All Mod Cons

The Jam were in love with the Who, and influenced the Police and the Clash. This 3rd album was the first of three brilliant 5 star albums, culminating with Sound Effects, with Setting Sons sandwiched in between.

I have no idea what this might be… “All Mod Cons” is ok, like a smoothed-out punk song or something. I can’t quite get into the stuttering tempo. But there are promising elements here. “To Be Someone” appeals to me quite a bit more. I’m warming up to this. Love the lyrics about a fallen rock star. Really good! “Mr. Clean” seems to be how the singer is angry at an office coworker. Interesting and catchy! “David Watts” continues the sort of odd tempos. And the song is intriguing… Is this a be careful what you wish for song? I’m not sure but I do like it. “English Rose” is a surprisingly tender song. I love the singer’s voice and the water and what I think is a great love song for England. I wasn’t expecting this but like it a lot. I love the music and lyrics of “In the Crowd” - and what’s this?! A warning about the government and media?! Interesting… and goes all psychedelic guitar at the end. This is a contender for my favorite track of the album. “Billy Hunt” is another catchy song with more cleverly descriptive lyrics. A threatening bionic man reference?! I like this. “It’s Too Bad” is a great little breakup song that’s quite happy sounding. Very enjoyable. “Fly” is a really great love song! The tender parts intersperse with exuberant outbursts. I love this song. There seems to be some hints of The Who or something in here. Wonderful! “The Place I Love” I love! ‘Not within a yard of those trendy do’s.” Is this song about hiding out with your pets? Really good song. “‘A’ Bomb in Wardour Street” seems to be protest song with a beat you can dance to. Clapping! I can get into this. “Down in the Tube Station at Midnight” is a great song. Terribly disturbing about a poor guy getting attacked in a tube station. Really good, and disturbing… I think I’m on the verge of loving this album. A second listen is in order but I find The Jam’s lyrics so vivid and the disjoints in the music held together with such great talent that I think I may love this album… …………………………………. My second listen really did cement my love of this album. After the third listen, I’m loving every song - even the first track which took me a few listens to warm up to. These lyrics have depth and paint vivid pictures. The Jam takes on class and society… with a sound blending dashes of new wave, The Who and The Kinks into something pretty special. I love this album!

Fucking hell I love this record.

Bri-ish innit

I refuse to believe this isn’t a parody project created by Fred Armisen. English Rose is a beautiful song though.

Easy 5 stars. The music is universal. i'm a brazilian guy and i was totally catch by it. Paul Weller was talking about the english society of late 70's and this is still sense to me being in another country and with another culture. The music speaks for itself.

Really enjoyed this semi-nuwave intro from the 70s to the 80s

Nice full album. No filler.

Another one I would give a 3.5 to

3.5

This was the last album I listened to before Helene hit Asheville like a week ago. I honestly don’t remember a thing about it but I do remember that adding a decade to the Brit Pop sound helped. I’ll go middle of the road to be safe.

Pretty solid, but it left me with a craving for the Kinks.

My favorite Jam album and one of my favorite albums, period! The 3 album run of All Mod Cons, Setting Sons and Sound Affects, is as good a three album run of any band, ever. This is the album where The Jam sound and Paul Weller's song writing reached their zenith. To Be Someone, Mr. Clean, In The Crowd, "A"Bomb in Wardour Street and Down in the Tube Station at Midnight are all incredible songs that alone would make this album worthwhile, all together they make for one of the best albums of the 80s, indeed of any decade. No band ever communicated more vividly what it was like growing up British. Maybe that kept North American fans at arms length, but for me if their lyrics and themes ever became TOO British, the musical interplay is universal and these three kids were the epitome of tight. A no-brainer 5 star album from my perspective.

Never listened to a full album by The Jam before (only greatest hits) and it did not disappoint. Very much a coming of age album and craft wise very much where Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were with Damn The Torpedos. English Rose is superb, David Watts also. The best track for me is Down At The Tube Station at Midnight. Weller’s lyrics are outstanding and bassist is so underrated. Always been a massive fan of Weller’s. One of of best artists around, always evolving.

