Reviews (page 4 of 9)
Did not care for this album. I did try to read up more on the mod revival of the 70s to see if I could get more context, but mod seems to be like new wave in the sense that you can label anything you want with that name. Seemed pretty one note to me and I didn't care for their attempts to do a genre shift (English Rose) because it just felt very jarring and strange. Not my cup of tea.
band has a nice sound, odd lyrics at times
5.5/10 Missing good songs tbh. Highlights: David Watts All Mod Cons
Un album que j’ai beaucoup apprécié, et que je réécouterai avec plaisir!
nah
Point off for being British
Good
Almost have nothing to say. Forgettable, save for Mr Clean.
Amazing performances on this record. Bits punk/post-punk and bits Mod. The more it sounds like Buzzcocks and less like The Who, the better. Definitely feel the influence on The Smiths. Fav track: In The Crowd
Some great tracks on this one, timeless
Album 26/1001 This album is the dog's bollocks, the bee's knees, the mutt's nuts. Proper London through and through. Favourite lyrics: DOWN IN THE TUBE STATION AT MIDNIGHT "Whispers in the shadows Gruff blazing voices Hating, waiting "Hey boy" they shout "Have you got any money?" And I said "I've a little money and a take away curry I'm on my way home to my wife" "They smelt of pubs And Wormwood Scrubs And too many right wing meetings My life swam around me It took a look and drowned me in its own existence The smell of brown leather It blended in with the weather It filled my eyes, ears, nose and mouth It blocked all my senses Couldn't see, hear, speak any longer" BILLY HUNT "Billy Hunt is a magical world Full of strippers and long-legged girls Clark Kent's got nothing on me I'll spy like James Bond and die like King Kong" Favourite song: Down in the Tube Station at Midnight 🚉 🌙 Honourable mention: English Rose 🏴🌹 'A' Bomb in Wardour Street 🅰️💣 In the Crowd 👤👥 Billy Hunt 🤪🖕 (Cockney rhyming slang for 'silly c___')
Great album here by The Jam. Not their finest offering but was a hint of the greatness to come with their following albums. Ends with a high with DITTSAM
Weller FTW. Nice one.
I was pleasantly surprised by how dynamic this album was. The slower tracks mixed in well with the more expected pop rock stuff, and overall I thought it was a great listen, especially at only a brisk 36 minutes or so. Best Track: English Rose
apenas mais um rock branco dos anos 70, imemorável e com pouca conversa entre ouvinte e artista, tornando-se apenas um background e não um ritmo que marca histórias. 2/5
não faz meu estilo musical, então minha nota é um 2. é bom, destaque para in the crowd, mas, fora essa, não achei as demais tragáveis da mesma forma.
Being in a band with your mates when you’re a teenager should be a hoot, a chance to lark about and play the music that you love. Judging by the cover of this album, the Jam make it look utterly joyless. This album was part of the late 70s mod revival (only ten years after the actual mod scene) and it feels like they’re approaching the music with exaggerated po-faced reverence rather than any sense of appreciation. Their cover of David Watts by the Kinks takes a cheeky song about a homoerotic schoolboy crush and sucks the life out of it. Even Down in a Tube Station, the big hit off this album, comes across as preachy and overblown (and it really didn’t need 30 seconds of train noises on the outro). The best song on here by far is English Rose, where Weller finally lets a bit of wistful longing into his voice with a nice bit of acoustic guitar and sensitive production.
I was a bit "meh" starting to listen to this record, as I'm not particularly fond of mod, so a mod revival 10 years later... But even if the guys are making a face as if they were playing in a post-punk band (10 years in advance this time) on the artwork, it's actually pretty funny and entertaining. It's punk-ish, so more than just a revival, and the crossover works pretty well.
Some pretty good songs. Some not as enjoyable.
British invasion meh
Nice
Love The Jam!
Nothing makes this stand out from the pack of mod, punk rock music of the time. I enjoyed it, and they had some good guitar drum moments but I am nothing really hit me as worthy to be saved for another listen.
It's OK. I think I liked the other album a little better.
The Jam are back and here we have more English punk pop. I imagine this could be a favorite like so many albums on this list had I found it/them 30 years ago, but this project has a way of making most music seem banal since it pushes multiple albums by bands who sound the same. I’m not in a power pop zone these days. That’s certainly not The Jam’s fault. So… Good album, nothing extraordinary.
This was a fun time. It’s not top tier music but I liked the song variety and the lyrics and it had some rockin’ moments.
453/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑
4 out of 5. Another great album by this band and personally speaking places higher up than Sound Affects.
This one was fine. I didn’t hate it but didn’t love it either.
I wanted to hate this because it’s another British band that’s just thrown in here but it grew on me. Some tasty punk grooves in here.
As expected for a punk band during peak punkage, the vocal isn't very good. There's a reason why musical training is so important for a band's singer – more so than any of the other instruments. It's the most noticeable part by a long shot, and it needs to be done well. This project has made me realise just how much a vocalist can make or break an album's overall sound. In this case, it's somewhere in between. In some songs, like the title track and It's Too Bad, the vocal is laughably bad. It sounds slurred, drunked, and like the guy's reading the lyrics for the first time as he sings them. The bass and guitar really hold the songs together, and elevate them to a whole other level in the rare event where the singing is good. Mr. Clean is the first example of such a track. It's slick, well-mixed, well-composed, and the singing is actually alright. English Rose has to be the best song on here. The best singing by far, and the acoustic guitar lines are very pretty. These "The Jam" guys, for all their spunk, are pretty good at not jamming. (The exception, maybe, is the song Fly, which feels like a weak attempt to follow in the ditty-prog footsteps of (e.g.) David Bowie's "Star".) But sometimes the jamming is good: I enjoy the choppy riffs in Down In The Tube Station At Midnight. Pretty unusual to hear tasteful use of silence in music – especially punk music – and it's a breath of fresh air. The aforementioned Mr. Clean is really good, as is the driving piano-based tune David Watts. The end of the album starts to feel a little samey, particularly with 'A' Bomb In Wardour Street, but it's still catchy enough. 3/5 Key tracks: Mr. Clean, David Watts, English Rose
Quite nice. No notes. Sex pistols but they know how to play and sing.
