er af en toe wat fijne nummers in zitten, het opzich prettig weg luistert maar dat het niet een blijvende indruk op me maakt tot nu toe. Loev de mondharmonica op een aantal nummers, zijn toch altijd leuk om ff mee te pakken. Het album heeft een aantal hele fijne nummers, maar met in totaal 16 nummers voelt het voor mij toch te lang. Het duurt maar 53 minuten in totaal, maar dat is niet lang genoeg om altijd de aandacht er bij te houden. Grappig dat een nummer als Shadow of the sun juist wel mn aandacht pakt ondanks dat het een crazy 7 minuten lang is in totaal! Ik denk dat omdat er sommige hele nice nummers zijn en een aantal flinke duds ik uiteindelijk uitkom op een 3/5, gewoon een prima album. Is het een absolute must listen? Voor mij niet perse, maar je zal je ook niet irriteren ofzo. En dat is soms ook wel eens fijn. FAVO: Wild Wood, all the pictures on a wall, Foot of the mountain, Shadow of the sun

I don't have to hear this album before I die.

Not all bad, but maybe a bit dated for its time.

I thought I would need to listen to the album again to get a better feel for the lyrics and music, but then decided not to.

Started off mediocre and build up to some good songs that highlighted more range and skills.

I have no idea what part of it clicks so much, but I just love the sound of this album so much. Just amazing, will definitely try picking up a physical copy some day

This sounds like a roots rock album by an aging Eric Clapton or similar. But there’s a little more to it. There’s some jazzy touches, soulful parts. I definitely don’t really hear the Traffic comparisons. It’s recorded beautifully and cleanly. I feel like it was recorded in a remote cabin, and the recording feels like I’m in the room. I just can’t figure out whether I like the songs but not the execution, or vice versa. I think I’m not crazy about Weller’s vocals. And I also feel a theme of middle-age throughout that I’m not quite relating to, even though I probably should given my age. I think I would give it a 3.5 if that were an option, but it’s not.

Fine. I wish it would rock out a bit more though. The slower songs bogged the album down a bit. Not offensive. Decent enough. You could almost call it 90s dad rock.

Loved it!

Sounds like music my dad would turn on during camping trips and road trips. Easy listening soft pop rock that's borderline boring. I hate when you get one of these albums that is kind of boring and then you see that it's longer than a standard LP. I think the only song that really caught my ear was Shadow of the Sun. It got more psych and prog and the longer track length let the song develop more. I would have liked him to lean more into that although I understand that isn't really something that sells in the mainstream music world.

Pretty rad little album. It feels very British. Like very post-rock British. Its exactly what I would imagine coming from a British rock star solo artist in the 90s. Its overall pretty fluid with genres, but never really strays too far. It feels cohesive and together.

More like Paul Well-boring, am I right

Really cool in a way that’s not easy to articulate. Tasteful instrumentation, feels timeless.

I remember liking the Jam but had never heard Paul Weller's solo work. It's decidedly more laid-back and explores several genres.

I thought I was in a rough ride here, but this is pretty fine throughout. I didn't pay attention to the lyrics, and was a bit bored by the end.

Good album.

Good! I especially liked the instrumentals.

I didn’t listen to the whole thing, but enough to get a review. It was okay.

Kind of boring, didn't really like or dislike it

jeg er sådan set ret stor fan af The Jam så jeg blev lidt overrasket (negativt). Nogle enkelte catchy numre, god stemme, men kedelig!

Det kan godt være det bare er mine Meshuggah-tømmermænd, men det her var sgu for benløst.

Dødkedeligt.

Довольно стандартный традиционный рок с фолк мотивами и иногда действительно круто звучащей гитарой. Вообщем то средний альбомчик особо не выдающийся хотя и чего то прям негативного не вызвал

Great album. Paul Weller at his finest.

Some Brits can make a convincing Americans turn.

Loved it! I wasn't familiar with this artist but listened to more of his work after hearing this.

What a painfully average rock/blues-adjacent album. It sounds like muzak playing in the background of a JC Penny or a Hooters. Other than a few artistic gleams, overall generic. 2.4/5 -> 2/5.

