Sound Affects
The Jam
1980
Album Summary
Sound Affects is the fifth studio album by English rock band the Jam. The album was released on 28 November 1980 by Polydor Records. It is the only Jam album to be co-produced by the band themselves, and contains the only album track co-written by the entire band, "Music for the Last Couple".The cover art is a pastiche of the artwork used on various Sound Effects records produced by the BBC during the 1970s. Jam frontman Paul Weller has opined Sound Affects to be the Jam's best album.
WikipediaI may be biased from growing up listening to this band, but so be it. A lot of bangers on here for me, I can't not give it a 5 because I know i'll listen to this over and over again
I think I'm going to cry as I listen to this most-excellent album again. Been a while, and I just absolutely heart The Jam. I saw a documentary on them a few years ago, and it served only to deepen my heart-ing them. Paul Weller is very much the opposite of the full-of-himself rock star. This album should receive more attention, as should the band. Just this week, I (a relative noob guitarist) just started learning and practicing 'That's Entertainment,' one of my all-time favorite songs of all-time favorite songs. In honor of this album and band showing up in my 1001 rotation, I shall do my best to play it well, record it, and share it with friends. Make music, share music.
New this was going to be good as the album started with Bruce Foxton's superb punchy bass playing (which continued throughout the entire album). A great MOD punk compilation with Paul Weller belting out his lyrics while playing sublime guitar. Most enjoyable!
A great album by The Jam and shows the band working together brilliantly making lively, insightful post punk. Foxton’s bass playing is outstanding, giving the album its drive and energy; Buckler’s drumming is equally energetic; and Weller brings the attitude and style to the guitar and vocals. And whilst there a few undercooked tracks (‘Music for the last couple’), ‘Start!’ followed by the exquisite ‘That’s Entertainment’ (Weller’s ‘Waterloo Sunset’) makes for a sequence of tracks any band would be proud of.
A brilliant album with some of their finest songs. Also made me think about what a fantastic live band they were
Pop, post punk, funk...el típico grupo al que nunca le había hecho ni caso por coraje y que me revienta la cabeza con un disco inesperado. Buenas canciones, ritmos pegadizos, grandes líneas de bajo. Descubrimiento.
really awesome, didn't have the time to listen to the whole album bc monday is a bitch, but will definitely go back to it, the jam was already one of my favorite uk bands
It’s great. Imagine being a teen buying this in 1980 and hearing that opening bassline for the first time
Though the band has been quite forward about the influences, The Beatles' Revolver is very much present from the get go. The guitar is punchy, and the bass is acrobatic and front and center. There are a lot of new wave artists, but the Jam infuse it with a bit of mod flair and attitude that makes me hesitate to just lump this album in with post-punk. The drum work owes a lot (again as stated by the band) to Michael Jackson's Off the Wall, and drive the album forward without seeming out of place. It is a supremely well crafted and enjoyable album
After every song I was hoping the next would not be a dud. But the bops kept on coming. The bass is excellent throughout this, the guitar work was great too. I'm glad this album is good solely because I can say this. This album is my Jam.
The Seminal Band of my teenage years. A little more experimental than 1979's Setting Sons and a gateway to The Gift, their final studio album. I'm still gutted Weller broke up the band
Donates scuffs to the shoes. Just the right amount of everything. Particularly liked ‘Music for the last couple’
Loved this. Sprinkling of the familiar alongside the new, but all great fun. Fav new track: Man In The Corner Shop
I dig it, The Jam are such an underrated gem. I got a lot of mileage out of this album today. It bangs.
Really enjoyed this. It hit that punk/pop craving I was having. Going to have to pick up more if their stuff. Reminds a lot of the Clash, but more fun. I was hooked with the first track.
Brilliant socially aware lyrics - 'That's entertainment' should be published separately and added to the National curriculum. I'd forgotten how good The Jam (well, Paul Weller) were.
Great album.. Awesome bass lines.. Why I don't listen to this album more I don't know.
I grew up with the Jam but didn’t really appreciate them when I was younger. Listening to them again I realise how good they were. This album’s definitely going into my saved list.
This is one of the great punk/new wave albums. The songwriting genius of Weller is the backbone, Buckler laid down some great beats, but it was the phenomenal bass of Bruce Foxton that pinned it all together.
