Reviews (page 5 of 9)
How did these guys not catch on in the US? Truly great brit-rock here. They had a consistent out put to with three great records
The Jam is another one of those bands I'd been meaning to listen to but hadn't gotten around to yet. I knew they were influential in British rock, and I knew Paul Weller has become a bitter old arsehole, but that's about it. It's a pretty good album if not a little generic. It's 60s-influenced pop-punk with lots of catchy hooks and an acoustic feel on many of the songs. Lyrically, the songs range from simple love songs to vaguely political songs about working-class struggles. I can see why Chris Parry signed them and then signed The Cure a short time later — they both had a catchy pub-rock vibe early on. But it seems like The Jam got stuck in that rut and never really evolved, which is why they only lasted about five years. Musically it's pleasant but derivative. "Start!" sounds like a ripoff of The Beatles' "Taxman." "That's Entertainment" could be an Elvis Costello song. There are shades of The Clash, David Bowie, The Who and other bands on many of the songs, but there's never anything super unique. I'd never be able to instantly identify a song by The Jam. It's not hard to see why Oasis considers them a big influence — they have the same pastiche vibe of sounding vaguely like a bunch of other bands who've done things better. It's a catchy album. I liked it. I might listen to it again. Is it world changing, though? Meh. Highlight: "Music for the Last Couple" 3.5/5
It's not my cup of tea, but on a technical level it's good. It is good considering it's genre.
interesting sometimes, very repetitive otherwise
Fun to listen to, but nothing mind blowing for me. Maybe in its time it was innovative
I can't think of anything insightful to say about this one.
Not bad, not particularly memorable either though.
Pretty Green 3.3 Monday 3.6 But I'm Different Now 3.3 Set the House Ablaze 3.5 Start! 3.6 That's Entertainment 3.4 Dream Time 3.3 Man in the Corner Shop 3.4 Music for the Last Couple 3.6 Boy About Town 3.4 Scrape Away 3.3 Score: 3.427272727
2.5/5
This album is alright. Good for background music, or a movie montage, maybe. Not for me, though, aside from 2 tracks.
Kind of a popier version of The Clash. Handful of really catchy songs mixed with some less memorable ones.
Pretty good, I think I could probably get into them more
Meh
I love it when a band gives itself an accurate name. R.I.P. Rick Buckler
I liked that I could hear elements of bands to come, like REM and Arcade Fire. But since I don’t belong to either of those bands, I can’t say I enjoyed this one very much.
I really want to rate this higher - every time I start thinking it’s a simple song they do something interesting; however, I’m not going to seek it out, and the songs aren’t likely to come back to me. I don’t know they were ever truly punk, but this is pop that gets its sound from the late 60s. The final song was fun.
This picked up in the second half and I'd be willing to listen again but for now it's a 3+.
Not bad.
English 80s rock. New Wave Punk. Very British. Nice, uplifting rock, chill and fun. Very British in a good way. Quite varied. Happier the Smiths. Reminds me of Gilmore Girls.
One of my fav The Jam albums. A classic punk record that is solid from front to back. rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ [82/100]
At first listen I found most tracks to be pretty toothless and forgettable. On second listen a few moments arose that I liked, but still not a listen I'd ever return to. All in all not horrible, but still just below average. 2.4/5 -> 2/5
Reminds me a lot of both Talking Heads and The Clash :)
Truly unremarkable. Plenty similar music of this style that I'd prefer to listen to. Not sure why this made it on any "must listen to" lists
I liked Music for the Last Couple and That’s Entertainment but it wasn’t really my wheelhouse. It felt like a big nothing to me honestly.
An up and down effort
Middle of the road for me. Would like to give it a 2.5 instead of 3. Monday was a good song.
was good
***An ok album
I didn’t really realize what I was listening to and kept getting distracted. I like some of the beats but a lot of it sounds the same. Maybe need to listen to it again but probably won’t.
2.8 1x
Pretty good. the post-punk influence shows here and it makes the songs all the better.
Enjoyed it. Didn’t change my life but there were some ear catching moments. Would give another listen.
Enjoyable
Better than expected!
Do not remember this one. A brief check on Spotify tells me it was good.
A perfect album. Sound Affects is full of energy, urgency and anger, but it is also sharp, melodic and incredibly intelligent. The lyrics are powerful and socially important. The fact that songs written in 1980 still feel completely relevant more than forty years later says everything about how good Paul Weller was at capturing everyday British life. “That’s Entertainment” should be the national anthem. It is the song of my youth. Observational, honest and beautifully simple, yet it hits harder than almost anything else from that era. The whole album is relentless in the best possible way. It is tight, focused and full of attitude, but never loses its musicality. Every track feels essential. Favourite songs: That’s Entertainment, Start and Pretty Green. I could easily list every track. Least favourite: None. It is perfect. Album artwork: An iconic cover that perfectly reflects the mood and style of the record
Hadn't heard before, reminds me of the sex pistols
The best Jam album I've had
Nice. I think when I recognise songs I like the album more, idk if thats good.
Great bass lines
The Clash but for music geeks. A great album from a great band.
It's a no for me.