Classic. Love this album, I should listen to it more. All Mod Cons is a great sharpe, short and sweet opener. Quick, in your face, top song To Be Someone is a great song The best is last. DOWN IN THE TUBESTATION AT MIDNIGHT OHHH OH OH OHHHH OH TUNE great album, great song

This is better than ok. A snapshot of suburban life (in the UK, in the late 70s), railing against the elite, celebrating working class joy, observing the world from street level. A few songs about the less glamorous aspects of stardom, or the banality of going with the flow thrown in, but none of the tracks are judgy or vicious like yours expect if the Jam leaned into punk more. A lot to enjoy. Easy 5 stars.

really like this. 60s/70s brits are the best. just look at those outfits!? gives me jam in a field vibes. dope guitar work.

Loved it - english rose was my favorite.

Their best

Perfect Friday album. Fun stuff!

They were pretty decent before this one as well, but this is where it really took off. It's the start of a brilliant run of albums with Setting Sons and Sound Affects coming after this. Especially love the last tracks on here; A' Bomb in Wardour Street and Down In The Tubestation At Midnight.

The first song on this album made me think it was going to be any other British punk rock album that I had heard before, by the end of the second song I was really in. There were a couple times at the lead singer's vocals I thought could've been a bit cleaner, but overall they had a great variety on this album and I really enjoyed the entire thing. I especially liked the quick breaks to soft acoustic songs.

Really fun and bouncy album. Wanders sometimes into clash territory, some shades of police, sometimes all their own. Nice record

Classic the jam. Down at the tube station at midnight is a good song.

Fine. Nothing stirs me from the album to be enthused in any way. 2/5

Not bad, but it was a pretty standard British rock band, bordering on the new punk wave.

Beginner’s rock. The singer is too punk-like for me. Forgettable. I liked the bass on “Down in the Tube Station at Midnight” though.

Down In The Tube Station At Midnight's not only a fantastic finale but a useful reminder that most of the preceeding songs compare unfavourably. The big tumbling beat is there, as are Weller's sandpaper vocals and featherwight punk politics for city types--but the hooks, urgency or clarity to turn them into songs to remember are a rarity.

Got a very distinctive sound do the jam. Really like it. Hadn't heard this album before but thought it was pretty great. My dad played the jam a lot when I was growing up. Thought this was better than the previous "sound affects" album of theirs we had. Down in the tube station at midnight is by far the best track for me here. David Watts is good too Somewhere between 4 and 5.....

Alright, let's talk about The Jam's All Mod Cons. And let me just say, after that last round with [redacted artist, i.e., Nick Cave] – ugh, horrendous – this album is a breath of fresh air. Seriously, what was the generator thinking? But this? This is The Jam at their absolute finest. An amazing album, top to bottom. Every track just clicks. It makes you wish you had a time machine just to catch them live back in the day, you know? That energy, that style... pure brilliance. Nothing but positive vibes here. This is the kind of stuff I'm talking about. Hopefully, the universe (or the generator, whatever) gets the hint and starts serving up more gold like this instead of the other stuff. This album is just, well, it's the bomb.