Gear: Aür Audio Aurora Mix: meh. Musik: meh. Wertung: 😐/5

I wouldn't be mad if Paul Weller was playing live at a bar I walked into. I would be annoyed if I had to shout and strain for my friends to hear me over this perfectly passable background music.

Solid rock album, I thought the songs were, for the most part, groovy and didn't stick around too long, and I liked the guitar work. I liked the titular song, and I also liked The Weaver.

The most bland easy-listening bullshit album I’ve ever heard. Who likes this!? And why is it so long?

Felt very old

70 folk rock is my jam

Nice easy listening. Nothing remarkable, but nothing too bad. Never been one for soft rock but this wasn't the worst

Vaya rollazo. No le pongo un 1 porque estamos en Adviento y mi misión de hoy es decir cosas bonitas. Diré que la lista de canciones de después está bien :D.

A lovely surprise. Some good rock

Ruhige Blues Töne mit sympathischer Stimme des Interpreten. „Wild Wood“ ist ein schöner Song und „Hang Up“ interessant. Das Album ist schlüssig und gut zu hören aber auch nich faszinierend.

Oh shit! Did not expect this one on the list. Got this back when it came out. The title song is great, but don’t remember much else. First song is okay. Second song is a little too American. That title track still kills it. Instrumental Pt 1 is rad. All the Pictures is pretty. So is Country. Another reviewer on here said that this album sounds like something Paul Weller made for himself, and that sounds accurate. He is clearly enjoying himself. There is range and excellent musicianship. This is probably more interesting for guitar players. Overall, this is very nice. It’s not my favorite Paul Weller project. It’s a little too average white guy, for my taste. It’s probably fun to listen to while riding down a country road. But, I wouldn’t say this is essential listening.

Released in 1993, Paul Weller's "Wild Wood" stands as a pivotal point in his career, marking a creative rebirth and influencing the burgeoning Britpop movement. This review delves deep into the album's lyrical depth, musical tapestry, and its lasting impact, while acknowledging its strengths and minor shortcomings. Lyrics: Introspection and Vulnerability Weller's lyrics on "Wild Wood" are introspective and often vulnerable. He grapples with themes of self-doubt, aging, and navigating the complexities of life. Songs like "Has My Fire Really Gone Out?" and "The Bitter Truth" are stark self-examinations, showcasing his honesty and willingness to confront personal demons. However, the album is not solely melancholic. "Wild Wood" and "Sunflower" offer glimpses of hope and optimism, suggesting growth and personal evolution. Music: A Genre-Bending Journey Musically, "Wild Wood" is a captivating blend of styles. Weller draws heavily from British folk, incorporating elements of acoustic guitars, flutes, and melancholic melodies. Tracks like "The Changing Man" and "Shadow of the Sun" evoke a sense of pastoral serenity, contrasting with the rockier energy of "Sunflower" and "The Power of a Woman." This genre-bending approach adds depth and texture, showcasing Weller's versatility as a musician and songwriter. Production: Warmth and Detail The album's production, handled by Brendan Lynch, is warm and detailed. The instrumentation is crisp and clear, allowing each element to shine. The use of space adds to the introspective feel of the album, while subtle sonic flourishes like the echoing vocals on "Wild Wood" create a captivating atmosphere. While not overly polished, the production complements the music perfectly, ensuring a timeless and engaging listening experience. Themes: Identity and Transformation A central theme of "Wild Wood" is the exploration of identity and transformation. The title track itself references the changing landscape of Weller's career and personal life, with lyrics like "New forest, new me" signifying a desire for growth and reinvention. Songs like "The Changing Man" and "The Bitter Truth" further delve into this theme, exploring the challenges and opportunities that come with personal evolution. Influence: A Catalyst for Britpop "Wild Wood" proved to be highly influential, serving as a key inspiration for the burgeoning Britpop movement of the mid-90s. Artists like Blur, Oasis, and Pulp credited Weller as a major influence, adopting his blend of rock, pop, and British influences. The album's success demonstrated the viability of guitar-driven music in a time dominated by American grunge, paving the way for a wave of British bands who would dominate the charts in the following years. Pros: Weller's strongest songwriting to date: The album features insightful and moving lyrics that resonate with listeners on a personal level. Genre-bending brilliance: The diverse musical styles create a unique and captivating listening experience. Warm and detailed production: The well-crafted production complements the music and enhances the emotional impact of the songs. Enduring influence: "Wild Wood" played a significant role in shaping the Britpop movement. Cons: Limited commercial success: While critically acclaimed, the album did not achieve the same level of commercial success as some of Weller's earlier work. Occasional unevenness: While most tracks are strong, a couple feel slightly underdeveloped compared to the album's highlights. Conclusion: "Wild Wood" stands as a testament to Paul Weller's artistry and evolution. His introspective lyrics, genre-bending musical approach, and warm production create a captivating experience that continues to resonate with listeners decades after its release. While not without minor shortcomings, the album's strengths far outweigh any weaknesses, solidifying its place as a landmark in Weller's career and a significant contributor to the landscape of British music.