Love this album, it's crisp, punchy and energetic. It's such a fun listen, and I enjoy it more each time I listen to it. The mix of the angular guitar with that insanely good foregrounded bass is a delight to listen to. The Jam had this ability to infuse the anger and energy of punk with a strong pop sensibility that none of their peers have. They remind me a lot of the early Who, more than pretty much any other band I can think of. There are maybe a couple of tracks I like less than the others, but on balance this is an outstanding album. Rounding up to a 5, then going back to listen again. As a side note, if you aren't familiar with Paul Weller, I strongly recommend checking out his post-Jam work. The man has been working practically non-stop for over 40 years and everything he does is interesting. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): That's Entertainment, Start!, Set the House Ablaze, Man in the Corner Shop, Scrape Away, Pretty Green, Boy About Town, Music for the Last Couple, But I'm Different Now, Monday, Dream Time
I really liked this. Never heard of this group before, but I hear so many other groups that I enjoy in this album.
Bought this when it came out when I was 10 and it’s been one of my favourites all my life. The best Jam album as well. Yes there are a couple of well known hits on the album, but all the others are just as good, if not better. Listen loud!
Post punk fury mixed with Kinksesque pure pop. The Jam at their best and a go to album for them
British Punk Rock with some psychadelic/surf rock and probably better descriptions deep in there. GREAT ALBUM.
2/5 Fun and whacky. Standout Tracks: Monday, That’s Entertainment, Dream Time, Man In The Corner Shop, Music For The Last Couple
Nifty record! I didn't make the connection with Paul Weller and feel incredibly stupid, but good album overall.
Muito bom! Rockzinho bem tocado, baixo rítmico, bateria seca, mas marcante... separação legal de instrumentos e vocal coerente. E umas sonoplastias legaizinhas que "diferenciam" as músicas de outras similares. Gostei!
Really enjoyed this album - you could definitely hear the post-punk influences of the time. There was an element of Joy Division, but with a stronger emphasis on melody and catchiness and the dreariness removed.
More my taste. Raw, punchy, and definitely more punk. Much catchier songs and more to my liking.
I really liked the sound of this band and was surprised that I have never heard of The Jam. They were similar to the Beatles but more modern.
Familiarity: 1/10 Notes: The Jam is not a jam band. They do not make flavored fruit preserves. However, they do fuck. They fuck hard. Driving bass lines, new wave sound mixed with some proto punk. North England punk kid just looking to play. This sound will not be for everyone, but as a man starving for more new wave in my life, this album hits it all, I am pleased with this. Favorite Tracks: - Monday - Set The House Ablaze - Start! - Dream Time - Boy About Town True Rating: 7.5/10
The Jam seems like a very deep take on the Pop Idiom. Astute variety and very smart lyrics.
A blend of ska, blues, 2 tone and 60s pop for all the songwriting. Not too many memorable tracks flaunt their way but still a good example of 2 tone/ska of the era. I'd wager that this bears repeated listening. 6.5/10
En una primera escucha, no me convencía casi nada, pero ya después sí le agarré gusto y se me quedaron como ciertas repeticiones muy pegadas (leitmotivs, quizá??). En fin, me pareció un buen disco, con un par de canciones medio flojas, pero también con momentos muy rockeros como "Music for the Last Couple". Otras que me gustaron mucho fueron "Set the House Ablaze", "Start!" y "Scrape Away". No conocía a The Jam, pero sí podría escucharlos más. 8/10
Highly enjoyed this. Glad this project has exposed me to The Jam, another band that I’ve heard of and I know is a big influence to a lot of the artists I love but just haven’t really checked out yet.
Good album, pop punk with great lyrics Representative the era. Some songs I knew already also. Very enjoyable
Chido, un sonido muy de los 80. (Post-punk?). Buenas gutarras, energía movita y sobre todo partes de bajo muy disfrutables. en esta misma nota creo que mis dos favoritas fueron Start! y Scrape Away porque son canciones donde el bajo es protagoníco y me parecen que tiene un ritmito como para bailar dando saltitos sin dirección ni sentido. Mood: No me genero afectos a los sonidos de su disco, a pesar del juego de palabras del título, pero me la pasé bien.