## In-Depth Review: The Jam's *All Mod Cons* (1978) **Context & Background** Released on November 3, 1978, *All Mod Cons* was The Jam’s third album, arriving after a near-collapse. Their second album, *This Is the Modern World* (1977), was critically panned, and frontman **Paul Weller suffered severe writer’s block**. Label Polydor rejected initial demos, forcing Weller to retreat to his hometown, Woking, where he drew inspiration from suburban life and rediscovered **Ray Davies’ Kinks albums** . This pressure catalyzed a creative rebirth, resulting in an album that peaked at **#6 on the UK charts** and became a benchmark of mod revival and punk sophistication . --- ### **Lyrics: Storytelling and Social Commentary** Weller shifted from punk sloganeering to **observational narratives**, influenced by Ray Davies’ ability to humanize socio-political issues: - **Class Resentment**: "Mr. Clean" dissects bourgeois hypocrisy with venomous lines like *"I hate you and your wife / If I get the chance I’ll fuck up your life"* . - **Fame’s Emptiness**: "To Be Someone" mocks celebrity culture, depicting a fallen rock star’s delusion (*"Didn’t we have a nice time?"*) amid cocaine-fueled decline . - **Urban Violence**: "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" narrates a visceral attack by right-wing thugs, blending journalistic detail with working-class vulnerability . - **Tenderness**: The acoustic "English Rose" (initially uncredited due to Weller’s hesitation) offers a fragile love letter to England, while "Fly" explores romantic vulnerability . **Pros**: Depth, economy, and vivid imagery. **Cons**: Occasional over-reliance on British idioms may alienate international listeners . --- ### **Music: Tightness and Evolution** The trio—**Weller (guitar), Bruce Foxton (bass), Rick Buckler (drums)**—honed a sound merging punk energy with 1960s influences: - **Rhythm Section Mastery**: Foxton’s basslines drive "Tube Station" and "David Watts" (a Kinks cover), while Buckler’s precision anchors tempo shifts in "In the Crowd" . - **Genre Blending**: "‘A’ Bomb in Wardour Street" fuses punk aggression with danceable beats, while "It’s Too Bad" channels Beatles-esque psychedelia via double-tracked vocals . - **Dynamics**: Contrasts like the explosive chorus of "Billy Hunt" against the folk minimalism of "English Rose" showcase versatility . **Pros**: Seamless fusion of mod, punk, and pop; no filler tracks. **Cons**: Some punk purists found the eclecticism inconsistent . --- ### **Production: Innovation on a Budget** Engineer **Vic Coppersmith-Heaven** replaced original producer Chris Parry mid-sessions, introducing techniques inspired by **The Beatles’ *Revolver***: - **Textural Experimentation**: Phasing effects on "It’s Too Bad," tape loops on "In the Crowd," and seagull sounds on "English Rose" create immersive backdrops . - **Raw Clarity**: The mix highlights Foxton’s bass as a melodic lead ("Tube Station") and Weller’s "stabbing" guitar chords, avoiding over-polish . - **Efficiency**: Recorded quickly, capturing live energy without studio artifice . **Pros**: Inventive yet unfussy. **Cons**: Weller’s vocals occasionally sound strained in ballads . --- ### **Themes: Class, Identity, and Britishness** *All Mod Cons* dissects late-1970s Britain amid rising Thatcherism: - **Working-Class Anguish**: "Billy Hunt" depicts dead-end jobs, while "The Place I Love" romanticizes escapism from "trendy do’s" . - **Alienation**: "In the Crowd" critiques conformity (*"I need to be an individual"*), echoing punk’s ethos without its nihilism . - **National Identity**: "English Rose" and "David Watts" (reimagined as a class critique) reflect a nostalgic yet critical patriotism . --- ### **Influence: Bridging Eras** The album’s impact is multifaceted: - **Punk’s Evolution**: Proved punk could embrace melody and nuance, influencing **second-wave punk** and **post-punk** . - **Britpop Blueprint**: **Oasis, Blur**, and **Arctic Monkeys** cite Weller’s narratives as foundational . - **Legacy**: Triggered The Jam’s imperial phase (*Setting Sons*, *Sound Affects*) and cemented Weller as "The Modfather" . --- ### **Pros and Cons Summary** | **Aspect** | **Pros** | **Cons** | |-------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------| | **Lyrics** | Sharp storytelling; socio-political depth; vivid imagery | Over-reliance on British idioms may limit global appeal | | **Music** | Tight performances; fusion of mod/punk/psych; dynamic range | Eclecticism criticized as inconsistent by punk purists | | **Production** | Inventive textures; clear mix; captures live energy | Weller’s vocals occasionally raw in ballads | | **Themes** | Timeless class commentary; authentic British perspective | Romanticism ("English Rose") initially deemed risky | --- ### **Verdict** *All Mod Cons* transformed The Jam from punk also-rans to icons by balancing **rage and refinement**. Its genius lies in turning suburban disillusionment into universal anthems, fueled by Foxton and Buckler’s rhythmic genius and Weller’s lyrical rebirth. While its British specificity and vocal rawness drew minor critiques, the album’s influence on guitar-driven rock remains undeniable. As one reviewer notes: *"Top songwriting, playing, and production; an album I’ve listened to non-stop"* . It stands as a **cornerstone of British rock** and the start of The Jam’s legendary three-album peak . **Key Tracks**: "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight," "English Rose," "To Be Someone," "Mr. Clean."