I did not mind this but it was not particularly engaging for me. I may listen to it again but would not necessarily seek it out.
я сначала хотела поставить двойку за этот чуть гнусавый протяжный фальшивящий фоновый вокал, но остальные песни оказались бодрее, а одну я даже добавила и вообще слушаю целый день с перерывами и не надоел. так что четверка!
Not terrible but felt mediocre.
I like the Jam, but haven't listened to a lot of their music. Definitely that early 80's new wavy sound. You can hear Beatles influence in some songs, like Start! Good music here.
Better than what I expected.
I really enjoyed this one.
Dry as a tinderstick and ready to catch fire his is taught edgy post-punk/power-pop bristling with energy. It's nostalgic for the mid 60s with lots of Beatles, Byrds, Kinks and Who imprinted in the songs, but a heavy dose of new-wave style in the delivery. The bass earns its spot high in the mix with propulsive melodic lines and a touch of funk. The vocals are direct and earnest (his timbre reminds me of Billy Bragg) with a flat distant affect for that art-school cool feel, but in a kind of shy reserved way. Favorites: Set the House Ablaze, That's Entertainment, Scrape Away
Absolutely!
Didn’t care for it.
Some fabulous music that to mind is held back by often mediocre vocals and lyrics.
Great band at the top of their powers.
forgettable. not a fan of brit pop evidently. 2/5 yet again.
Actually, the music was supposed to be exactly my style. I was looking forward to listening to the album. Somehow I didn't get on with it today. I wasn't impressed by the music. Somehow I found it quite flat. I only liked the piece That's Entertainment quite a bit. 3/5
cool as hell! was hooked by But I’m Different Now
Having more than one moody British bands in a row might impact my rating, but like….go to therapy
I think Snorkle hit the nail on the head yesterday when she said an album felt derivative because it had been derived from so much. 2/5 bc it was a yawn for me but there’s no telling how I would feel if I hadn’t heard everything inspired by this album first
Well, there is a lot of influences in here, and it feels a little bit like 'can we do a record that sounds like wave but actually is late 60ies with a little punk and psychedelic in it?' Good musicianship, outstanding bass/drum interlock. Very well executed, but as with all Paul Weller output it somehow matches the mark of really catching me. Still, a very solid record.
Not bad at all.
A very good album. The Jam had clearly evolved from their early New Wave days, but still sounded good. Great power pop songs, and a wry way with words. Good Stuff.
That’s Entertainment! 6/10
I don’t think I’ve ever listened to The Jam before, but I’ve already reviewed Style Council’s Café Bleu and Paul Weller’s Wild Wood, both of which I thought were pretty good (three stars for each one). Also, I read a couple of music history books this past year (one about protest songs, the other about Britpop) that talked a fair amount about Paul Weller, so I feel like I have a pretty decent grasp on what this album is going to be like. I tend to enjoy new wave music, so this should be a fun listen on the first Friday of 2025! Sound Affects was a really unique new wave album infused with plenty of punk rock elements, and I thought it was really good and a fun listen. “Pretty Green” hooked me in right away, and I was blown away by its awesome bass line. The lead guitar was excellent too, and the percussion fit perfectly with the bass line. I didn’t care for “Monday” as much, but the bass playing was still fantastic, and there was a nice little keyboard riff during the chorus too. “But I’m Different Now” picked the tempo back up, and I loved its bass line and blistering percussion. The rest of the album was really good, but “Pretty Green” was far and away my favorite song on the album. “Music For The Last Couple” and “Boy About Town” were the best songs on the second side of the album, and they were both really fun. The bass playing was consistently awesome on this album, and I loved the really British feel that it had in the overall sound and the songwriting. A few songs felt a little flat and repetitive, but the ones that didn’t fit that bill were really good. This was a really good album, and very unique as far as new wave music goes, and I’m looking forward to reviewing All Mod Cons soon.
Not my jam.
Not bad. But I would rather listen to the Clash!
Not my cup of tea but at least the tea was drinkable.
Quite like this. Nostalgic early 80's UK punk sound with less dissonance than Sex Pistols and more grit than the Kinks.