Bass player is great. Seems to be a huge influence on Bloc Party. Big influence on indie mid-00’s bands. Good angular guitar lines and bass takes front stage, solid post-punk
Fun and catchy, has some very obvious influences but makes it work in a not so derivative way
Sí me dio toda la vibra punk rock new wave de los 70-80, no es muy mi vibra pero está ok
I liked it! Some songs were forgettable but I really liked Start! and Boy About Town. I also really liked the album cover haha
it takes a wee bit to get into, but the singles are fantastic and i love the stretch towards a more 'soul' sound. Tight playing too. 4
sounds like a grittier bowie...i have to admit i didn't know the jam, much to lane's disappointment i particularly like music for the last couple random "and your bird can sing" cover way down among the demo versions
I thought this album was pretty cool overall. Listening to it went fast, but I enjoyed the post-punk influence that influenced much of the album 4/5
I really like this album, especially "Boy About Town"! It's got a perfect new-wave sound.
Bass and drums lead the way here, driving forceful rhythms with precision and uniqueness. Top tracks: Start!, But I’m different now
Despite enjoying The Jam through various best of compilations, I’m not as up on the actual studio albums. Good to learn the album tracks don’t dip in quality from the well known hits. Will be rectifying this in future.
Love it. That's Entertainment is my favorite one by far, but the whole album is a banger.
A fun album. I can see this totally making an impact when it came out. You can hear a Beatles influence here which is mostly subtle except for the obvious nod to Taxman on the track Start. Even as a prog rock fan I can admire a band that can write a good song that's under 2 minutes long. This album has 2. The first is followed by the 5 minute Set the House Ablaze, which might be my favorite on the album. Enjoyed the harmonies on That's Entertainment. This is definitely a band that I want to check out more of.
I knew a couple of their songs - Start and That's Entertainment from this album and a Town Called Malice (different album, my favorite of theirs) - which I thought were pretty good. The album is more of the same. The sequence from Set the House Ablaze to Boy About Town (7 songs) was great. I also really liked Pretty Green. The whole backstory of the band is fascinating - they were icons of a niche (and sometimes violent) culture in the UK. This album feels like the perfect fit between 70's punk and 80's indie rock (like the Smiths). Not quite punk, not quite post-punk. Bass was a prominent feature in a lot of the songs and I enjoyed it. Guitar work wasn't overly complex but fit well. Catchy songs. Definitely going to listen to more of their stuff.
Super solid album from start to finish. Really interesting sounds going on in the instrumentals, and I liked the inclusion of the bassline from "Taxman" by the Beatles. Favorite Tracks: Start!, Man In The Corner Shop, Dream Time, Boy About Town
Closer to 3.5 stars than a full 4. I like the Bowie-adjacent vocals! Both The Jam albums so far have been pleasant.
Always loved the Jam. Anger but with a softness of touch. Another album on their impressive cannon!
Departing from Who-like mod revival theme, this album has them embrace New Wave and 60s psychedelia, taking clear inspirations from many artists. The minimalism of Wire, the vocal delivery of Gang of Four, the sitar and psychedelic sounds of not just 60s rock and folk, but also synth effects of their contemporary neo-psychedelia movement (e.g. the reverse record sounds is very much like Teardrop Explosion). It's very easy to like this album, and they're able to hold their own identity, with vocals still faithful to who they used to be. It's just a little hard to still label this as mod revivalist considering they sound even less like the Kinks or the Who. Songs themselves are pretty decent. "Start" is very obvious to anyone that it's "Taxman," but I really really like the vocals. I swear I've heard something like them before, not sure whether it's a song from All Mod Cons or some other New Wave track. The star track, "That's Entertainment" is one of the most prominent neo-psychedelic songs (other examples include "Monday" and "Dream Time"). It's simple in both melody and lyrical subject, easy to slip into. The rest are pretty great. Nothing awful, most have something I like about them. Perfect length, easy listening, this album will pleasantly pass you by if you just close your eyes. Will definitely come back to this.
Cosas interesantes (aunque no por eso lo vuelven algo que quiera agregar a mi biblioteca). El sonido está ahí, con ondas desde Pixies, Joey Division e incluso momentos en los que la voz me recuerda a Bowie. Me gustaron el evidente homenaje a los Beatles en 'Start!', cachar que el riff de entrada de 'Set The House Ablaze' lo usa también Bloc Party, y 'That's Entertainment' que me da la impresión que la había oído antes.
Classic early 80's British sound. I always liked thier other album 'The Gift' which I am more familiar with
The Wellerphant man in full force with some jems here, but a couple of duds steal a star.