Top of the Pops right here. I cut my late teen teeth on The Jam, and their influence on my development still haunts to this day. I’m still bitter about their break up, and written extensively in previous reviews. Stupid really, I should get over it. 5 stars. Maybe not their best album, but Down in the Tube Station is in my top 10 songs of all time, so this record gets the full meal deal. God Bless The Jam!

I like The Jam so was always going to be a biased review. I love their 'refined punk' sound and Weller always writes some cool lyrics. To Be Someone's depiction of the shallowness of fame is great, and Down in The Tube Station tells a great story. English Rose is a really beautiful song - reminds of Billy Bragg's folky love songs and provides a nice change of pace A nod to the bass playing as well, the more upbeat tracks really bounce along with a good groove Great album

Definitely a jam all right!

Incredible!

The Jam's third album builds on The Who influences evident in their first two albums and adds healthy doses of Kinks, particularly in the storytelling in the lyrics which peaks on the last track. "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" is a tale of violence and fear, a peak at London in the late '70s. The album is still full of the aggression that fuelled The Jam's music and Weller's songwriting, but adds more melodic variance. The songs are peopled by realistic characters, another influence from The Kinks and Ray Davies, whose "David Watts" sits comfortably among the Weller originals. The album is only 37 minutes long, 12 songs, only two over the 3 minute mark (and one of those only by 18 seconds). Paul Weller was 20 years old.

Caralho !!!! Obrigado mais uma vez 1001albumsgenerator ponto com. Que disco fantastico! Exatamente minha pira. Inglês, new wavezinho, punkzinho, mod pra caramba. Maravilhoso. Toda faixa foi um absoluto deleite. Que vocal, que baixo feroz! Acho que até agora foi minha descoberta favorita do projeto. Preciso ouvir tudo que essa banda gravou. Maravilhoso. In The Crowd... musicão da porra. Que baixista pika irmão, não to acreditando no que to ouvindo... 5/5

Fantastic. An easy and fun listen. I ended up letting the algorithm keep playing more songs by The Jam after it ended.

While I'm familiar with the term "Mod", I'd be hard-pressed to name an artist that specialized in the genre (though The Who and The Kinks both fall into that category). Because of that, I'm not entirely sure what this genre is supposed to sound like. Based on this album, though, it feels like a fusion between Britpop and new wave, with a bit of '70s styled punk sprinkled in, especially in the basslines throughout. Regardless, this was an absolute joy to get through. I mean, everything about it was so tight and poignant, from the melodies to the cross-genre sensibilities to the lyrics. You'll get a gorgeous airy-guitar love ballad with 'English Rose', then the incredible basslines of a song like 'Billy Hunt', and then a very hooky song like 'In The Crowd' - it's just non-stop energy and focus on this album. And I'd say that's thanks, in large part, to the very well-done vocals and harmonies. They're convincing but never in your face, and honestly quite ahead of their time in many ways. The vocal melodic progression of a song like 'The Place I Love' sort of gave me pop-punk vibes. Instrumentally, the bass was the star of the show for me, It's so perfect on like every song, my favorites being the aforementioned 'Billy Hunt', 'A Bomb In Wardour Street', and the closer 'Down In The Tube Station At Midnight'. The bass here is what makes everything song sound so damn fun, and it's the melodic powerhouse of the album. Playful is the word here, all while still taking itself relatively seriously in its lyrical themes and subject matter, especially with the final two songs. But I'd say that occasional stark contrast only strengthens this album's appeal in that lane, so there's that. A genuinely great fuckin record that I just don't hear talked about ever - such a shame.