Pretty catchy
Start! // That’s Entertainment // Dream Time //
Not bad, not great
Much has been said about the naughts retro-rock wave, but if you get interested in the discography of The Jam, active during the late seventies / early eighties, it really looks like Paul Weller and co. were ahead of the curve here (or maybe they were *behind* it, depending on your point of view 🙃). In *Sound Affects*, many pivotal rock figures thus loom over the proceedings : The Kinks, The Who, The Beatles... "Start!" even rips off "Taxman" in such obvious ways it's indeed astonishing Paul McCartney didn't sue. Let's call that "sampling" before samplers became a well-known commodity for artists, and leave it at that for now... Don't get me wrong, "Sound Affect" is still a "pretty good" album (see what I did here?), partly thanks to its added punk flavours interspersed with the rest of the band's influences. But even if I take into account the fact that this LP never tries to reinvent the wheel I just feel that with the same set of key influences, a later act like Blur, for instance, managed to leave a more lasting legacy, thanks to a more personal and distinctive input -- the sort of input The Jam only pulled off here and there, as busy as they were cosplaying as a mod band first and trying to think out of the box only on a second thought. "That's Entertainment!" is bittersweet and yet very effective earworm, and the deep cuts ("Monday", "Man In The Corner Shop") are as interesting and well-crafted as the obvious hits (the three songs quoted up there, plus maybe "But I'm Different Now" and "Boy About Town"). Yet there's also a quite "meat-and-potatoes" aspect to the whole endeavor, even for the successful tracks. Maybe the real cosplaying Paul Weller indulged in wasn't so much him dressing as a mod, but rather him harnessing the punk flavours of the day to offer something that was, at its real core, strikingly conservative after all. So... Can *Sound Affects* be labelled as "essential" today, sandwiched as it is between its models from the past and the more idiosyncratic and talented followers of those models in the future (possibly breaking new ground just as they referred to the latter)? Well, the jury's still out on this one... 🤷 3.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums 8.5/10 for more general purposes (5 + 3.5) Number of albums left to review: around a hundred, as I've gone over the 1000 line and this generator is including albums from all editions of the book Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 446 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 269 (including this one) Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 324
cool
Favorite Track: Start!
Great album
Weird but good weird
Ok
Our friends at Rolling Stone are not shy about their feelings towards Britpoprock. As we celebrate 250 albums on 4/11/25, there's been a whole lot Britpoprock played already and exactly 300% more to come. Some days I wish there was less. The Jam were new to me (as were the Undertones), but a little all over the place—to surprising Effect.
Certainement une bonne introduction à l décennie 1980, m’a fait penser à Duran Duran et Depeche Mode, avec des cuivres qui les relie pratiquement à la décennie 1990.
Songs i knew: 2 or 3 Songs i liked : about half Why do the jam sound like there's no lead singing and it's all backing vocals. Raise your fucking voice Paul. That being said still a solid album, some well know songs on there and a decent vibe. This is basically the 1980 version of Metallica and justice for all, high 3.
Never been into The Jam, and this hasn’t really shifted my opinion. When they’re good they’re great, like on That’s Entertainment but otherwise I think they’re mad overrated. Some of this is ok, but other than the singles nothing really grabbed me. I’m sure their best ofs are great, but their albums aren’t for me. Best tracks: Start, That’s Entertainment
Really great vibe, feels super early for the sound they made which is cool. Enjoyed the listen
Really good 80's English punk record. Is it punk? I guess that's how I think of The Jam. "That's Entertainment" has always been a favorite
Nice album
A more produced and melodic Clash.
That’s entertainment
Why was this album on the list? I did not find it particularly good. More boring and forgettable.
Favourite track: Set The House Ablaze.
Fun, good energy
Knew this one already. Songs are pretty good in general, although That's Entertainment blows them all out of the water, one of my fave songs ever. 4
Every time we get a British Pop Punk or electronica album it reminds me that even a list like this is beholden to an authors bias. Just straight mediocre, repetitive, nothing really of note. Thats Entertainment grabbed my attention, but like a bunch of songs on this album, I might enjoy a section but the rest just brings it down.
The most generic British pop punk album. We get it author… you’re British and grew up listening to punk/new wave, then you got older and got into 90s electronica. Good for you!
I liked it and would listen to it again.
Not bad
Cool fun album
An uninspiring album. Nothing exciting happening here.
rox \m/
Reading the global reviews of yesterday's album was a real bummer. Who signs up to listen to 1001 albums and is unwilling to give space for a more contemporary story told in modern soul language? Well whoever they are can be happy with this album. It's regular ass alternative rock from the UK that the writer has a particular affinity for. Hardly anything to write home about here. Every note these guys played is better done somewhere else. I'd rather listen to the Police or the clash or the cure or the doors, or any of those bands in a similar lane. I really don't care about this. It's not bad enough to get a 2 but I still went back to give it a second chance and that will likely be the last I hear of these Sound Affects forever.
This is like if the clash were a pop punk band, of the time anyway. It’s like the feel good version, without any of the actually interesting parts of the clash. It’s easy to listen to, the bass in particular sounds great, but it’s pretty generic to me. I can’t believe “that’s entertainment” is the big single off here; it’s the worst song on the album.
I'm giving them a 3 only because I didn't despise it. Kinda boring, but at least they sounded happy about it.
Never heard of this band but the album seemed familiar in a comfortable way. Crisp early 80’s pop rock. The Taxman guitar riff ripoff caught my attention but it was a fun nod.
A fantastic album by a fantastic band. So many great tracks; 'Monday' sounds like a classic mid sixties mod/psych record (with harpsichord a fab bass line, and harmonies), and vocally Weller sounds like David Bowie, 'But I'm Different Now' sounds like The Action or The Creation, 'Start' nicks the bass riff from The Beatles 'Taxman', 'That's Entertainment' is one of the best songs by anyone, ever (so catchy and weirdly moody). Meanwhile over on side two 'Dream Time' has a cool trippy intro, 'Man in the Corner Shop' and 'Music For The Last Couple' are more sixties influenced pop (the latter with cool ska rhythm instrumental breaks) 'Boy About Time' has a nagging where have I heard this before melody. I might have mentioned the mid sixties influences once or twice, but it's true, you can he tell Weller is nuts for the mid sixties British mod/psych/freakbeat crossover period. Great stuff.