Who even is this? Pleasant background music, nothing remotely interesting about it.

I have never heard a solo Paul Weller song as far as I know - I've heard of his former bands The Jam and The Style Council but I'm not very familiar with their music. This is all new for me today. This was mostly just a nice collection of dad rock songs - but I'll admit that the jam at the end of "Shadow of the Sun" grabbed my attention.

Well executed but boring department store rock.

terrible. This was uninspiring and I did not like listening to it.

More into the Jam, short exciting songs, and in the Style Council, (both very poiltically driven and both real fun to listen too) than in the solo work. Still the man is a legend, his voice incredible and the title song and Country and Foot of the Mountain beautiful. Feel bad given this master only 3 stars

This album is well crafted. First four songs are excellent , rest of the album very good. He’s got a great voice and guitar. Already had Wild Wood on my playlist so was somewhat familiar with Weller and will be adding other songs from his repertoire . (3.9*s)

Quite enjoyed this. Listened twice back to back and got better the second time. Worth another listen some time.

Not bad, but unremarkable.

Ikkje ein ny favoritt

Great album, very diverse and bluesy. Would definitely listen again

He's fucking great. 5 stars.

Der Titel verspricht mehr als er halten kann. Lieber WIlde Side (Lou Read) oder WIld World als Wild Wood: Im besten Fall Musik für ein unaufgeregtes Frühstück.

Relisten

Nothing crazy, I didn’t really pay attention to the lyrics, but I didn’t mind it when it was on. I liked Paul Weller’s voice.

Hours before I had to write this, I read another review on this website saying that the instrumentation on this album was very 70's. 70's singer-songwriter, I assume, since they'd also brought up references to Paul Simon and the like. And, yeah, that's exactly why I like this album. The 70's **are** my favorite decade, after all—or so all of the data I've collected over the last five years says. Because of that, anyway, even though I would've preferred something more around 40 minutes, I can absolutely overlook it's 50+ minute runtime.

Certainly more than what I was thinking this album was going to be. A nice guitar-based sound that has some neat surprises thrown in from time to time. While it does have the same problem as The Verve album with its nearly hour-long length, it's less of a slog here then on that album.

I think, much like Synchronicity, I’m gonna go with a light 4, but I think this one’s a little closer to the side of a 5 for me. As far as the instrumentation goes, I think this is one of the nicest albums we’ve had yet in terms of pure easy listening. Vocally, I do think there were some times where I would’ve loved a little more gruff in his voice to better fit the mood of some of the songs, but other than that, his biggest crime was just sometimes staying a little too monotone for me. I think my big issue with this album is that it just goes a little long, and like I’ve said, if the sound starts to lose its luster, you start to lose the listener, and there are some tracks on here that either dragged on, or suffered from the infamous “the first minute is the entire song” problem. When this album hits though, it fucking hits, and I can’t say I ever really got bored of the album like that. Is it generic in a few spots? Of course, but when everyone was hitting around this sort of sound in the 90s, there are bound to be a few. I’d definitely recommend it, and I think some of the album’s weaker spots for me would be strong points for others.

The Jam were a great band. Weller after/without the Jam is embarassing and dull. I don't get the reverence. I can't imagine him getting signed if this was a demo. Pants.