Great album. Just good old fashioned British Mod music with just enough swagger from Paul Weller to make it sound awesome!

Well this album finally clicked for me, it was good before but after this listen holy hell I fell in love with it. Bass is always interesting, the guitar hooks are incredible, great lyrics and an enjoyable vocal delivery. And can we talk about how good "English Rose" is? A real standout song in an album filled to the brim with great songs

I’ve always loved The Jam, but didn’t know quite how much. This is crazy good. So pretty, so cool, so fun. Way, way ahead of their contemporaries.

33/1001 - This was very enjoyable. The songs seemed largely on the shorter side but they were compact. I'm gonna learn "English Rose" on piano.

Cool

I'd never heard this album before and I loved it! I was familiar with the band's name but I hadn't really heard anything by them...I don't think they were very popular around here. I'm amazed though...this is great stuff. I think they're considered punk, but this is not punk. I would say Post-punk. Great melodies and songwriting. I can definitely hear their influence on lots of other later 80s music.

All around solid album. 100% of the songs got my foot tapping and were pretty catchy. Nothing stood out as a definite hit, but this level of consistently good songs in a single album is rare.

Damn! Great fun

All Mod Pros!!

The energy is incredible, this is without doubt The Jam at their very best. I first saw them in 1978 as this album was released, I was 16 and they blew my mind. It start a lifetime of music for me. Thank you for this!

Great album

Still sounds great to my ears.

An excellent album by one of my favorite bands. I wouldn't call it their best disc but its loaded with classics.

Jammin’

Love The Jam! One of the best power trios in rock history IMO. And "All Mod Cons" was a big jump in maturity from their two '77 albums ("Billy Hunt" excepted). Your average angry young disaffected punks wouldn't come up with "Fly" or "English Rose". And it's interesting that they sequenced the most powerful songs, which I think were singles, to the end of the record. To Be Someone, A-Bomb, Tube Station are all revered Jam classics.

Bloody brilliant. The lyrics of Weller were just so clever and visceral. In "Down at the Tube Station..." he describes a group hanging around as smelling "like pubs, and Wormwood Scrubs, and too many right-wing meetings". (Wormwood Scrubs being an infamous London prison). Just incredible! The Jam were very popular in the UK and still get a lot of air play, but their depth and social commentary were so much more than just popular music!

Outstanding artistry! A joy to listen to. Why did no one tell me about The Jam? 4.6

Great. The Jam turning from "Punk" to superb pop.

A rollicking fun listen - energetic and competent performances, more than a healthy slice of Englishness, memorable songwriting.

It’s impressive how The Jam sounds. They are unique, like from a different timeline. When you analyze all the great albums they released and WHEN they did it you cannot think about any other word besides UNDERRATED. All Mod Cons has no skips. 4.5/5

1978 britishband, new wave, punk rock, mod revival, power pop

Loping melodic bass with surf and funk touches, chiming palm muted guitars (what a tone! Rickenbacker + AC30, perfect), high energy drums and warm engaging singing - it's simple stuff performed perfectly and written with a real flair for a catchy hook. A huge power pop sound, bright and optimistic but paired with an ironic lyric. At times a.bit like Elvis Costello in the guitar sound and nerdy punk delivery or Billy Bragg in the voice in more tender moments or occasionally a bit of Johnny rotten snarl. I've listened to this a few times over the years but it never really hit until today, but damn this is so good.