Great stuff
Jma what.
The Jam and The Specials were the soundtrack to the 80s for me so always going to have a soft spot for this. That said, it's also a brilliant album which captured the moment perfectly.
Right down the middle of the three star review. Perfectly listenable; has that one hit single you've heard on the radio; mostly background music, let's be honest.
You know, I knew this would be decent, but I wasn't expecting to be drawn in as much as I was, great album!
Generic 80s UK punk rock that doesn't move me in the slightest. Absolute nonsense. 4/10
More brit-slop but not as bad as others. There were a few good songs. But I'm Different Now and Set The House Ablaze were both really good. Overall okay album
Lame English rock. Boring except for the drums every once in a while
Another pop-/post-punk album dealt with. Yay! Really, that's all I can muster here. It's in the better half of all of those and it could grow on me, but I don't need it to. "Set the House Ablaze" is the finger on the scale, rounding up.
The Englsh Way 👍🏽
Love this album. Weller is a truly underrated writer and even in these punky pop song, it shines. The Jam were one of tightest three piece bands ever. The album sounds like a time capsule to being a youth in Thatchers 80s Britain.
I enjoyed this! Definitely a couple of “big tunes” on here. 3.5
chunes*
short and to the point!
Not great
I’m getting really tired of British New Wave. Maybe it’s my distribution lately, but I feel like I’ve had at least 2 of these a week for the last couple of months. They all sound similar and do nothing for me.
punk and new wave had a baby and it’s very British and will go on to influence all of alternative music for the entire 80s. Extremely fun, all killer, no filler.
Not my jam.
This started out good but it’s just not my jam.
It was good, better than I thought.
Muss ich mir genauer anhören, waren sehr nice songs dabei
4 out of 5. Fun album from a band whose albums I need to check out more.
Great power pop/mod reviwal album by The Jam. The riffs are punchy, the bass is more prominent than all the other 599 albums I've listened already in this challenge - 'Start!' bass line directly comes from Taxman by The Beatles. It is a fun listen, though perhaps lacks the 'wow' factor to give it a 5 overall.
Strangely a pre-Blur album that really is fun
1. green - 1 2. monday - 1.5 3. different - 1 4. houze - 2 5. ztart - 1 6. entertainment - 0 7. dream - 0 8. man - 1 9. muzic - 0 10. touun - 0 11. zcrape - 1.5
Between the year of release and the band name, I'm not encouraged. Two songs in, this album is exactly what I expected. The early 80s is without a doubt the worst period for popular music. The edge got sanded off punk, hip hop hadn't been developed yet, rock was in decline, even hair bands hadn't come into their own yet. This is maybe the missing link between 70s pop punk like The Clash and New Wave music. Many of these songs sound the same. That's Entertainment is the best song on the album...Man In The Corner Shop is the worst. The album is a good length and it doesn't have any really long songs to drag on. Scrape Away has that ska sound that all of these bands had. Did The Clash ruin rock for half a decade?
I really like the idea of this band, but the music didn’t really show me anything great. I love that’s entertainment anyway
Well... I can stand listening to this album. I don't feel any need to do so, but if it happened to play somewhere, I wouldn't run away screaming ... which is more than I can say about a lot of albums on this list. 3/5
Eh. Feeling very neutral about this album
Alveg hresst á köflum og fjölbreytt, en röddin gerir lítið fyrir mig og lögin eru ekki mjög eftirminnileg eftir tvö rennsli. Köllum þetta gott.
The Jam is the jam
How can you possibly go wrong with The Jam. Great record. Going to go off now and listen to some more Jam records today!
Very enjoyable album, easy first time listen, quintessential punk/ new wave sound of the time, lots of nice guitar riffs, feels like a lot of 2000s indie bands would have been influenced by this record
I kind of like Set the House Ablaze, Start!, Boy About Town
Perfectly fine, but nothing that really stood out to me. I liked the bass playing. This feels like something I could have really got into on the right day, but today I wasn't really feeling it I guess
Nice and prominent bass. Nice and poppy. Nice melodies. Just nice. And sometimes all you want is something nice in this world, even if there’s nothing astonishing or original on display
Arguably the best album by The Jam
It’s basic new wave punk. Middle of the road for me.
比先前的都要更为动听，一点阴郁冰冷的后朋气质，贝斯突出，过渡也很自然，是我会比较喜欢的那一类音乐（看到有人说Start!的Bassline像披的Texman，感觉不是像是一模一样…）
Ok so clearly I should've been listening to The Jam this whole time because this is the 2nd album I've had by them, and another 5 on first listen. It's exactly my kind of post-punk with those edgy riffs and sick basslines. Vocals are fantastic too.
Previously rated: All Mod Cons (4/5) *********************** I guess I kind of like this band. Similar to the last album, it's catchy and it sounds similar to the Clash and Elvis Costello. Favorite track: Set the House Ablaze
Not bad, some good ones.
Nice early Jam hopefully the later stuff is on the list too
Very catchy. Was "vibing" the entire time.