A fantastic album. Musical and lyrical excellence. Always absolutely loved this album. Music straight from the soul. Sunflower - 5/5 😊 Can You Heal Us - 4/5 Wild Wood - 6/5 😎 All The Pictures - 4/5 Has My Fire - 5/5 👍 Country - 4/5 5th Season - 6/5 😃 The Weaver - 5/5 Foot of the Mountain - 5/5 Shadow of the Sun - 7/5 😜😎 Absolutely definitely a 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pretty nice and pleasant album. I've read a bit about it and I could really tell that Gallagher brothers were impressed by Paul. Familiar style, but much more easy-flowing. I'm not sure if I ultimately liked it enough to rate it above average, as after 10 songs it became quite tedious to listen to, but I guess you have to appreciate the work. Nice and tidy album.

Kinda boring and a chore to get through.

he's always great

Okay acoustic, pretty much background music.

This album has a lot of fun energy to it with a good bit of range, but the production is a tad bland, the writing is often unoriginal, and forgettable lyrics. I don’t know if this is necessarily a negative, but the vocals sound like a mix of a bunch of other popular singers. I enjoyed it, but definitely won’t be thinking of it often. 3/5

Love it from the first lick of Sunflower! Had never heard of Weller, but love his singer-songwriter ethos and knowing his later influence on groups like Oasis. Makes me think in turns of Mark Knopfler, the Band

I didn't really pay attention I have to admit since was working. From what I did pick up, it was not for me. Will I listen to again: 0%

I have never heard of this guy and I randomly LOVED this album. It came out the year I was born and felt very familiar, reminded my of stuff my dad listened to growing up. I liked that it was a little bit folksy, and he kept it interesting w the song structures.

This was such a great album for my roadmap to the mountains. This albums sound is so different from what I think when I hear early-90s. Definitely going to give this one another listen.

Ooh. Paul Weller. The Jam! Well known for loving the British bands of the sixties, here Weller extrapolates that sound, often calling up a Steve Winwood-like voice. Although INSTRUMENTAL - PT 1 and PT 2 hint at Marvin Gaye (at least to me). Boy - I really hear a lot of Traffic here. Psychedelic influences throughout the album. At least a few songs (5th SEASON; THE WEAVER; FOOT OF THE MOUNTAIN) could've been early Frampton. Started out a 5, slipped to a 4, and ended up a ⭐⭐⭐ __________________________________ 🎧 LPs reviewed: 41 🎧 LPs left to review: 960 🎧 LPs I found great/relevant enough to be mandatory listens (5): 10 🎧 LPs I *might* include in my own list (4): 14 🎧 LPs I will certainly *not* include in mine (1-2): 10

Pretty forgettable for me really. I listened to the album while I worked and basically did not come to an opinion good or bad. Nothing really stood out to me.

1.5 - You're on thin fucking ice, Paul.

Country-lite good complete album. Nothing too catchy to remember

Good album. Some forgettable songs in the middle but the beginning and end were good. Particularly enjoyed the titular track wild wood

Really enjoyable. Weller’s voice at this point had matured beautifully to give a soulful but gritty edge to the soul and the rockier songs. I really like Stanley Road, but I think this is his best. Better than Jam and Style Council, although Snap! and Singular Adventures collections will always win!

Eh

Insipid and tame. This made me feel bad about giving dizzee rascal only 1 star. Like a cover band at a wedding playing their original tunes.

It's fine didn't do much for me round up to 3

Some interesting sounds. But way too long!

First time listening to this album and artist, as it's somewhat outside of my wheelhouse. That being said, it was enjoyable with it's chilled out, mellow guitars and I appreciated the elements of soul and even funk popping up throughout. Next time I'm taking a walk through nature I'll have an excellent soundtrack ready.

I can't be held responsible for everything. Carl Weathers died today and that seems more important than this album somehow. I'm most definitely far from angry

Favourite song - Wildwood

yuck

Gustav tsrh

Nothing special

I knew of him, knew about his political persuasions but had not taken the time to listen to him fully. I loved this & am excited to have a ‘new’ musician in my daily arsenal.

i’m usually listening to paul via the jam or style council so it’s nice to hear his voice in a different setting. he sounds so soulful on this project, no doubt thanks to the blues influence found on this album. i’ll definitely check out more of his solo stuff. 3.5/5

Paul Weller is the sort of artist you get on Jools Holland's Hootenany. It's decent enough music, but you forget about it come New Year's Day.