The Jam is a fun early punk band. Not as good as the Clash. But an easy listen.
Great!
Meh
It’s not bad i thinks it ok it pretty catchy 6/10
bem qualquer coisa né
Quite fun, I liked discovering that one of the kinks was bisexual
This album is flawless. The group had a very unique, tightly connected playing style with very few songs opening up for individual riffs or flairs, but it gives energy and drive to strong musicality and lyrics. The album is one of their best although the next 3 are equally as good if not better.
One of those records where there's clearly magic in the room. It's paced beautifully, the sound is great (both throwback and also forward-thinking) and the chemistry present on the record is off the charts. No weak tracks - what more can you ask for?
Their first two albums _This Is the Modern World_ and _In the City_ richly rewarded my revisit. After listening to their third: _All Mod Cons_: what a comedown! It's like the record execs/producer told them to "get serious" and jettison their punk affect. Their songwriting isn't up to it. It's like the Jam on Thorazine or after electro-shock therapy. At the time I stuck it out, get their 4th & 5th albums. I don't remember them. This one should have been the last one for me. I had to go back to those first two albums to remind myself why I liked them in the first place.
Rating: 2.9 I had a dream that I was throwing up and bleeding to death a mere hour and a half after listening to this album so there’s something off about it. Someone send me an envelope addressed to “Big Socks” at the address encrypted within this paragraph if you have the answers.
Never heard of these guys before but I liked it
Good to get this after Morrisey and the smiths to see which camp I would firmly be in during this era. Much prefer the Jams sound and energy. Enjoyed ‘English Rose’ a lot and the change in vibe. Great song. Enjoyed the album as a whole. Not blown away or think I’ll go back to it. But enjoyable enough and important representation of this emerging sound and genre (3.5)
Muito bom. Vou ouvir mais
Another album that was neither shite or amazing. Maybe I've become a bit jaded after reaching the half-way point of the 1001 albums.
On their their album The Jam are still sharp, still railing against the state of the world with pristine pop melodies at break-neck speed. Favourite tracks: To Be Someone, In The Crowd, Fly, Down In The Tube Station At Midnight
Listened to more Style Council than The Jam over the years, this one definitely slaps. Extremely tight songwriting, you can hear the foundation of so much different punk, power pop, and new wave that came later. Especially the huge influence on Ted Leo’s sound
Better than Coldplay
Another album I can remember virtually ever note from, the first band I fell in love with, and probably my favourite Jam album, as well as in my top ten favourite albums ever. The first band I ever saw live. So they're unlikely to get less than 5 stars from me. Over time I think that Setting Songs does suffer from the weight of its 'concept', but here it's just eleven blistering tracks. My vinyl copy (purchased 2nd hand, teenage pocket money didn't go to much new vinyl) has English Rose missed off. Weller says its because the lyrics didn't mean much without the music. Me, its because the lyrics and music are both embarrassing and shouldn't be let out in public. Still, easily skipped and eleven tracks left.
I dug it
It was OK
S-7/10 M-7/10
Ok
Been into the Jam since heard and blown away by Going Underground on ToTP as a little one. They pulled that British 60’s sound through to the punk age, and were a soundtrack on growing up back then. Unlike their obvious influence The Who, and Townshend’s middle class art school leanings it just felt more relatable in their lyrics and feel. Own all The Jam albums, and like some have said on here this is the start of 3 great albums, and there was a reason Weller was later seen as the Modfather to Brit pop. Can kind of understand why they never were a big thing in the USA, this is very of Britain centric and the smells of the start of Thatcherism and it’s effect on our society, but being English this is to me is essential. 5 Star
It’s a shame Paul Weller and the Jam never got their flowers in the US.
it's alright I guess
idk, neither love nor hate it
Overstays its welcome and is boring.
1/5 If I wanted to listen to british punk music, I'd rather listen to The Clash. The Jam doesn't know where to position themselves. Lyrics are boring, rhythm's off,... I think the 8th song sums up the whole album pretty well: It's too bad.
Love this one
Fun rock / pubk
With the mod revival in full effect, The Jam step up once more to provide the British music scene (crowded as it was) with yet another burst of then-present invention mixed with the sole yet overwhelming homage of the past. Time with them was limited, something no one knew at the time, but time spent with The Jam was a lesson learned in regards to a glimpse of something real that was slowly receding from view. All Mod Cons, whether or not in line with current conveniences, is a nice document of that. Favorites: To Be Someone (Didn't We Have a Nice Time), Mr. Clean, David Watts, English Rose, In the Crowd, Billy Hunt, Down in the Tube Station at Midnight.
A must listen album.
All Mod Cons by The Jam has an energy i appreciate though Paul Weller’s vocals can be to rough for my liking at times so I enjoy the record in parts more than as a whole.