My kind of Jam! Really enjoyed this.
Great album— tightly written and composed songs. Lyrics that can really be spit out
Pros: really fun, Paul Weller reminds me of Morrissey, not a bad song on the album Cons: sent me down a ska rabbit hole
This was a fun listen. Pretty Green was a great opener
A fun listen. I dub thee ‘Happier Morrissey’.
#387. Generic British radio rock. Nothing spectacular here. 2/5: That's not entertainment, unfortunately Song added to playlist: That's Entertainment I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
Really great album that feels like a perfect synthesis between early new-wave and early punk rock. Tuneful and driving with fun lyricism. There wasn't a single song I didn't enjoy or felt was misplaced in the album order. Not sure if it'll make my desert island albums but it is pretty great. I'll give it a five-star because I simply can't find any fault with it.
This sounds like a rip off of David Bowie and the clash, but like in an… okay way? Idk. I’ll have to give it a better listen. Not for my ears today
Typical 80’s pop. Not bad.
Based upon reviews and genre, I expected to give thus a big ole 1 star burger. Was pleasantly surprised. Much better than expected. Still, not something I would listen to again, but didn't hate it.
Ah, it has 'That's Entertainment' - old school 80s new wave.
Paul Weller's charm really comes through on this album. I didn't expect much but the infectious pop punk vibe on album said otherwise, this was really something. Notably I liked the bass on Start! heavily inspired by Taxman. Very good album. Top 3 Best: Set the House Ablaze, That's Entertainment, and Man in The Corner Shop Top 3 Worst: no bad songs 3.55/5
Fine
great single
First listen. Pretty good.
Loads of 60s influences coming through, particularly Beatles and Kinks, but with a post punk feel and production. Really enjoyed.
I liked the last song the best, surprisingly
It was not that good to me.
Jaja we weten het wel, de maker houdt van random Britse oude punk. Prima te luisteren maar wederom niks bijzonders. Wel +1 voor de Taxman in Start
For some reason I thought The Jam were a 60s band. Instead, this album sounds like a mix of things I can't quite place. Perhaps: The Stranglers, The Smiths, Billy Bragg, Madness, The Fall. Anyway, whatever it is, I like it. 4.5
This was a surprise, never heard of this band, and honestly i kinda judged the book by the cover on this one. It was surprisingly good.
It was nice to finally get around to checking out The Jam. This album is a good example of accessible post punk with a bit of rawness and grit, though the production is still clear and polished overall. The guitars take the lead with angular, jangly riffs, and there’s minimal use of keyboards or synths. One standout feature is the bass, which really drives the album forward and gives it some direction. Overall, it’s a solid listen.
Never thought I was into The Jam that much, but I can't knock this album. Tempted to give it 5... aw what the hell
This album was OK to listen to but not list-worthy.
Prøver at have kant, men bliver lidt for generisk uk rock
ts not the clash
it's actually kinda sad. every song tries so very hard to be the best song ever and in isolation, it succeeds. Paul Weller is a pop genius who probably creates his choruses directly by taking part of his life energy and spinning it into something musical. hell, even the "everyone writes on this one :)" song is actually pretty good! it would be stiff competition were it not for one inalienable fact: "That's Entertainment" is the best song ever. not my favorite song of all time, just the best song ever. you can't fight facts.
not my super jam (hahaha)
4/5
Enjoyable.
This is quite a well-made version of an ironic style of punk that I don't really care for.
Maybe not my favorite Jam album, but it's still packed with some great songs. It's a shame that they never had a big following in the US
I really like this album.
This is #day41 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... while I had heard the band's name before, this was my first experience with their music. Another UK '80s post-punk gem? Bring it on! For a start, this is a case in point when you judge the album by the cover. Because, well, isn't it just fascinating? I was instantly hooked on the first song, especially that bass line. It's safe to say the bass is the nerve of this record. The album echoes the works of Gang of Four, Au Pairs, and The Clash, infused with the quirky flair of the '60s. English countryside post-punk for the working class, if you will. "Monday," "Set The House Ablaze," "Start!," and "That's Entertainment" stand out among the many highlights. What a gem of an album! I'm on the hunt for a nice vinyl copy, I guess. This is a 4 out of 5. One of the greatest finds on this list. Looking forward to #day43.
How have I never heard of these guys?! Great album. Great songs. Great vocals. Great everything. What a treat. The singer kept giving me shades of Bowie, and I mean that in the most delightful way. Made me wonder if Bowie's band Tin Machine could have sounded this good in an alternate universe.
Strong, with some hits
A classic that is often tragically overlooked stateside.
Already had The Jam this week. Weller is still a supremely annoying vocalist.
boring
Start literally sounds like The Beatles. Love the guitar and bass. Chad.
Not bad
I’m trying to have an opinion on it but I just don’t care 2.5
This was ok, All Mod Cons is my favourite of theirs
The Jam is my jam. I had never heard them before but I really love the post-punk sound and the tone of every instrument, especially the bass. The echo on the mics give everything that cool, roomy, moody sound. Just fantastic. I love music that is melancholic and upbeat at the same time, and this album is that.