Not groundbreaking but some decent tunes. Pretty Green is a great little bop to end the album
Good, but not great. They were such a god singles band, and so prolific at albums, that it's not a huge surprise that there's a fair bit of filler at points. Start! and Monday were my favourites favourites
I've never listened to The Jam before but I really dig this! I can see the influence it had on other albums I enjoy. The songs here hit a great mix of catchy and punk.
imagine il y a un effet "mouche qui vole près de ton oreille" sur la meilleure track de l'album
Soort van uptempo new wave met wat punk invloeden. Enkel de single 'that's entertainment' kende ik. Voor de rest wel een leuk album
Love that bass tone. Set The House Ablaze kicks ass. Music For The Last Couple starts way in left field. The back half of the album sort of loses its way but that was excellent!
Not sure I've actually listened to The Jam before 😮 oh hi Taxman. Can see where Bloc Party got their inspiration from.
Yeeahh! One of the best by the Jam, with the classic mod era song That’s entertainment as a high light
Paul Weller thinks this is The Jam's best album and he's probably right. It's certainly the last good thing any of them did.
How did The Jam never hit in the States? Peter Weller's next outfit The Style Council certainly did. But The Jam wasn't even remotely popular here. This album was released shortly after "Get The Knack" by The Knack, which was a monster hit here. I hear a lot of similarities. Maybe they were too British for America in 1980. It was our loss, because this is a gem.
Yeah, I should try to get into The Jam some more. I have Setting Suns and dig that, and this is also pretty cool. It’s that perfect blend where it sounds of its time and timeless. I think indie fiends will totally dig this, too. B
Out of anything Paul Weller has touched the jam is the only project which he’s worked on that doesn’t make me want to fall asleep… Pretty green has a good bass line and this amazing chorus but while it is mostly a good tune the vocals feel ever so slightly too low in the mix. Monday is a slower rather poppy song for the jam with these nice, subtle piano workings and great lyrics. But i’am different now is much more punk a short little burst of energy with crunchy arse guitars only slowing down slightly towards the end. Next is the song set the house ablaze probably the most epic sounding jam song out there and the one with the best guitars and an amazing instrumental/ spoken bridge in the middle great surprise! Start! Isn’t my favourite jam single ( actually it’s one of my least favourites) but it’s well written and has an iconic bass line and great guitars that should’ve made it the albums opener as it feels odd at this point on the album. Ending side one is one of my favourite jam hits thats entertainment an aggressive acoustic mix with a heavenly chorus hard to fault! Dream this is an odd start so side two with the first minute being warped noises then this heavy drum based track comes in it’s not my favourite but still really cool. Man in the corner shop is a slower sometimes has some great lyrics about essentially being your own man it’s one of the least interesting instrumentally but I still like it. Music for the last couple is a useless mostly instrumental track, which fine does sound good but what a shame shame that they didn’t just throw going underground at this point in the album as I think that song would’ve made it a great. The penultimate track boy about town is very good, I love the way he sings the verses on this one and those horns amazing! The album closes with scrape away it’s great the slightly echoey vocals work perfectly on this one, it’s an odd track for sure but nice to throw in this as the album’s closer. [ As a bonus I decided to listen to the going underground single plus its b side dreams of children ( as they were on the us version apparently) to see if they would work on the album then I’ll give an alt track list] Going underground= well this should’ve just been on this album by default. Amazing single! The dreams of children= it’s an alright song but I gets why it’s not on any album. Alt tracklist 1 Start! 2 Monday 3 Pretty green 4 But i’am different now 5 Set the house ablaze 6 That’s entertainment 7 Dream time 8 Going underground 9 Man in the corner shop 10 Boy about town 11 Scrape away Other than the slight track list faults brilliant album!
So surprisingly bouncy. Bass-driven tracks on top of punk rock. Yes, please, I’d like more.
"Pretty Green," "Monday," "Start", and "That's Entertainment" are probably my faves from this album--- also my first release I've ever heard from The Jam.
I have so many questions. Where does this album fit between punk and The Kinks? Is this New Wave? Are these guys working class (Oasis) or not quite (Blur)? The album exhibits top notch production; the recording sounds great and highlights how tight the band is. Set the House Ablaze is a standout track. The album verges on earning a 5-star mark but the lyrics leave me wanting just a little more.
Sound affects? Haven't really come across any on this album. But what was evident was the fact that The Jam were riding a wave that nobody knew was coming to a stop, and it is particularly noticeable to hear them fire on all cylinders on what was to be their penultimate record. Dreaming of Monday, dreaming of Monday.... Favorites: Pretty Green, Monday, Set the House Ablaze, Start!, That's Entertainment, Man in the Corner Shop, Scrape Away.