Bardzo fajne. Taki gładki punk. Jakby Beatlesi grali punk tylko tym razem dobrze to wyszło. 5/5
nice comforting rock
I didn't connect to this one. The closest comp I could think of was Elvis Costello, but they didn't quite have "it" for me.
I liked this album, nice and tight punky rock/pop - not sure what to call this. Quite melodic, with good bass lines, and good vocals by Paul Weller. Very English sounding in a good way (unlike The Kinks, for me). Doesn't move me very much though, but I'll happily listen to this on the radio.
Good English band. Good sound.
This didn’t leave much of an impression, to be honest. But it was alright. 3/5
Never fussed on the Jam/Paul Weller, never sounded original enough to stand out from other bands. I’m still not, it’s all very similar.
Pretty decent but hardly a must-listen.
basic boring the trying-to-be-nonchalant sound doesn't match with the lyrics
I like it, it’s more upbeat then I was expecting, I like the quick beat and punk influence even tho this album is definitely more of a turn into pop. I like this kind of voice even if it doesn’t quite click with me
A lot like the clash, pretty good Will I listen to again: 68%
I've had enough of 'old' british stuff that sounds the same at this point.
I can see why people like it but it’s not for Me. Repetitive.
British punk rock
Let’s hope this was worth me stopping my listening of the songs in my Spotify liked list that I have listened to the least, according to Spotify DJ that is. Aaaannnndd I’m more than slightly disappointed. This isn’t what I was hoping for. I can’t even tell you what type of music this is. Sort of, not sell out pop? I don’t know what I expected but it’s not a needle mover for me. Weak vocals, sort of more of a spoken word delivery. No challenging guitar parts or out of this world drumming. It’s simple but falls short of White stripes simple. You could do better with your day. Like listening to your least listened to songs on your liked list. Choice cut: English Rose
Being born in 1980, I somehow missed the first wave of punk and New Wave. I am sure it was mind blowing at the time. But this has not aged well. It's SHOCKINGLY dated. I understand why people love it though. One of my favorite records is Pretty Hate Machine by NIN. Also sounds very dated. I tried... I just couldn't get into this.
70er Rock, erinnert von der Stimme an Ray Wilson. 4/5
The Jam are a good band. “Town Called Malice” is a bippety bop (that’s a song that’s even better than a bop, in case you’re not up on the slang the kids are using). “That’s Entertainment, “Going Underground” and “In the City” are also all good songs. Unfortunately, none of those are on this album.
This is the second album I’ve had to review from The Jam. It’s fine, I guess.
Very typical of the late 70s, but not in a good way like great 70s bands, more like typical late 70s neighborhood band that dreams of making it big - but never does.
I've never thought of myself as a Paul Weller fan, just someone who likes the odd song by him. However, over the past couple of years, I've been realising just how many of those songs there are. (The Guardian made a playlist of the best 30 tracks from across his career, and they honestly all slap.) Listening to this album was another step towards admitting that maybe I just really like Paul Weller.
Alright rock. Enjoyed listening, but not that much.
I love albums with shorter run times because I tend to listen multiple times and really come to appreciate the album more than just a once through. First listen didn't really don't for me but by the 4th listen this album felt like an old friend. The sound is somewhere between the Clash and The Who but with its own take on it.
Fair but straightforward. Wouldn't turn it off but it doesn't turn me on.
Not very captivating - was okay
Very good album that i completely missed bij the time it was released; i was 15 yeurs old…. Very britisch, very anti- establishment, very good sonwriting. I have some solo albums of Paul Weller that are as good as this.
Brit pop at its most mundane.
not for me.
My experience with the Jam is hearing the odd song, thinking 'oh, I know this one', semi-enjoying, semi-singing along, but not really caring if I hear it again. I'm not fussed on this either way. It's not great, it's not terrible, it just is.
The sound of the Jam is never in question. Arguably there best album. Slight dip in consistency of tracks
But consistently good. Finishes strongly.
My band played a gig at a small venue in Cardiff a few years ago which was next to a giant stadium. During our sound check 15 Paul Weller fans walked in to get a drink from the bar. We knew they were Paul Weller fans because they all had Paul Weller’s haircut. It’s a normal haircut to see out and about, but a group of 15 uniform men is quite arresting. We started soundchecking and were charmed that they all stopped talking, watched the stage, leaned in and took us seriously. We were playing post-punky sort of stuff, but there was nothing tribal about their reaction, they just loved music. I’d not really heard The Jam properly until today, but had been vaguely aware of and unenthusiastic about Weller’s solo career. Listening to All Mod Cons made the above experience click. It’s a beautifully put together album, not just with hooky bits to sing back to the band in a stadium, but bits that make you think. It’s also a lot less uniform than the haircuts would suggest. There’s moments in both the performance and production that sound like it’s straight from the britpop era. I like the appreciation of poppier, rockier songs, but then also more emotional, stripped back ones. I love that so many of the songs are about longing to be someone else or have a more exciting life - it’s sweet. Similarly, I was surprised by how domestic so many of the lyrics are, “a piece of toast from the one you love most.” Romantic, but a kind of romance you don’t see represented in music often.
Really enjoyed The Jam today, didn’t expect to! High 3 almost a 4 for me!
This album was basically like if The Clash were a better band (sorry, Clash heads). I loved it. This was early punk rock, storming into the early 80s whilst still holding onto the boyish charm of the 60s and 70s. I found the vocalist so endearing and was very impressed with the lyricism too. I had a vast majority of the songs favorited at the end of my listen, which is always a good sign. The last couple of songs fell a bit flat for me, so it loses a point for that So so good though. Emotional highs and lows. Beautiful music. Fun moments. Great album.