Bland brit rock. Not interested.
4.0
Another instance of British bias (they were far more popular in the UK than anywhere else), but for once, I don't mind. I think this is an overlooked band. It happens. Fun album that fits with a lot of the "fun '80s pop" that was soon to follow. Not sure it's quite 4 stars, but given how it would have sounded in 1980, when it came out, I'll round up.
In case you're wondering how angst-ridden Great Britain was during the Thatcher years, here you go...
Good album.
A simple, classic and quite easy listening punk rock album. It was unique enough to be interesting and keep my attention, it didn't outstay its welcome, and didn't feel very repetitive at all. A good, solid, consistent album.
It’s probably better 80s Brit pop rock than most. Not my scene and seemed every song was pretty interchangeable Just didn’t resonate with me.
Médiocre stuff
This album started off a little aggressive, but overall I really liked it. Some of the songs had a bit of a Squeeze feel, and a couple were more like the Smiths.
When the still sea conspires an armor And her sullen and aborted Currents breed tiny monsters True sailing is dead. 3
An album of its time.
I had heard of the Jam, but never got into their work. Really enjoyed this! It hit that nostalgia punk/pop/New Wave spot in my heart. Sounds like “what if the Clash, but more fun?” I was hooked with the first track! Songs I liked: Pretty Green, But I’m Different Now, Start!, Set the House Ablaze, Dream Time, Boy About Town, Scrape Away 4⭐️
I get it. I think.
Quite a surprise!
I hadn’t heard this album, only their hits, many of which are on this.
Of course I know all The Jam singles but weirdly I’ve never listened to an album of theirs before. I think I expected more. Didn’t dislike it but That’s Entertainment is by far the best song
Nah I didn’t like this. Obnoxious British “rock”
Dont really know how I feel about this one. Most of thr songs had a classic garage-rock type of sounds. None were bad per se, but none stood out. As I think about it, i cant really come up with any I remember. Overall- fine album, im sure people who like the genre really enjoy it, but it was very mediocre for me.
4.5
absolutely brilliant album, beautiful harmonies, iconic riffs, simple songs, yet never purporting to be anything more. bruce foxton delivers some killer bass lines on this album, such as in “start!”, which are the making of this record. in addition to the music, the cover is iconic, playing on the BBC’s ‘Sound Effects’. paul weller was my first proper concert, at bedford park in 2022, where he played a few tracks from this album, mixed with other jam stuff, style council, and his extensive solo music. screaming “that’s entertainment” with thousands of others adds to how special this album is.
Not really for me
The Jam is one of those bands that I like every time I hear them, but I haven’t ever been completely hooked by. Maybe it’s because I’m American and they are even more tailored to British life than many of the popular U.K. bands, and my yankee brain just doesn’t get it fully. I get it enough to like them though, and Sound Affects is no exception. All Mod Cons is probably their record that I’ve heard the most, and I think I like this one even more. It sounds great throughout, and reminds me a lot of London Calling era Clash, which makes sense given the year it was released. There aren’t any songs that really catch my attention as amazing, but every songs is at least quite good. There are several moments in the record where the bass line does grab my attention, especially on Start! I love how bass forward the mix is. Paul Weller is cool and a great front man. Good stuff, a record I’d like to own on vinyl.
Lots of bangers here. Weller throughout his career has had numerous peaks and this is one of them. Toe tapping, cool as fuck and well done
Happy to hear an album by The Jam other than the one I own (Snap). I preferred Snap, but acknowledge this is unfair as I grew up with it and made more synaptic connections than one listening here. My solution is to listen to more music by the Jam, starting with a relistening to Sound Affects.
Second Jam album on here and second one I've quite enjoyed. Some strong tracks but even the less strong ones I think I could grow to like. Reckon a lot of bands would have based their sound on these. 3.5*
My first time listening to a whole album by The Jam. I knew it was regarded as a classic, and it contains my two favourite singles, Start and That's Entertainment, so I was interested to see if I'd like the whole thing. I thought it was excellent! Melodic as well as thought-provoking and such a great energy. Paul Weller is ace.
No-one has made anger sound as beautiful as The Jam/Paul Weller. Not heard this in its entirety for 40 odd years, when it would come through my bedroom wall courtesy of my 14 yr old Parka-clad brother. It’s as fresh now as it was then and I really enjoyed listening to it.
Listening to this all the way through which I hadn’t done for 40 years affected me more than I expected it to. Took me right back and also so appropriate all these decades later. Brilliant
Definitely my favorite album by The Jam. “That’s Entertainment” and “Start!” are masterpieces, but what really draws me in on this album are some of the deeper cut mod pop gems like “Man in the Corner Shop”. The tone of Paul Weller’s voice sounds marvelous throughout this album, but his “la la la la la” on “Man in the Corner Shop” really drives this home for me.
Talking heads adjacent with some Bowie, but for me not the rights parts to put them on that level.
3, good, not sure if I would listen again
I forgot how much I missed this!
I really liked this.
3.73 rym bel basso decisamente troppo ripetitivo 2/5
Came first and were better than morrissey. Paul weller is the original new wave king. What was ground breaking at the time and it still holds up. Amazing album very smooth transitions and great fluidity.