Achei um álbum bem mediano :( Só uma música me chamou atenção pelo baixo que era bem presente.
Good album. I only knew the hits previously, but liked the whole thing. Was expecting it all to just be straightforward vocals, guitars, bass and drums, but there were a few other interesting instrumental and noise-making elements in there. Solid songs - well structured, nice melodies, some great poppy hooks, good lyrics. Cool production as well, and the individual instruments all sound great. Would happily revisit this one.
I’m a sucker for some UK post punk flavor and The Jam certainly exhibit some of that sound on this project. However, the moody bangers are few and far between. But I’m Different Now and Set The House Ablaze were the most electric entries on Sound Affects and were thus the most enjoyable to listen to. After this early flurry of kickass came a slew of underwhelming times that lacked that fizz. Man In The Corner Shop was a tasteful slow melody that definitely sounded like something Arctic Monkeys based their sound off of. In fact, a lot of this album sounds like an AM inspiration. It just doesn’t feel nearly as punchy. Still, a pretty cool album to play when you’re feeling a little rebellious.
yet another brit rock band on this list, but as was the same with Elastica and Cornershop, this was just ok.
'Pretty Green' and 'Thats Entertainment' are classics. I love the garage-rock sound, but ultimately found most of the other tracks forgettable
I've only ever listened to the Jam on the radio. And they appear quite a bit, but only That's Entertainment. Very very heavy bass beats from the band. The first minute of Dream Time epitomizes the album's title?
Aggressively mediocre. There’s also something about this and other new wave that feels… claustrophobic? Not sure how else to put it. 5
It's ok, the jam are a real best of band for me but there's some good stuff on here outside the hits
MODs. Arseholes with bowl haircuts who think they are trendy with a side of racism? As you can tell I approach this one with an open mind. Unfortunately despite my preconceptions its actually ok. Have always found Paul Weller a bit hit and miss and this follows that pattern. Not many of the songs could be singles though and it lacks hooks in the album tracks, but when it hits it hits hard and hardest with That's Entertainment and Start (how is this not the opener of the album?!). Decent enough without ever being remarkable. 3/5
I knew and enjoyed a couple of the songs on here. The rest I wasn’t really fussed by. 3/5
I listened to this once and then proceeded to forget everything I had heard so put it on again. Still pretty forgettable and the vocals aren't great. 6
i liked a few songs on here but overall it was pretty generic, and a lot of the parts that stood out didn't stand out in a good way. 6/10
El trak 9 me hizo cree que había una mosca, la buscaba y no la podía ver, hasta que me di cuenta que era la canción xD
I didn't love Sound Affects, but liked a lot of similar tracks by The Jam that played afterwards.
New Wave - Punk. 3 Sterne für den British accent, kanns aber nicht viel länger als 3,4 Songs hören
Always rated The Jam more as a singles rather than album band, and this re-listen confirmed the case for me. It's fine throughout, but only really Start and That's Entertainment shine brightly.
Have always needed a proper entry-point for The Jam as I've never explicitly listened to them, only here and there in passing. My first listen didn't really click with me but I'm currently on a 3rd pass and I'm finding it yields a lot more than I'd initially thought. There are noticeable nods to The Who's early years combined with that 70s/early 80s uniquely British/aggressive sound that I didn't like as a kid but has really grown on me. Pretty Green, That's Entertainment, and Boy About Town are standouts. Not sure this will ever be an all-time favourite but I will definitely be coming back to this one in the future.
Older rock, kinda UK vibes. Not a fan of that distorted guitar/voice music. Didn't mind the composition, nice beats on some of the songs. Wasn't a total fan of the harmony voices either.
Not a band or album I've really checked out before. I guess for context I'd say this sound fits in with music from The Buzzcocks, X, or Talking Heads from around this era. Maybe a bit on the poppier side, and definitely a more British feel. Production feels a little rough in a good way, like this is a "Peel Sessions" release from that era. The driving but basic bass lines and crashing cymbals and drums remind me of some early tracks from The Cure. I don't see myself falling in love with this one or coming back to it with much frequency, but it's interesting to check our and fleshes out some musical context for other bands in this era for me. Clicking though to Wikipedia links has been a fun part of this project for me in that regard. For example, I learned that Paul Weller described this is a pastiche of Revolver (Beatles) and Off The Wall (Micheal Jackson) when it was released, and that The Jam toured as a supporting act for The Clash in 1977, and that Weller played on Peter Gabriel's third album. Still, for me this feels like more of a good album to know about and a way to expand my knowledge of music than something I'm really going to fall in love with and want to play.