Звучит как группа Parquet Courts, что большой комплимент, но странный в том смысле, что группа звучала так еще до рождения членов группы Parquet Courts. Лучшая песня - Down in the Tube Station at Midnight.
Fun album!
Jelly suspiciously unrepresented on this list….
hey this was super fun... i liked it! kundun... i liked it!
aight
Superb, always love the jam
Muy bueno
Good
I did not realise that British punk rock sounded so same-y. It's good, but gets boring when it's an entire album.
Thought the album had quite a bit of variation. I'm not saving any songs, but wouldn't mind listening to it again. edit: changed it to a 3 as I didn't save any songs from the album.
unmistakable influence on so many bands that follow. i still find it rather boring. I forget which member spawns the creator of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. So, thanks I guess.
I like the Jam’s sphere of influence more than I like the Jam themselves, but this one was a lot of fun nonetheless and it’s a round down.
Parsing what makes The Jam a New Wave band vs a punk band might tell you quite a lot about the difference between those genres (they're record label fabrications, just like a lot of genres, but there's something there). It's less aggressive than Sex Pistols or even most Clash music, for example. Sounds of its time. Chorus-y, chime-y guitars (Paul Weller, often on a Rickenbacker 12-string, where George Harrison and Tom Petty got a lot of their shimmery sounds) and sunny chord progressions. Hooky verses, slightly raspy vocals, a melodic bass (Bruce Foxton, showing off his versatility) and a really restrained but driving job by Rick Buckler on drums. Anyway, it's some late-70's British punk/New Wave/post-punk. It's a good listen and a part of a scene that was influential. Will you hear familiar strains that show up in later music that you love? probably not. 3.5/5, but I'm rounding down because I think it's a disrespect to Tracy Chapman if I round up. I should probably revise my Kid Rock review to 2/5.
Nothing spectacular.
Dull album. Just found out The Jam is more of a singles band than an album band.
Задорная, интересная музыка. 8 из 10.
Day589 - you have to wonder why the jam wasn’t a more popular band. paul weller is all over this list but before i started this project i could only name one song by the jam. along with the pixies and tom waits the jam has been my favorite discovery
Not bad!
3.5
classic song 😋😋
"Every once in a while a band doesn't hit here in the States... but should have... and the main man of the band, The Jam, Paul Weller, i think is a pop music genius... i don't care whether it was the first album by The Jam, or any of his solo records... i seem to appreciate the artistry of every song... it even makes me a bit angry at how easily he seems to make good records... this, their third album, is another fine example... it's punk, but pop... it's rock... and it's good songs done by a good group... "David Watts", "In The Crowd", and "Down in the Tube Station at Midnight" are all bangers... they rock... they even slow it down... i have to give it... Five Stars..."
The Jam truly found their muse on this one, and deliver some of their best mod styled tracks.
One of the greatest surprises of this list. Similar to early The Police but a little bit less punk. Amazing sound and melodies, and a a couple songs that, at least me, already knew (but didn't realize!). Also, cool cover of the Kinks. I can't stress enough how much did I like this album.
(4.5) i didn’t expect to like this album so much, i’ve only heard one song by the jam and this makes me want to listen to more. it reminds me of doing math homework in the dark with a desk lamp which sounds sad but i’m actually channeling my inner miles from into the spider verse (he would not be into this album but it’s the headphones on homework feel ifyk)
It is ahead of its time while at the same time honoring the past british invasion. I hear "XTC Skylarking", "The Kinks" (other than the obvious cover of "David Watts"), :"The Beatles" especially how "It's Too Bad" sounds like "She Loves You" done by "Squeeze" and "The Clash's various power pop adjacent songs on London Calling". A very pleasant listen! 4/5
Fantastic song writing, and rocks hard.
Very good solid album, sounds fresh after all these years
Varje gång jag hör dem tänker jag: schysst engelsk gitarrpop med sjuttiotalsstuk. Jag gillade Style Council. Paul Weller är en favorit. Men det suger liksom inte tag. Jag tänker aldrig, jag kanske skulle lyssna på lite The Jam. Trea.
awesome 4.5
This album by The Jam is pretty sound. The punk influence is clear on many of the tracks, an easy four stars, but it didn't quite entertain me enough to add to my Tidal library.
Really fun - definitely digging this one.
Billy Hunt and All Mod Cons are my 2 favorite songs! Down at the tube station at midnight is deffo a popular song/song I've heard before. They kinda remind me of smashing pumpkins/older bands.
Lots of variety on this one. The songs felt very distinct from each other. Great production. Felt like there was some surf rock influence on this.