This definitely feels like the come-down from punk. There’s clearly punk elements in there, especially with A Bomb in Wardour Street, but it came across more like a power pop album. They look like mod revivalists and clearly like the who which definitely isn’t very punk. The tender moments are really sweet, English rose almost brought a tear to my eye, and then down in the tube station is an unexpectedly heart breaking note to end on. The energetic 3 piece approach is really appealing to me, and the rhythm section really drives the songs. It’s pretty mind blowing that the lads were only 19 when they produced this, although the album has a naivety in the way it wears its influences on its sleeve. Maybe an older band would start to doubt themselves if they sounded too much like other bands. It was a very pure album and I liked it a lot!

Didn’t listen this time but it’s always great

I love this record. Great power/punk pop with drive and urgence and clever lyrics.

Brilliant album, one of the Jams best have to give it full marks.

In my top 5 albums EVER!!!

This was The Jam's third album and their first truly great one. There's not a duff track here, and all originals bar one. I think my favourite track is 'Down in the Tube Station at Midnight'.

Perfect 10/10.

Legendary album from a great band

Heard some Jam songs but never a full album, and it's exactly up my alley. Enjoyed every single song on here, the vocals, the basslines, the sharp guitars, it's all exactly what i like in my music. Also ends on the best song, couldn't ask for more here. Will be listening to all of their stuff in the very near future.

Lives up to its hype. Great album.

Superb tunes with excellent songwriting. My favourite album by the jam.

Awesome record!!

I love the complete britishness of it, and the mod sound. Its bit rock, a bit punk and plenty of energy and sass. Fly is probably the only song that is forgettable, the rest being interesting and compelling enough to sign along from start to finish. Down in a Tube Station has an incredibly engaging lyrics/vision and is its own masterpiece of a song. Love this album and the Jam.

I can still never believe Paul Weller wrote so many lyrically incisive and musically brilliant songs by the age of 20.

Surprisingly great! Loved it.

Previously, I rated The Jam's, Sound Affects, 5 stars and All Mod Cons is just as good, if not better. The Jam's debut album, In The City, clearly was influenced by early Who, and whose raw Mod sounds showed flashes of R & B, Soul, as well as punk. By the third record, the Jam's sound have evolved and matured and the best comparison would be the songwriting and imagery of Ray Davies and the Kinks. The obvious is they covered the Kinks, David Watts, but it goes beyond that with Paul Weller refining his wordplay and tightening up the band. The results are spectacular with a collection of brilliant songs resulting in the Jam's best album and most satisfying. I've ranked most the Kinks albums on this list, 5 stars and the two best Jam albums aren't that far behind as far as quality and enjoyment. I also learned, All Mod Cons is abbreviated for all "modern conveniences" and the album cover photo is a visual joke with the band members posing in a bare empty room...haha..

Early pop punk. Lots to love and sounds like inspo for Midwest emo, Green Day, etc

One of the easiest five stars yet. Such a distinctive and addictive sound, and the lyricism is fantastic. The political commentaries are beautifully described and I love when Weller's brilliant, spikey cockney accent is used to sing incredibly sweet love songs like English Rose or The Place I Love. In so many songs, the bass acts at the lead guitar and the lead as the rhythm. It complements Weller's gritty voice perfectly. I only knew English Rose and Down In The Tube Station... before I listened and as soon as the the first track All Mod Cons came on I knew it'd be five stars. The album is 37 minutes of pumping cockney poetry and I could listen to it forever.

Brilliant. Great tunes with great lyrics. Mini stories. A classic.

Excellent. They seem like really cool dudes

I wasn't expecting to love this one but, man did I ever. The other album from The Jam on this list is a disappointing collection of rip-off songs. THIS one, on the other hand, is freaking wonderful. I didn't realize that I knew this album but I recognized pretty much every song. And I loved them. It's punk, it's pop, it's new-wave... but it's the best of all those things instead of the worst. I don't know. I loved every minute of it. Loved it so much, I listened to it three times in a row.

Brilliant album, made even better by the contrast to my previous day's album by Limp Bizkit. Hints of the Beatles, the Kinks, The Who and The Clash along with their own style. I knew of the Jam and their most famous songs but most of this was totally new to me. I shouldn't have spent so many years out off by tragic middle-aged dads and their 'Well-end' haircuts. Will definitely put this in rotation in future.