MMmmm Great Great Great Britain. Bra. Skaver något ibland, känns lite för "funky" och busigt. Men om någon skulle berätta för mig att de gillar The Jam skulle jag genast se dem som något coolare. Bästa låtar: När melankolin får skina igenom, som den gör i That's Entertainment och Set The House Ablaze. Monday också bra!
Lots of cool music and musical ideas here. The rhythm section is always tight and seems to always be doing something interesting. Most of the songs are pretty catchy but nothing here made me stop in my tracks.
That's Entertaimment - is the most interesting composition of this album. It was curious for me to find out about this band
Just had Kilimanjaro also from 1980 by The Teardrops Explodes. At this point after listening to 3 tracks it has the same issues as that record which I did not like very much, but it does most of the things that did but better. No track overstays its due in a way, different from the last. About 2.5/5
I kinda hated this, but there were a couple of songs that saved it from being truly awful. Best track: That's Entertainment
Yeah just punk/new wave, nothing really interesting going on, production sounds exactly as you'd expect. Catchy in places though, and great album length at 35min. 3/5.
its an alright album but besides 'That's entertainment' it lakes some magic to make it stand out
This could be my jam for a day or two. Good mix of punk and new wave. Not gonna rush out and buy their albums, but nice to know they're on YouTube.
Well produced late / post-punk. A mix of upbeat and peppy tunes with driving guitar lines and four on the floor kick. Good music for running.
Unterstütze meine eher gehobene Laune während der Arbeit. Aber haut mich auch nicht vom Hocker. Nett
Ehrlicher Rock mit einigen atmosphärisch verspielten Songs, die mir allerdings nicht so gut gefallen haben.
3, it was fine. Kind of unmemorable? Like, not bad, but I don't think it caught my attention any while playing except for That's Entertainment.
The Wikipedia page references this album being a mix between Off the Wall and Revolver, I hear it. A cooler description than sounds in actuality
Otra banda de la que (según yo) nunca había escuchado. El disco me recordó bastante a Pulp, particularmente la canción más popular del disco: That's Entertainment, que es como una copia de "Disco 2000". Me llamó la atención desde que lo escuché la primera vez que Start parecía ser una copia al carbón de Taxman, y la entrada de Wikipedia lo confirmó. El álbum no está mal, pero tampoco se me hizo demasiado interesante.
New wave ochentero con sus tintes de post-punk. Siento que son la mayor influencia de Caifanes. Muy digeribles, más canciones tranquilas que guitarrazos y arreglos y efectos que hacen un sonido robusto y cuidado. Songs: Set The House Ablaze, That's entertainment
A solid album. I noticed the "affects" but I felt that it was only noticeable in some songs. It's good for head-bopping and just having a good time. I liked half the songs.
Sound Affects from the Jam was new music from a new band for me. The music on this album at times reminded me of a variety of bands including: The Clash, Squeeze, Billy Bragg, and XTC. "Pretty Green" and "Start!" were the most memorable tracks from this album. I would be interested to hear more from this band, but I'm not sure if I'd make it back to this album for a second listen.
I mean...it's not bad. I enjoyed a significant chunk of this album. A few standout tracks for sure, with my fave being "That's Entertainment." But is it a can't-miss, gotta-relisten, legendary smash of an album? Not exactly. It's fairly enjoyable but it didn't blow my mind.
A blast from the past with the hits which were alright but I think I prefer the Style Council !
Paul Weller is an interesting geezer. This stuff is good, he's on the front row to new and exciting music. But it's hard to listen to this knowing he's going to form the Style Council and ruin all the street cred he'd built up over years. But he did redeem himself again with his later solo work. Putting that aside, this is a good album. Bass guitar is as tight as tight can be, even if it does totally rip off Taxman by the Beatles.
Bonne basse. On dirait Les Trois Accords qui se prendraient au sérieux. Bonjour brit-pop.
The riff on Taxman in "Start!" is interesting to hear. Another solid album- not my favorite stuff that I've heard from the band, but I do like "That's Entertainment".
This was alright, some nice songs but I probably can’t judge fairly because I listened two nights while falling asleep - definitely missed some stuff.