Their 3rd album in maybe a year or so, this is the one where they flipped from trendies trying to navigate punk to trailblazers, singlehandedly establishing and simultaneously transcending a mod revival that persists. Their punk roots are funny - chronologically, they were legit enough to be name checked by Bob Marley on Punky Reggae Party, but at the same time an awkward enough fit to be mocked by Joe Strummer on The Clash's White Man In Hammersmith Palais. But this album is the creative breakthrough for Paul Weller as a songwriter, where he was experienced and confident enough to spark a creative explosion that over the next 6+ years across The Jam and The Style Council produced a body of work that I would put up against anyone's. Anyone's. And he didn't have a partner to lean on and make him better. I am not sure what the 1990's Brit pop explosion would have been like without The Jam. They are the throughline that connects The Beatles and Kinks et al to Oasis and Blur and the rest. This is why the 1990s music press began referring to Weller simply as the Modfather, an honorific still in wide use to this day. Cover photo is super awkward. I've spent hours and hours starting at it, wondering what they thought about it. Very possibly the first question I might ask should I ever meet Paul Weller or Bruce Foxton (sadly, the brilliant drummer Rick Fox died a few months ago, tragically having never reconciled his bitter split with Paul Weller, who is already expressing deep regret about not trying to patch things up and not even speaking for over twenty years - let that be a lesson to the rest of us). But c'mon. Down In The Tube Station At Midnight? Classic! and Bruce Foxton's bass playing - oh my! In the Crowd, and To Be Someone? Makes me feel seen, even now. It's funny they cover David Watts, a perfectly serviceable tribute to the Kinks at probably the low point in their career, considering that Billy Hunt is already sort of a tribute to it. I like to imagine that they added David Watts as a confession. Unfortunately, Spotify uses the original UK version. The US one is not only sequenced better, it contains The Butterfly Collector, which adds an interesting dimension to the album. My only complaint - and it's bad enough to cost this album a full star - is the awkward and pretentious use of "she" instead of "her" in English Rose, which has irritated me to the point of distraction for going on 40 years now. But what can I say about an album and a band that made at least one 80s teen in the quiet corner of Connecticut buy a UK military surplus parka and cover his bedroom wall with mod regalia. I would do anything to get that parka back.
I'm vaguely familiar with The Jam (mainly their big hit "That's entertainment"), but I'm pretty sure I haven't heard anything from this album. They're definitely not in your face with their music, but I was impressed how solid the album is, with nearly every track having some sort of hook or insightful lyric (except perhaps "English rose"), even though their style is pretty laid back overall and at times reminded me of The Clash or Squeeze. I particularly liked "Mr. Clean" and the ending pair of songs, "'A' bomb in Wardour Street" and their single "Down in the tube station at midnight"; and an honorable mention to their cover of "David Watts" (I was impressed how their version isn't all that different from the Kinks' original, yet sounds exactly as if The Jam had written it in the first place). I can't put my finger on why exactly, but this is a much better album than I expected it to be.
Solid, though not the greatness of Sound Affects. Highlights are the cover of David Watts and Bruce Foxton's bass.
One of those link bands between genres. 3 for my enjoyment, 4 for the influence.
it's the jam
Came to know The Jam from the last two albums they made before calling it quits. This mid career album is a definite progression to those albums. Weller was / is quite the career chameleon. Still grooving to this day and we’re all better for it.
Fast and punchy UK punk/new wave, a fun listen
All Mod Cons – The Jam (1978) | Punk / Mod Revival | Avg: 7.38 | Favorite Song: “Down in the Tube Station at Midnight” All Mod Cons feels like The Jam finally hitting their stride. It's more refined than their early work but still packed with the urgency and bite that made them stand out. “Down in the Tube Station at Midnight” was the clear standout for me. It’s not just a great song—it’s one of those moments where storytelling, atmosphere, and tension all come together perfectly. Overall, the album keeps a strong pace, with very few tracks falling flat. Even the more subdued moments carry weight thanks to Paul Weller’s sharply observational writing. What makes this album work is how well it straddles aggression and sophistication. There’s a polish here that doesn’t sacrifice the band’s punk roots; it just sharpens them. The dips in score on a couple of tracks mostly come from slight energy lulls rather than real missteps. But as a whole, this is one of those records that doesn’t overstay its welcome and feels thematically tight. It’s politically aware, emotionally grounded, and still hits just as hard decades later.
Already knew and love the album.
I liked it, just was not super memorable for me :/
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It's a mix of new wave and punk, kind of The Clash meets Mod-era The Who: the singing is similar to Joe Strummer, and there are full downstrokes of guitar reminiscent of Pete Townsend. A really fun record with many strong songs, I'm surprised I'd never heard it.
ich fande es erstaunlich dass ich einige lieder kannte, weil ich greenday nur vom namen her kenne. ich würde in meiner freizeit eigentlich nicht freiwillig greenday hören aber ich bin nicht abgeneigt.
I really love this album by the Jam, so 5 stars. I already had Sound Affects(I'm expecting Setting Sons at some point) and I wish that the list had one album by a band and then acknowledged that they have other great albums so that there is move variety on the list. Not really a review of the album just an observation about this challenge.
It's nice! I see Paul Weller's name involved. I didn't recognize The Jam but I did recognize him. Similar to Black Sabbath, which I just reviewed yesterday, I find it funny how all this punk and rock and metal is so delicate 40-50 years on. But these tunes are catchy and cute and quick; none are hooking me.
Feels like The Clash with a much narrower range (from their straightforward rock sensibilities). Quite enjoyed myself with this one, even the accented singing. Four feels a bit too high, three feels a bit too low. Sticking with my round-down policy, even if this is harsh.
Late 70s New Wave punk from the UK.
Decent 3 stars
Omg, thats boring english punk or rock, idc. Doesnt catch on, so… Just waste time
Like the last Jam album we had, this one didn't change how I already felt about them. They have a few tracks here and there I don't mind but mostly I find it a bit with the bouncy bass and London focus it reminds me of a more serious Chas and Dave. Didn't hate it but would never seek it out, 2.5.
I enjoyed Down in the Tube Station at Midnight, but the rest largely passed me by. Didn't hate it.
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.....
7/10
Personally I preferred their saxophone-era work, like "Business as Usual" and "Cargo". I did think it was kinda weird they all turned Australian, though...