Seminal
Favourite Song: That's Entertainment
Great, prominent basslines throughout, some interesting guitar work, occasionally straying into the Bowie-esque but a nice cohesive 35 minutes that's just a little too samey for my liking. An enjoyable 3.5.
It was a bop
Ihan on musiikkia, mutta ei omaan makuun.
Favourite tracks: that's entertainment; man in the corner shop; start; pretty green
Fine but pretty forgettable
Succinct, diverse, upbeat. Didn't mind that at all.
I played this album a lot at time of release. I have it on vinyl so know the album well although must be over 30 years since I gave it a spin. Cannot say that I was fully committed to The Jam. They produced some great individual tracks but for me there was a lot of filler. This is a good example of this with the singles Start and That’s Entertainment standing out. But my personal favourite is Boy About Town which should have been a single. My all time favourite Jam album was the previous one to this Setting Sons. Wiki says that Sounds Affects was a deliberate move away from Setting Sons to the more familiar Jam sound. This says a lot about which Jam sound I prefer and perhaps why the band never took total hold with me. 3/5 18/7/24
Somewhere between Rock and Punk ... I like the rough tone
OK, I liked some of these songs. I like that this suggestion was from a band I had not previously heard of or listened to. My only gripe is the over-prevalence of this specific genre. Lots of 60s, 70s, 80s UK rock. Maybe replace those with some Australian psych rock? King Gizzard? Tame Impala? The Osees? I just fill there are a lot of genres that are just missing and instead we get 500 albums similar to this...
Love this band and their sound. This is solid 1970s/early 1980s British punk / new wave. 3.5
So this started relatively promising but then ended up being an album that sounds pretty much the same throughout. Nothing too exciting but this was released in 1980 when it would've been pretty cool to hear.
pretty fun little album.
I like a few Jam songs but this ain’t it, pal. Just listened and I have no recollection over any of it besides “this is average”.
It’s fine I guess.
Lite intressanta låtar faktiskt. Tidig britpop, måste ha inspirerat tex Blur. Skulle kunna lyssna igen. Har inte så mycket mer att säga.
This was fine, I guess, but also unexceptional. 2.4
For the most part I enjoyed this garage-esque record, especially picking up on a bunch of Bowie sounds. I just can't see myself revisiting.
Bass heavy and quite great
Album that is inspired by Revolver. Favorite track: Start! (Inspired by taxman) other picks: set the house ablaze, that’s entertainment
6 / 10 Punk Rock de principios de los 80. Siguiendo la estela del momento. Escuchable sin más.
Enjoyed this, especially Pretty Green and Entertainment. But a lot of the anger is gone.
Sound Affects is the fifth studio album by The Jam, originally released in 1980. This list is actually starting to warm me up to British post-punk. The first thing that caught my attention on this record is the rhythm section. The drummer and bass player are locked in throughout the whole album. I also love how the bass is mixed. It reminds me a lot of reggae/dub. It was probably intentional because this list has taught me that a lot of these groups were inspired by the rude boy movements at the time. Another thing that's interesting about this album is you can kinda hear the transition from post-punk to new wave. I'm not sure about the origins of The Jam, but I can assume they're from the more harder punk scene, like the Sex Pistols. This record contains a mix of that harder punk edge, as well as softer, more poppy new-wave tracks. While not my favorite style of music, it's interesting to hear transitional albums for bands. Especially when those transitional albums are between two huge genres.
Kind of fun but I'd rather listen to Bowie tbh
Classic
Even better than I remember it back in the day. It’s aged (Paul) Well(er). Apologies.
Great album, great tunes.....BUT....Paul Weller
Na een uur electronisch gepiel van Willem Baan (waar ik niks tegen heb) is het wel weer lekker om een (bas)gitaar en een drumstel te horen. Klinkt als de opa van Blur met wat lichte punk invloeden. Een beetje opgewekt, ongecompliceerd, Brits. Best een lekker album. Qua cijfer lastig. Ik vind dit niet verkeerd, maar ik word er ook niet actief enthousiast van, dus dit zit ergens in een niemandsland van de 3 en de 4. Ik hou het op een 3 omdat het wat vergeetbaar is.
6/10
Inte deras största hits men bra kvalitet ändå.
Interesting art-pop in places, utter cringe in others.
Not too punk, I enjoyed it for a while. First half - 4, second half - 2
If I had to describe this album with one word it would be 'horrendous'. The best part about that word is that it reaches its 'end' faster than the album did
Not typically a genre that I regularly enjoy, this album sparked an interest in this band for me. Will check out more of them.
This was a fun surprise. Their style was an interesting mix of something more classic with something more ahead of its time. I can definitely see their influence on bands in the 90's and late 2000's. Set The House Ablaze is a standout for me.
Meh.
Solid album. The first two tracks, Pretty Green and Monday are killer. I do think Paul Weller sounds like David Bowie on Monday. The horns brought the album down a notch but I'll revisit this one again.
I knew 1 song on here, the rest was fine, very much of an era and style.