Reminded me of The Smiths so immediately connected. Perfect for a gloomy, fog of a day. You want to relieve the angst of the misfit? Want to walk down the street while contemplating how you don't align with the world, sunshine or rain? This is a great album. Moody with great execution. I'll add this into my rotation when I want to spiral a bit but not get fully lost. More nostalgic sadness than capturing darkness. Of course, if you are on the beach in the brightness of summer, you are going to gripe that The Jam is trying to block your sun. You won't get a tan or play football in the sand to this album.
Les Jam sont probablement très sympathiques mais ce n'est clairement pas avec l'album Sound Affects que nous allons redorer le blason du générateur.
J'ai remis quelques secondes de l'album pour essayer de me rappeler son contenu. Pour ne rien vous cacher, je n'ai pas le moindre souvenir de celui-ci. Afin d'être certain de l'avoir bien écouté, j'ai appelé Robert sur sa ligne fixe et lui ai exposé mon problème. « Aucun soucis de mon côté, je vois ton écoute validée sur mon fichier. Tu l'as lancé alors que tu étais place 62 wagon 13 dans le train 7671 en direction de Toulouse vendredi dernier. Gros bisous. » Me voilà rassuré.
This emphasises my view of The Jam being a superb singles band rather than a good album band. There are a few knockout tracks to compliment That's entertainment and Start (Pretty Green, house ablaze, scrape away), but I'm not won over with the full album collection. Perhaps I need to listen to it more? A low 3.
Stream of consciousness here. I remember where "Start" was released. All my close football mates were new "mods" I liked Rush and Pink Floyd and shit British HEAVY METAL. I remember telling them it was a rip off of Taxman by the Beatles.. ( i read it in the NME)..."Start" went straight to number 1 in the charts. Thought they (Weller) wrote some great songs though hated the scratchy guitar and Wellers London accent...(this also put me off Albarn) Still don't like the band much but they were miles better than the bloody Style Council. Rant over. However "Thats Entertainment" is a 5* song.
3.8 - A very catchy British affair à la the Kinks with a little glam and punk rock swirled in. The songs are bouncy but capture working class frustrations. Great guitar sounds, both hard electric and shimmery acoustic. Standouts: "That's Entertainment", "Pretty Green", "Man In the Corner Shop."
No está nada mal. En su época me aburrían , pero con el tiempo cada vez los aprecio más. Me hago viejo y sabio. La edición americana con el "Going Underground" incluido gana puntos. No es una locura pero si que lo veo como algo que hay que escuchar para entender mucha música que vino después. Además de "That's Entertainment" me han gustado "Set the house ablaze", "Start!" o "Music for the last couple".
First ever listen. Significant experimentation here in the midst of the hit singles, almost Prog in places!
All Along the Watchtower is very popular and very good. Couple other good ones on the album too. Otherwise, aside from those few, I wouldn't care to listen to them again unless they were just playing in the background.
If I were a teen in the 80s, this album would be the thing to make me want to pick up a bass
Some very big hits here - 'Start!', 'That's Entertainment', and pretty much most of Side A is a solid 5/5... Side B starts faltering (this is becoming a pattern I guess), and it becomes much less memorable - I found myself losing interest many times at that point - even though I love this band. Great band, some great songs but average record.
The bass line is pretty impressive, and the songs are lovely, but the album is not much more than this. Good to know "The Jam," whose I had never heard about, but I'll probably not go back to this.
Un peu de francais dans Boy about town, ca termine bien l'album lorsque j'allais écrire ma critique. En general j'ai bien aimé. Un bon album rockou je trouvais qui'il y avait un petit coté Punk/Rock que j'aime bien. C'est album très bien construit et je comprend que pour le genre cela doit être dans cette liste, car j'ai entendu plusieurs albums de ce genre dans ma jeunesse, mais j'aurais bien voulu tomber sur celui-ci à ce moment. 3.75.
A perfectly fine rock record with my only question being, "Why is this here?" It's alright, but I don't see any reason this should be on here. It's Stones-esque, Who-esque at certain points, but it's just pretty boring, if competent. Favorite tracks: "But I'm Different Now", "Set the House Ablaze"
Couldn't really get into this one. It was ok but we've had some others in this genre I liked a lot more.
The Jam did not have much hits in the Netherlands. A town called Malice was the most famous one in the Netherlands. Nice to have heard this album. The song Start! was the sound of this band I remember.