Fine
A strange one, like no stand out songs, but the whole thing is a carefully curated journey into the post punk new-ish wave world. The band are tight and Paul Weller is inspired, a nice time.
Unremarkable. Maybe I would have got more into this if I was in a different mood when I listened to it. It's not bad or really even boring per se, just nothing that really captivated me
lots of high-scoring reviews which means i'm once again out of step. sorry! this was 3 city baby!
man, another album by the Jam that isn't one of their big ones. what's the deal, robert dimery?? this is solid british new wave music, but is missing that je ne sais quoi to make it excellent. my favorites below piqued my interest at one point or another after like 3-4 full album listens, but i couldn't really tell you what any of them are about or what they sound like. honestly this is around a 3.5 for me but i like the lyrics and overall sound so i'll round up. favorites: all mod cons, david watts, english rose, billy hunt, it's too bad, 'a' bomb in wardour street, down in the tube station at midnight
Zzzzz seguro esto sono muy adelantado en su momento, pero bueno, un bodrio. Nota: 2.5
Very average.
I like the more punk tracks on this album, but a lot of the other stuff is fine also. It mostly just didn't leave a strong impression on me Standouts Mr. Clean Billy Hunt 3/5
Listened to before: No For a long time I wanted to listen to The Jam, now I finally got to do that. From my perspective this is a solid album, without being remarkable. It has quite a few bops, that I added to playlists, but I don't think the full album will get many more spins. But let us talk about English Rose: This is the absolute standout track - a magical little love song that hits me directly in the feels. In total I am exactly between 3 and 4 stars (3.5 obviously). Going to be friendly and hit the four stars button
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."
Great English punk
So much fun.
This was a solid listen! It was enjoyable. Nothing really blew my mind but everything was fun to listen to. An album that kind of just passed me by but in a good way.
The Jam was one of the first albums that I got when I started this project. At the time, I was really impressed (I didn't know how much brit-indie was in my future.) So I was kind of mixed when I saw this was the album today. However, in a positive shift, I realized that I still like this band. This album is really cool! Its a little less punk than their earlier stuff, but I like that its kind of that early new wave or post punk. The vocals kind of remind me of The Smiths, but the music is overall a little more punchy and peppy.
A pretty average alt-rock offering. Didn't care for it, but it was also listenable.
Not my jam, but it was fine. Listenable. But if this is all mods can you imagine how boring vanilla is
KICK THE ENGLISH OUT OF THE STUDIO
Really liked this album. Fun and punky but still very melodic - great songs. Super enjoyable from start to finish.
A two-day Jam-fest! Well, I enjoyed this marginally less than Sound Affects. It somehow felt a bit looser and more raw, and a lot of the little hooks and melodies stayed with me, although they felt somehow like less fully realised and perfected songs. I could see a lot of influence on Britpop, especially the likes of Supergrass and Elastica, not to mention Ocean Colour Scene, who worked a fair bit with Paul Weller in due course. This album also has one of my personal favourite features; really good bass guitar work.
I really thought I wasn't going to like this, and while it wasn't anything earth shaking, I enjoyed the sound. Proto pop punk with a proto 80's new wave sound. Top it off with a lead singer that sounds like Colin Hay from Men at Work. There's no way it should have worked, but it kind of did; in a awkward teenaged all knees and elbows kind of way.
Mr Clean is NOT the bald guy, he is us all.
I was sorta bored by this, to be honest. None of these songs had any particular hook. It just sounded like some bar band.
This album from a technical music point of view was good but too repetitive for my taste.
S'alright. A good vibe but overall wasn't particularly impactful and not quite my cup of tea.
Kinda clash like. Not the best but not the worst
Weller's songwriting grew up on All Mod Cons which is a bit of a Jam classic even if seems like a big nod to Ray Davies/The Kinks. Pretty consistent and some great singles like A Bomb In Wardour Street and Down in The Tube Station. Cutting stuff for 1978. 4/5
Definitely late 70s Brit pop rock. Not super interesting but not bad
okay I like this a lot! Who-inspired in the best way possible. I don't know if I would seek it out, but maybe I will
No
Good fun, high energy, bouncy and interesting
I've never really been particularly fond of The Jam. Personally felt they lacked the spikiness of other bands of the era - and listening to a full album of their material just kind of showed how one note their schtick could be. Aside from a couple of slower tracks, this all sort of blended together for me.
Solid rock album. The melodies were simple but pretty memorable.
Pretty good! I had the other album by The Jam about 3 years ago, and I was ambivalent about it then. Now that my taste has broadened a bit, I enjoyed this more. I’d consider listening to it again. Would rate 3.5
Okay music, a bit dated for my taste and
It's kind of generic 70s rock music, something my white uncle would have listened to back in the day.
British
About as British as it gets. I was unfamiliar with them and I’m glad I discovered them. 4/5
Better than the other Jam album so far. However, still not the top tier of album. But good nonetheless.
70’s music
top
4/5
It was a fine listen, but nothing really grabbed me to make me want or expect to revisit. I might come back to it later, but nothing compells me.
8.5/10! wasn't expecting to like it, enojyed it for the most part!!
More mediocre lightweight punk, great. Failed to grab me completely, felt very beige and dull. Even tried a second time to listen a bit more attentative but nope.
I think I have a week spot for British punk/new wave. I just like the energy and sound of it. Felt like a mix Talking heads and The Who or The Kinks. I mean, “David Watts” could easily been written by The Kinks. Favourite songs were “David Watts” and “Mr Clean” with it’s cool riff. There are not too many hits but I still thought it’s a good album. Going to give it a weak 4.