Can't believe I've never heard this before. I love it, the bass sounds so good. Great songs.

"All Mod Cons" is the third studio album by British band the Jam. New wave, mod revival and punk rock. Yeah, I picked all that up in the first song. The album title refers to a British idiom on housing advertisements "all modern conveniences" and a pun on the band's association with the mod revival. The band is Paul Weller (guitar, piano, keyboards, vocals) Bruce Foxton (bass, vocals) and Rick Buckler (drums). After a commercially disappointing second album, this album reached #6 in the UK and had wide-spread critical acclaim. Drums and a rockin' guitar open "All Mod Cons." You get a dose of Weller's melodic guitar, a highlight throughout this album. He is taking a shot at fake friends and record executives. The band covers the Kink's "David Watts." This is a much faster version. Foxton on lead vocals with Weller on backing vocals. They make almost a singalong. A piano adding to the music. "In the Crowd" shows the heartfelt side of Weller as he sings about losing your individuality. It starts out as a more of a pop song and then rocks out. A searing guitar solo outro. The band comes out blazing on the second side with "Billy Hunt." This is in punk territory. Weller yowling. Buckler gets the percussion and cowbells going on "A' Bomb in Warfour Street." A prominent bass. Layered guitars. This sounds a lot like their contemporaries at the time, the Clash. A story about a guy going to interview and it getting derailed by a bomb threat. Speaking of derailed and the Clash, the album closes with the wonderful "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight," a song about a young man getting beaten up by right wing thugs at Tube Station. There's eerie train sounds. Weller might have saved his best melody for last with melodic layered guitars closing it out. This a fabulous album. The music is melodic and all band members shine. Nice mixing and production with all instruments very clear. Most the songs are short. The songwriting and lyrics are top notch with Weller telling stories and his innermost feelings on some things. Ah, very similar to the band they cover, the Kinks. There's hard rockers, punk songs and even some I would put in the ballad category. Not bad song or a dull moment. A very high recommendation.

91.67 5 stars

Excellent

Consistent Brit rock fun. Great listen. Will play again.

cuz when you know you know 🖤

Tchê baita álbum, anos setenta, muito agradável

Fits my music taste perfectly. Meaningful lyrics, great instruments

if music on this list can make me smile, even ironically, it gets a point. At my high school there was wall with either The Jam or The Stems grafiti on it. Given how many mods I knew then, I am surpised I dont know this music so much. (obviously it was deeply cool at the time), i find iconic happy crazy light sound. I find it playful, in the way Elmer Foodbeat is, without the poignant and extremely crude French lyrics. So yes, there's a warmth to the guitar style, and something proulsively mindless to the poppy repetition. Funny to discover these at age 50, feeling my teen rebeliousness rising, I am putting this in the cool pile. Oi! babbabbababah! yeah why not, a fiver for ya.

This album doesn't contain the biggest songs of The Jam but it's solid, I can see how this album inspired bands like the Kaiser Chiefs, The Cure, The Libertines, The Smiths etc This is the first (of hopefully many) which is simply just outstanding.

Fantastic album, excellent songwriting.

I bloody loved this. Every song was good or great, will deffo listen to again

Surprisingly strong album. Really compelling and listenable melodies without betraying its punk routes. One I would not have found by myself, so thanks 1001!

This is good; its fairly aged but would have been my jam in 78 (5/5??)

Peak Jam , this is an outstanding album.

Quality absolute quality

I like the catchy hooks and melodic pop-punk. To me, this LP sounds a bit like early Who, but there’s also a Motown influence, and Weller apparently listened to The Kinks for hours to aid his creativity. The song-writing is strong, every song sounds like it could be a single, so even with three instruments you don’t tire of the sound quickly. Ballads like “English Rose” and “Fly”, very unusual for a punk band, hint that Paul Weller would be exploring different musical avenues in the future.