Fine. The guitar riff in 'Set the House Ablaze' sounds a lot like Helicopter from Bloc party so that song was p neat
No i kolejny albumik Jamowy wpadl w dosc krotkim odstepie czasu, wiec majac jeszcze dokladny obraz all mod cons, slychac zmiane stylu ktora idzie w kierunku popowym bardziej niz post punkerskim, influencje beatelsowe, czy tez gangu czworga, mozna sie ich doszukac nie tylko w lirycznym graniu o wszystkim letkim i dosc przyjemnym, ale tez w brzmieniach gitarkowych, jest to tez albumik ktory banda sama sobie wyprodukowala, wiec nikt nie mial wplywu na to jak znieksztalci wizje w produkcji i wyszla z tego dosc komfy kompozycja popowego rokowania, ale jak dla mnie brakuje tutaj autentycznosci z pierwszego albumiku jaki mialem okazje sluchac, na plejke dodam monday oraz start
I honestly just didn't have many feelings about this album. It was fine. Favorite track: Monday
Nothing much to say. Completely uninteresting and sometimes bordering on annoying. At least it was pretty short.
Another band with poor SEO! Shame. Didn't really like the music but the cover is great, 10/10 design
Vocalist reminds me of Bowie. Sounds exactly like late 70's early 80's England. Favorite Tracks: Music for the Last Couple That's Entertainment But I'm Different Now
Op zich prima liedjes, maar vind het niet heel bijzonder. Gewoon een van de vele Engelse formaties in het begin van de jaren 80 die muziek maken. Misschien dat een van hun nummers wel eens voorbij is gekomen in een film of zo, maar het kan mij niet echt boeien. **
Me esperaba... Más? Soy súper fan de Paul Weller, pero sinceramente no entiendo qué hace este disco aquí. Es el único hasta ahora que me he escuchado dos veces y la sensación es la misma: ¿Esto es todo? Traacendencia: Me he quedado con la definitiva sensación de que The Jam es otro grupo inflado por la prensa británica sin más repercusión que la local. 5 Género: 6? Post punk, new wave... Hay mejores discos General: 4. No sé si es que tenía muchas más expectativas o qué, pero me ha dejado frío.
Boring sounding and generic. I don't think it's necessarily bad, I just don't think it's great. Like I said, boring and generic, it kind of all sounds the same.
It seems like the first rock band ever, except most rock bands do everything they tried to do better lol. They had good ideas but the execution was pretty poor to be honest. Only 2 songs were decent imo, the rest were a chore to listen to. I respect the attempt though
First listen: That's Entertainment probably saves this from being a one. Maybe just unlucky with successive 80's UK punk/post-punk/mod rock/whatever but I've not really been enjoying these. 2/5
Not really my style. A bit boring. Only song I could see myself listening to again is Boy About Town
Damn, three in a row of albums I could do without. Another middle-of-the-pack '80s alt-rock type of album, which make up such an outsized portion of this list. Again, can't say this is bad music at all, it just doesn't stand out for me, especially amid so many similar albums we've heard. I will say though that the album title is very clever: sound does affect, even though this collection of sounds won't affect me much. I liked a coupe tracks, but one of those was just because "Start" sounds almost exactly like "Taxman" from the Beatles. I'll move on from this quickly. Favorite tracks: Start, Man in the Corner Shop. Album art: Somewhat interesting collage of images, though the commitment to such a drab color palette is a bit frustrating. 2.5/5
"Affect: to put on a false appearance of (something).” In this case, The Jam put on a false appearance of being an original band making original music with an original sound when, in fact, they were just biting sounds and styles and, in the case of the song "Start!", an entire (and iconic) bass line from other popular bands. And they did it on purpose. In fact, that was apparently the goal of this album. To pull enough influences from other bands to make this record successful. I guess it worked with the critics because it's on this list. But it's just not working with me. Feels like what it is: an also-ran band making a look-alike album. If this list wasn't so brit-pop slanted, there's no way this album would make the cut.
It was an okay album. Felt like it was stuck in the middle between older brit rock and Green Day. The felt like a band that was more important during their time than lasting over the years. I didn’t think it was bad just not something I would revisit. 5.3/10
Didn’t do much for me. Most of the songs just weren’t that memorable in terms of instrumental or lyricism. 4/10
Ik ben hier én niet Brits genoeg voor én niet oud genoeg. Klinkt voor mij als ieder Brits (post)punk-bandje uit begin jaren ‘80. Niet voor mij.
Zegt me niet zoveel, niet onaardig maar niet iets wat ik nog eens zou willen luisteren