My first Paul Weller & probably exactly how I expected it to sound. Pleasant enough. Made me want to listen to Ocean Colour Scene.

Not sure why I have actually never heard one iota about this man, band, album. Really enjoyed it and will listen to more by him. Def channeling the boomer era and giving me dadvibes, but enjoyable through and through. I dig his voice WELLER enough.

Not bad, a little too soft rock. I feel like I need to age about 10 more years to like this more.

Never heard of Paul Weller prior to this. Relatively casual album between soft rock and easy listening. Surprised how much I enjoyed it. Seems like something I would been aware of previously. 2.6 stars

ehhh.

A bit hit and miss. Sometimes gives Hendrix vibes. Sometimes gives boring vibes.

It was alright, really liked 5th season

Favorite tracks: Sunflower, Wild Wood

Never heard of him, wish it could have stayed that way

This is one that I should probably give another listen to to fully appreciate

Anytime a song fades out in the middle of a gentle saxophone solo, you know you're in laundromat music territory. Has Paul's fire really gone out? Yes, yes it has. If he had any to begin with. 1 laundry basket out of 5 🧺

Didn't hate it. But didn't really care for it either. Really wasn't feeling it.

Yet another singer-songwriter that I was regrettably unfamiliar with. Paul Weller lyrics might not be as clever or as powerful as some other artists on this lists, but that's not always a bad thing. I can't say that anything in particular stands above others in the genre though. Overall, it's a safe, digestible rock album from the 90s with few low points and a few tracks I wouldn't mind hearing again, not bad. Highlight: Hung Up Lowlight: Foot of the Mountain Surprise Hit: Shadow Of The Sun

it was ok... kinda white guy soul

It's a really nice album and well crafted. Very consistently good across all the songs. I really like the instrumentation and like his voice.

More of a greatest hits kinda guy which is very good. This not so much

Dull

One of Paul's best!

Works fine as background music but nothing stands out. [0112/1001]

What a gorgeous album. Rich, soulful and eclectic, with threads of rock, blues, funk, jazz, folk. It's a sound that draws from a myriad of influences but sounds pretty timeless. They don't make albums like this anymore. Paul Weller is one of the most talented and prolific artists of his generation. His gift for songcraft is on full display here, with incredibly eloquent lyrics, powerful but nuanced vocals, and top notch musicianship. You really get a strong sense that this is someone who loves and understands music deeply, and knows how to make every note hit perfectly and effortlessly. This album would be worth it solely for Weller's guitar work and vocals, but this album is just layer upon layer of pure magic. I'm calling it today, this is the best new-to-me album I have encountered on this whole project, and I've been at it for 918 days. Shut it down. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): Moon on Your Pyjamas, Sunflower, Wild Wood, All the Pictures on the Wall, 5th Season, Shadow of the Sun, Hung Up, Foot of the Mountain, Country, Can You Heal Us (Holy Man), Holy Man (reprise), The Weaver, Has My Fire Really Gone Out?, Instrumental (Pt 1), Instrumental One (Pt 2, Country, Instrumental Two

This was actually a really cool sounding album.I really enjoyed it.

defintiv nochmal anhörenswert, eher chillige musik

There's a reason nice warm sound to this album, and the lo-fi production suits it. Sadly some of the songs seem to distract me from the warm atmosphere and go for something else.

Mjög fín, soft listening plata, ekkert sem stendur uppúr, bara bakgrunnur

2 stars. boring

Solid work from the Godfather of Bitpop. 3.5 stars.

It’s fine, I guess. Nothing special

Enjoyed this way more than I thought I would!

Have never listened to Paul Weller at all...and I honestly couldn't tell you why. This is wonderful! Great marriage of blues and soul here, and it's certainly going to get me to listen to him a lot more now. What a great discovery here. Favorite tracks: Has My Fire Really Gone Out?, 5th Season

that was fantastic. found everything immediately noteworthy and consistent. had a little of everything i love, and bluesy solos thrown in for good measure. wild wood was THE stand out track.