Pretty nice
Enjoyed it as I was listening to it but came back an hour later to make a note and couldn't remember a single track
Fun punky album. 7/10. David Watts and English Rose good. Can see influence on Blur.
This is a weird one to me because although I like it isn’t at all memorable. I think The Jam are a greatest hits band for me. 3.5 rounding up because it is worth more than a 3
Just okay for me, I like some of their more famous songs, but not this album.
This was such a fresh, distinct sound amidst the raw energy of the punk movement, it was easy to fall in love with these guys. Still love 'em
esse eu fui com 0 expectativa e me surpreendi positivamente bem interessante
SE FOSSE MAIS BRITÂNICO QUE ISSO EXPLODIA tá perdoado porque é bem new wave. eh agradavel!! parece que as letras são bem críticas ao governo/sociedade inglesa, mas não tive tempo de ler não
Meh except English rose, very peaceful
Pretty standard, quite good sounding for the time 3
Not bad, I enjoyed it. I found it better to be background music jamming along (see what I did there?), but not really grabbing my attention for any one particular song. Their later work in the 80's was a bit more polished and better. 3/5
Nja, det är lite trevande. Det skulle bli bättre.
Its weird going into this already liking the Paul Weller solo stuff, but this has gotta be a step up. Its not really got the total aggressiveness of some of the other British punk stuff, but thats quite good, I don't think you call totally call this punk though. I really like the acoustic song(s). Its just overall really catchy and fun. Not really any downsides either. Favourite songs: all Overall around 8/10
Not my fave Jam album but still love it
It's perfectly fine if unoriginal rock songs. I guess I am not British enough to care about "mod revival" music in 2025. Oh well.
Appreciate the bands they inspired but The Jam itself is only alright. Many good songs here just some miss the mark.
New to me and I like it!
Overall: 8/10 I knew these guys were british exactly 22 seconds in. Such a great, fun, punky album. The instrumentation is creative and unique. I love the vocals, they fit so well with the songs they wrote. If anything, I'm just surprised I never even remotely had this on my radar. The bassist is insane. Fav Song: Mr. Clean Least Fav Song: Fly
Pretty cool. Never heard of the band before. Off to a good start!
I like The Jam
This was an amazing discovery! I didn't know anything about Paul Weller except "You do something to me", I'm happy to know more and I will listen to more records by The Jam for sure
Not bad but some songs are a bit filler. They got better as they went along!
:/
Enjoyed this 7/10
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!
fínasta nýbylgjurokk. mörg frábær lög sem ég þekkti áður. önnur síðri sem vinna líklega á. ekki jafn góð og sound affects en fær 3,5. á skilið aðra umferð.
This is the sort of underground garage stuff that I don't really like but I can kind of tolerate. This kind of stuff would be on in the shop all the time. Very nostalgic for that reason but not my favorite album. Very "of the genre", and did have some cool sound switches.
Didn’t expect to enjoy this, but it’s solid post-punk
This was good
Overall, I liked this album. There are a few standout tracks I really enjoyed. The lead singer’s voice and the driving beats really impressed me. I also enjoyed the varied rhythms, especially within songs. Dynamic.
Staccato punk. Not my jam. But I started my music journey on the back edge of this music. But, I’m a product of the 80s.
Love it. Favourite track is Down In The Tube Station At Midnight, which is a brilliant song. A lot of love for David Watts and English Rose too 4/5
The Jam are probably the second most recognisable band of all time after Houmous & Chutney. Incredible to think how H&C are so recognisable when also so diverse in what they do. The polar opposite to The Jam. 3.0 4. David Watts
Their is nothing all that interesting here, but it is good enough for a full listen. 3 stars or C.
Pleasantly surprised by this album. I hadn't heard of it, but I really enjoyed it. Good variation across the album, some angrier songs, some softer songs. Reminded me a bit of The Clash. Will definitely listen again. Fav song: Down In The Tube Station At Midnight Least fav: English Rose
Let’s give credit where credit is due. These guys laid the groundwork for bands, like the Clash. However, The Clash did it better. Much much better. It’s painfully obvious that they ripped the Jam off LOL! But it’s just not exciting for me. Bland vocals and the hooks are not hooky enough.
Idk another fuckiny British album. Sick of it 4/10
I could probably near enough copy and paste my review of 'Sound Affects' by The Jam and it would fit here. In fact I will copy part of it: "The guitar is very good, and probably the high point of the record, some nice riffs scattered throughout the album... The bass is very punchy and front and centre. I enjoy Paul Weller on vocals a lot, an iconic voice". Nothing more to say really, consistently good, nothing incredible.
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!
Pretty good and a potential grower of an album. Not everything hit but I have a feeling I'll revisit this one in the future.
Forgettable British rock again help
Popmuziek uit de tijd dat popmuziek nog werd gemaakt door bandjes met instrumenten. Het is niet onaardig, maar de zanger heeft wel weer zo'n typische Britse toneelacademie stem. Verder is het wel redelijk oké om naar te luisteren. Een beetje wat je tegenwoordig indie zou noemen, maar dan wat overgeproduceerd. 3 sterren.
