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!
Paul Weller is definitely my favourite discovery from this undertaking
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.
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.
I honestly just didn't have many feelings about this album. It was fine. Favorite track: Monday
A great album by one of my favorite bands of all time. Extraordinarily British.
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.
Love most of the stuff on this album - plus it has Man in the Cornershop on it, which is my favourite Jam song
You can almost hear your influence they had on bands like The Smiths or even Arctic Monkeys. Great record.
Okay, a Jam album seemingly cut to my exact measurements. A group who always wore their influences like they were medals, Sound Affects has the Jam asking to be rewarded for quoting Gang of Four and and Wire. And I'm perfectly happy to give them such a nod, considering that this is rather fabbo. The Jam are probably the biggest British group to gain no traction whatsoever in the United States: two singles in the Billboard top 100, highest position 45 (in the UK, the generally agreed cut-off for a hit is number 40), whilst getting 4 UK number 1s. A similar tale unfurled in Europe; at best, the Jam were a one-hit wonder in a few territories with A Town Called Malice. Though disappointing, this is not surprising at all. The Jam were as singularly English as Morris dancing and a suicidal ignorance regarding the myriad benefits of the European Union. The Jam's aesthetic combined so many distinctly British aspects that other countries had no hope of comprehending them. They had the British moderate punk aspect, where they forwent battered leather jackets in favour of sharp suits whilst delivering charged, politicised lyrics. They had their origins in the pub rock circuit of the mid 70s, and a British pub is not akin to any other country's bar. Most of all, they had mod. Mod, for those outside of Albion, is a British subculture starting in the 60s, with some dapper youths of every subsequent generation still bearing the torch. Your common-or-garden mod is identifiable by a fondness for suits, scooters, speed and fairly raucous guitar rock à la the Who, Small Faces etcetry etcetry. Personally, I find the movement overestimated: why settle for the fairly raucous? Why be a mod when the name of their enemy, the rocker, is self-evidently cooler? And how can Quadrophenia be a swell movie if it stars Sting? Still, some mod groups were genuinely great, and the Jam were one of those groups, and I agree that the leader Paul Weller deserves his honorific of the Modfather. This album, though, exhibits a paradox. It's the Jam's best album, yet it's the least representative of their mod philosophy. Rather, from the opening note onwards, it's clearly the sound of the Jam latching onto the funky angularity and astere freshness of their post-punk contemporaries. My fellow guzzlers, you should know of me by now that such a sound is the sound I love the most, and thus by syllogism I love this album. Lyrically, Weller doesn't stray from his domain, and that's fine, pal: he knows what he's doing on his territory. But the real greatness of this album lies not in the semantic but the sonic: fierce, desperate and defiant. This in turn leads to the conclusion that the album's more conventional Jam songs, such as Start and Boy About Town, are the weakest tracks, but if such tight songs are the runts, then the album really has naught to worry about. Follow-up question: who are the artists where their most incongruous work is their best? I have a few mates who reckon Nirvana's best album is Unplugged in New York. Not to say that's the consensus, but it's definitely arguable.
I liked it a lot, I think it was consistently good although it didn’t stand out a ton. Solid 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.
Only knew the hits previously, but great album which will have me dig through.
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
I could see myself putting this on during a road trip and enjoying it, for sure.
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
As much as I find Paul Weller fucking insufferable, when he's good he's great.
The stand-outs are the stand-outs, the rest are a bit relentlessly shouty
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
That's entertainment. Enjoyable albeit slightly same and safe at times
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.
early punk rock vibes. All songs are 3ish minutes. British. I get Clash vibes
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
Took a few songs to click for me but then But I'm Different Now came in and it rules. Really cool punk with some massive atmosphere, enjoyed a lot.
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.
Listened to on 7/31/22 4/5 Favorite song: That’s Entertainment Great 80s rock vibes
This one grew on me. I really appreciated recognizing some of the bands The Jam has influenced (Bloc Party), and were influenced by (The Beatles). Would return.
"Days of speed and slow time Monday's Pissing down with rain on a boring Wednesday Watching the news and not eating your tea A freezing cold flat and damp on the walls I say that's entertainment, that's entertainment" One of the greatest songs from one of the greatest and sadly neglected bands. It's quintessential post-punk Britain with a nod to the Kinks. I grew up with this so I'm kinda biased. It encapsulates Britain late 70s-early 80s so it may not be your cup of tea but for me it's happy days. (btw: All Mod Cons is even better imo)
La primera reinvenció de Weller, i la millor de totes elles. Que després de fer un dels millors discos de postpunk, 'All Mod Cons', i un disc de transició excel.lent, 'Setting Sons', fos capaç d'evolucionar a noves sensibilitats pop i donar un canvi d'aires tan refescant a The Jam només està a l'alçada de genis. El començament, amb 'Pretty Green' i 'Monday', és insuperable. Però és que apart hi conviuen 'Boy About Town', 'That's Entertainment', 'Set the House Ablaze', 'Start!'... Fregant les cinc estrelles
great tunes. it would be amazing to see these played live. favorite tunes: monday, but i'm different now, that's entertainment, dream time, boy about town, scrape away
I love the era of British punk rock in the 70s/80s and this is a band that I’ve never heard of. ‘Sound Affects’ is my favorite album Ive discovered from this list so far. I love everything about it.
I think it probably sounded better in 1980 than it does in 2022. Some good tracks on it though, and it did take me back to the 80’s. One of the other reviewers suggested that The Jam were a better singles band than an album band, I wouldn’t disagree with that. Paul Weller is a talent isn’t he (not to take anything away from the other members of the band of course).
is there a reason the jam wanted so desperately to have an album title with a glaring grammar error? i guess they are indeed punk! i am incredibly relieved to discover that the jam considered the beatles' revolver as a huge inspiration for this album. in my notes for this album, i wrote "beatles if they released an album together in 1980". it's got some definite beatles vibes combined with punk and new wave. the end result is quite good. something unique about this album is that i found every song to have a killer intro!
A quick note on this album, but I've been enjoying this a lot. And album filled with smart lyrics, great bass and just all-round good musc. That's Entertainment might be one of the best pop songs ever written and the rest of the album is filled with great jams (pun not intended) It seems after the first 200 or so albums in this endeavor I've learned that I'm a bigger fan of New Wave and post-punk than I imagined.
Classic British 70s punk vibes. That’s Entertainment my favourite track.
I enjoyed this album more than I thought I would've. This album already had two strikes against it for being British and 80s. So I wasn't expecting much. But there's enough here to enjoy. Good baselines like on Start! and layers on Pretty Green. That's Entertainment, is a song I've heard before, I always thought it was Paul McCartney singing because all British people sound the same, but I really liked that one. I think I'd listen to this again for fun.
I think this was a fun album, and quick. Those are green flags for me.
Very pleasantly surprised here. Mostly good stuff, with a few really really GREAT songs too. The jam is a jam! Even better than the other record we got here.
A good alternative album overall, though the tracks are pretty hit or miss.
Niet heel pakkend de eerste keer, maar na nog een keer doorheen bladeren is dit misschien wel iets om nog eens te luisteren.
Sound Affects is good but everything from Set The House Ablaze to Man In The Corner Shop is really good and probably pushes this to a 4 for me.
Start and That's Entertainment are killer songs. Nice LP from these lads
Yep. Early 80s alt with a first wave vibe. Liked it, but not much stands out.
Achei um álbum bem mediano :( Só uma música me chamou atenção pelo baixo que era bem presente.