Chill

This was the first album on the list where I hadn’t heard of the artist. Then I read the bio and I have heard of the jam, just didn’t know the singer had a solo career. I don’t have much to say about this album. It wasn’t bad but it didn’t do anything for me. It felt unnecessary, like this album doesn’t need to exist. It’s just a collection of bland forgettable songs.

Very listenable album. Enjoyed the singing, the chords, the bass lines are pretty tight. 4/5!

Never listened to any of Paul Wellers solo stuff before. It's pretty good, nothing like the Jam and not as good but still enjoyable. I'm thinking perhaps I'll give it revisit as this one would grow on me. 3.5

This is a record I go to pretty often. Saw Paul Weller live when it was just released. It’s yet another of the Weller incarnations I dig. Some bluesy tunes, some grooves. Moon on Your Pyjamas is a favorite but many good tunes here.

This went down hill fast for me. First song 'This isn't bad' to the end 'I'm bored and i don't like this'.

If you told me this album was released in the 70s, it would probably make sense. And I would probably know more of the songs as my parents would've listened to this in the car any that sort of thing. But as an album released in the 90s? I don't quite get it. That said, I could easily put this on at a party and no one would be offended. But I don't think anyone would be listening, either. I did like some of the guitar work. So it has that going for it.

I liked it. Especially first song.

Decent. Paul Weller has a good voice.

Started this and quickly shut it off. It wasn’t bad it was just white noise.

Good on you Paul. Got famous enough to make an album of whatever you want. What you want is super boring dad rock but like, it sounds like you might be having fun I guess... In more seriousness the band is fire on this album. It grooved so well but every time Paul jumped back on the vocals is fell apart. Not something I'll listen to again.

Good singing, strong song composition, albeit a thin sound. This just lacks true substance and falls flat. Nothing about it is bad, yes it’s a little boring, more so that nothing stands out as must listen again.

Below par, sub optimal didnt make me sad nor happy.

When this was released I remember being hugely disappointed and revisiting it now hasn't shaken that feeling. I coped with the Style Council but this was just too far removed from the Jam that I loved so much. This is undoubtedly finely crafted, just not for me.

I used to listen to this a fair bit in my teens, it was a go-to not bad album too hum along to.

My head thought it was bland, but my feet kept tapping along. Maybe I should I reconsider a career in dentistry?

Сложно сказать. Меня не зацепило. Была норм песня Wild Wood, но в остальном пофиг.

Uninspiring and unoriginal blues rock. This was 1993, when there was some great music around. 1992 was probably my favourite year for music across all time, so this totally flew under my radar at the time. I was shocked to see there were three top 20 hits off this album and expected to half-recognise them. It turns out that I really had managed to somehow avoid this material when it first came out. To be honest I would rather have left it that way.

didn’t love it at first, was a fine album for homework but nothing special. the last 4 songs (really the 3 before the last one) were exceptional and easily make this a 4 star album. will revisit

It was ok, but nothing urging me to listen to it again or to save any to a playlist.

How did I miss this? It's a great listen.

His singing improved a lot over the years. It was always the weakest part of the Jam. That being said, I don't understand what makes this album special. It's not bad at all, but I'm sure it wouldn't have made the list if it wasn't from the UK. Favorite song: all the pictures on the wall.

I struggled, à bit blah

3.5

Country soul, retro vibe

This is horrid.

Never heard of this artist before. Apparently he was part of some punk-ish band from the 80s. This record is far from punk. I can tell he was influenced from bands such as Traffic and Blind Faith. All too similar to Traffic and Blind Faith, in my opinion. Not bad overall. Boomers would probably love this shit.

really fucking good. ive been blessed by paul weller

Took me a second to figure out this isn't the guy who played RoboCop, but later read that he is nicknamed "The Modfather", so at least we've still got a movie reference in play! This was a nice chill listen. Sounds a little generic, but it's done well. I wasn't paying close attention to the lyrics, due to being at work, but the music is pleasant and the production sounds great for the early '90s. Not in a rush to revisit, but not bad!

Rock más que correcto. Me ha gustado. Un 4.