2.5
I should have reviewed early. I remember kind of enjoying but it has left my consciousness now. Will I listen to again: 25%
The list of influences on the making of 'Sound Affects' is pretty strong. 'Revolver', 'Off the Wall', Wire, Gang of Four, and Joy Division. Before even listening, we are off to a great start. The Beatles and post punk inspiration come out in full force, but less so Michael Jackson. The album is not more than the sum of all parts but it's still pretty great anyway. A lot of good hits here from start to finish. Sorry to say to Paul Weller that I agree with his record label though, 'Pretty Green' is the strongest single. Overall, this has been a great discovery.
Excellent Brit/New Wave/Pop from the early 80s. Can tell that this where this influenced from and to. Right up my alley.
Bassist gets a 5 on their own. The rest of the music is good too, but I'm not very warm on it. I recognize that they're doing the thing, but it's not grabbing me for some reason. Do I have a secret distaste for English accents/dialects?
That bass player was going for it! He leads the album off and I could never take my ears off him after that.
Top-drawer mod noise. The bass tone is awesome throughout and the whole thing just works.
I enjoyed this! Light, easy, clever, good lyrics, good instrumentation! Short! I listened to it like three times!! Solid stuff.
Well, what do you know, more boring basic British rock. I wish this list would just cut it out with this crap
Very good early british punk
Pretty run of the mill early 80s sound. Not bad but others did it better. Needs more cowbell!
Not really my thing
The Jam's roots are post-punk, but you can hear the emergence (along with the annoying upbeat silliness) of new wave music in this album. Altogether, the band are more like Joy Division than New Order, which is a good thing.
it's a good day and it's only go up. nice album
I loved the Jam's first album but haven't cared for anything they did since. Kind of the epitome of a one hit wonder.
I can see why this lot have die hard fans - lots going on there.
Sound Affects is the fifth album by English rock band The Jam. This new wave, post-punk album was a best seller in the UK for the early 80's and has been certified gold there. The Jam's frontman Paul Weller has stated this is his favorite Jam album. This is a classic post-punk UK album released around the time of many other great albums of the same genre. The music is accessible, fun, and almost timeless. I recommend this album to most listeners.
3.5 i liked a few songs, strong finish
“Solid but nothing amazing”- me about the other jam album on the list. I’m docking points for the exact same feeling this time (2.5/5)
There’s some great tracks here, but ultimately some filler, too. Earlier stuff had more of their raw edge, shown only briefly here. You can tell it’s a band in transition.
Could only listen to a couple songs. Just irritating
Dead
I knew I was going to enjoy this, but I didn’t realize how much. There’s real brilliance here. Excellent album.
I have never heard of this band and I don’t recognize anything on this album. I was sold from the first song. This was fantastic. The snarling in That's Entertainment, really hammers home the sarcasm/derision. Fascinating. Love it. I’m going to give it a four, but I hope I don’t regret not upping it to a five like I do with Hall of the Crimson King and Marquee Moon. (Why can’t we edit/change our minds?!)
Need to come back to this one.
This actually surprised me, I expected to hate this. Music of this genre usually sets my teeth on edge but there were lots of good moments on this, and That’s Entertainment is a wicked song.
Ну...ИМБИЩЕ. Это взрыв и рознос. Очень люблю группу и альб, хэзэ. Тут бесспорно 10/10.
Gran mejora en el sonido de estudio. Buenas canciones y ya se vislumbra la evolución de paul weller.
All about that bass.
Tras el brillante sencillo que fue "Going Underground" los Jam prosiguieron con este álbum estilísticamente enfocado hacia ese camino entre el punk y la new wave que tan bien practicaron. Los temas son menos cotidianos y descriptivos de la vida londinense contemporánea y más espirituales y abstractos. Pero todas las canciones tienen melodías pegadizas y un gancho pop indudable. Me gustan especialmente "Sart!", con su aire Beatle, "That's Entertainment" y, sobre todo, "Man in the Corner Shop".
Start! the best song by far. Scrape away wasn't bad.
Fun jams. Like punk, but with actual melodies and and discernable instruments.
boy about town is a bop <3 Fun little listen but i think there’s other similar albums that i have that id come back to before this one. monday and scrape away are also really fun.
liiiiiiiightesssttttt 4, i like the vibe of this whole album like its really just like ahh like we really livin type shit like imma go on a walk in a suburban neighborhood while the sun sets. like this really on some nostalgic like happy sad reminiscence like mmmmm i mess with these top 3 1. That's Entertainment 2. Boy About Town 3. Man In The Corner Shop/But I'm Different Now
Good British rock with a punk edge. “Music For the Last Couple” had a more modern style that sounded like indie rock to me. Honestly, all the most interesting songs are tucked at the very end. All good stuff but nothing too memorable for me. Feels like a classic “your favorite band’s favorite band” kind of artist.
Pretty straightforward British punkish rock. I didn't really feel too blown away by the record. It has some nice tracks in it, and nice production, but it just kind of does its thing and that's it. I liked "Monday", which I've heard before. Nice bass line and vocal performance. How about the bass in the mix of "Man In The Corner Shop". It's funny to hear a bass guitar be mixed louder than a lead vocal; I feel like you never really hear this.
Some bangers!