So glad I’ve finished all the fucking Paul Weller albums. Both of these stars are for ‘English Rose’ which is a lovely song despite the wilfully incorrect grammar.
not bad
Quite enjoyed this one- the haircuts do look a bit silly. Nice sound and vibe of the album . Bit too English for me though. specific rating- 4.3 Fav song - billy watts Least fav - English rose
An album where I hadn't listened to any of the songs before and am very glad to have them heard now! Exactly what I want the list to deliver. Favourite: Down In The Tube Station At Midnight Least: English Rose
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.
interesting to see where all the influence for the 2000s indie bands came from
Good one. Don't know what to say, besides that you can hear from when and where this thing comes and that's not a bad thing. Fav Track: Down in the Tube Station at Midnight
Incredible!
Decent
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.
not my jam 🙂
Pretty great. The second side grabbed me more than the first, though both were good. Down In the Tube Station is a fantastic song. High 4, pretty close to 5
nahhh not it. One of those bands that was trying to sound like others imo
this is good! i remember picking up a jam compilation as a teenager and not really digging it, too bad i hadn't found this record instead.
Another band trying to sound like the Kinks. This one is better than some of the other ones from the 90s.
Good music. Good vibes. Good times.
Another decent pick on this list. Was an album that when it was done I hadn't nothing bad, nor anything super praiseworthy to say about it.
A nice surprise
No
Mod revival with the Modfather Paul Weller, influencing many BritPop bands like Oasis.
The Jam always have an unmistakable yobbo flavour but this one feels more like a football hooligan sad because their team lost again than kicking your head in for spilling their pint.
I don’t really get this, but it’s decent, and I have loved a lot of Paul Weller solo work much more recently. This is his formative years, and it’s a thing, but it’s a little too two dimensional for me.
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
I finally get why people like The Jam.
I enjoyed this one quite a bit, I could put the album on and listen to it in full. Sounds like a nice intermediate between the Beatles and the police, I’m surprised I never heard of them before. Four at five.
Бодренько епте
It was good and cool. Never listened much to The Jam, they never really cracked the U.S.
Definitely The Jam. To be fair, no one sounds quite like them which I guess is a massive compliment. It doesn't really tickle my happy spot but decent enough.
Fantastic. An easy and fun listen. I ended up letting the algorithm keep playing more songs by The Jam after it ended.
3.5/5
I was excited to get introduced to a band who are introduced as contemporaries of the Sex Pistols and the Specials. They were pretty forgettable, unfortunately. To think they were called punk. Nope.
Punchy, classic tracks that have aged well, particularly the singles
Decent album, has that distinct early rock sound to it.
Good, easy to listen background album. Very The-Clashy.
Pretty good punk album, highlights were the first 2 songs and David Watts. Overall 5.5/10.
An inoffensive album to listen to. Not all that complex, and to me it was not very catchy. You could definitely use it as pleasant background music for social gatherings.
Not up my street, but not bad. shame it all sounds the same to me
Very high quality, with a precision and sharpness that still sounds impressive. "In the Crowd" is wonderful, as are "Down In the Tube Station" and, in another vein entirely, "English Rose." "David Watts" and "A Bomb in Wardour Street" and "Mr Clean" have much to recommend them, too. This record points forward, and is an obvious and significant uptick from their debut effort.
75/100. Tight songwriting, sharp energy, and a consistent sound. It doesn’t necessarily push any boundaries, but it doesn’t need to. It’s just a reliable, well-executed listen that holds up nicely.
Fast paced and catchy, like The Kinks with some early punk energy. But oh my god it's just so British
This was fine, some good songs but overall this is not my cup of tea.
Solid album, a blend of new wave, punk and pop, with a British feel and themes. This features the typical new wave jittery melodies, erratic bass lines and up beat drums. The vocals are clear and pop-ish. The themes are classic - love, british life, queen and country. There are also a couple of nice ballads, which do fit into the record, even though they are not typical for this style. A couple of songa stand out, namely "English Rose" and "Down in the Tube Station at Midnigh". The rose is a great ballad, and tube station is the best song on the album in my opinion, it's raw, melodic and has a great story. Nothing felt too stand-out about the album, it's fun to listen to, giving it a 3.
A good album overall but nothing noteworthy to add. Best - David Watts, A Bomb In Wardour Street, and Down In The Tube Station At Midnight, and English Rose Worse - no bad songs 3.00-3.25/5
Nice record, but I didn't really find it that much different or special compared to other similar records from that period of time. 3.5 stars
This album had some sneaky good songs. As it oscillated between pure pop numbers and early punk roughness there was magic to be found. Some really fun early punk on here and some precursors for new wave appearing as well. Not bad!
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.
Not bad. Sounds like a slightly new-wave version of Billy Bragg.
Melodic pop-punk
Ugh, enough with the boring British stuff already
Great album. Just good old fashioned British Mod music with just enough swagger from Paul Weller to make it sound awesome!
That bassist saved this record for me.
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
It’s a nice album. Their music is like a softer, rounded off, punk sound. The bad thing is that there are no stand out songs in my opinion. If you listen to two of the songs, you’ve heard the range of the music on this album which is a shame.
The Jam made several consistently great albums in the late 70s, All Mod Cons is one of those albums from that period - it is a very good mod reviwal/power pop album, with great short, punchy songs, but similarly to Sound Affects, it doesn't have an outstanding or wow factor to earn a 5.
Paul Weller has been ever present like the sun throughout my life. I didnt always appreciate him, but he was always around sharing warmth and energy. The older i get and the more of everything i hear, the more i enjoy basking in his rays. This has the usual blend of moddish energy and hint of the balladeer he could also be. I heard English Rose on his retrospective orchestral album and was interested to hear its origional form. Be more Weller