I know this album well from when it was released. I’m not a huge Paul Weller fan, but this album hangs together really well. The songs are good and the snippets of music echoing earlier numbers that appear every so often add to the overall feel. It’s heavy ish blues, on the whole, and definitely a good listen, but nothing groundbreaking or that you can’t live without. Solid and enjoyable without being breathtaking.

Sufjan Stevenssin Javelinia tän jälkeen jaha.. hankala suhteuttaa.. ENSIMMÄINEN UNOBJEKTIA SEKASORTOINEN PÄÄTILA RATING...

Enjoyed this

1. zunflouuer - 1 2. can you heal uz - 1 3. uuild uuood - 1 4. inztrumental - 1.5 5. all the picturez on the uuall - 0 6. haz my fire really gone out - 7. country - 1 8. inztrumental tuuo - 1 9. 5th zeazon - 0 10. the uueaver - 0 11. foot of the mountain - 1 12. zhadouu of the zun - 0 13. holy man - 14. moon on your pyjamaz - 1 15. Hung up - 1

Easy listening old man rock

Generic and boring.

Easy listening but very forgettable

liked didn’t lovd

How many stars would Wild Wood get if Wild Wood truly sounded wild (more than this tame affair, surely)?

2.75

Eh it was decent. There were good moments were it was enjoyable radio rock that sounded like budget Collective Soul, but too much filler in-between. Standouts are "Sunflower" and "The Weaver".

This album reminds me of sitting in the back of my dads dodge ram in 2008 begging for McDonald’s on the way home.

Boring. It sounds like the knock off karaoke versions of songs. Not gonna yuck anyone’s yum, but momma this is garbage. The only good songs are the instrumentals which sound like cheesy porno music.

I wasn't impressed. Sounds like easy listening music for dads.

Not bad. Solid sound.

Legal. Genérico, mas legal

Neil Young from the 90s born in the uk somehow fits perfectly with the albums from its time

In which Weller plays some songs which sound like other people’s songs - Dear Prudence here, Voodoo Chile there. Better then Style Council, not as good as The Jam.

Great Album

Very, very unendingly dull.

YES!!! How did I not know about this until it was 30 years old? This is AMAZING. I knew the name Paul Weller but don’t think I had ever heard his music. Time to go digging! Added, 5 stars

I love Paul Wellers early work with The Jam and Style Council but this is seemingly replete with old fart blooze rockisms that young him would have fought against. A huge disappointment tho the playing is tight.

Yuhhh

In a nutshell: the man from Style Council and The Jam does dad rock/northern soul. The songwriting isn’t much to write home bout, the guitar work is fine. Although Gomez do not directly cite Weller as an influence, I can hear bits and pieces of Paul’s music in the band’s first two albums (see Sunflower, Country and Has My Fire Really Gone Out then compare to Get Miles and Make No Sound). Overall: 3/10

This sounded like 70s classic rock to me, or pre-yacht-rock. It definitely didn't sound like an album made in 1993. It wasn't bad, nothing really stood out to me. Sunflower was a good song, as well as the title track wild wood. Overall it was ok

Fantastic.. nothing less

Paul Weller may be the king of Dad Rock. There are elements that are good. He has a great voice, though maybe a little too smooth. The production is good, though maybe a little too smooth. There are a few great chord progressions but it in the end it’s all just too smooth blues pop dad rock. I want to like it, probably because now I’m a dad but good taste in music is strong. Shadow of the Sun is a great song especially the outro 5.7/10

enjoyed

major sleeper with spme decent tracks but not a single banger

loved it

Never heard of him before, really enjoyed. Acoustic rock? I don't know how I'd classify this music

Nothing really popped out at me, but it was listenable

Liked it! Never heard of Weller before, but this album made me a fan!

Some good songs, some boring. Decidedly mid.

Collection of really good rock songs. Do you like collections of really good rock songs? You’ll probably like this.

This is soulful, sometimes jazzy, rock. I’m digging it. Good music to play when hosting a social gathering at home. Not too lowkey, not too loud.

Really enjoyed

I was taken right back to Friday nights and TFI Fridays. Have to say Wild Wood has never been a favourite single, but in context it made more sense.