Reviews (page 2 of 8)
A good album, I liked Strength Of Your Nature the most.
Beautiful, and huge variety of styles!
This is pretty cool, easy to listen to, but still engaging.
Got me horny
5/5 Loved this. Given my previous knowledge of Weller's greatness, I naively assumed that The Style Council would be indistinguishable from The Jam. Of course there's some interesting crossovers between the two, but this album plays with jazz and even some reggae-esque beats too. Reminded me a little bit of Arctic Monkeys's controversial departure from their indie sound on their latter albums, particularly with the elevated 'lounge music' feel. Brilliant, will listen again.
Despite the criticism this album has gotten on this app, i really enjoyed it. And im not the type of person who necessarily enjoys new wave music. People were calling Weller's vocals corny and cringy but I loved what he did for this project and how he made it better. Favorite song: My Ever Changing Mood --> I love the emotional piano part on here so much it makes this such an enjoyable song. Plus, Weller did his thing on this song.
This is a really solid album. It reminded me a bit of George Michael, which is a good thing. Not really my regular listening but I enjoyed it a lot.
Loved it from the opening Peanuts piano intro song. Mixture of jazz and rock with some random old school hip hop thrown in for extra why the fuck notness. very cool and unique.
What a treat
What a different album unlike most things I’ve heard. 8/10
5/5 - how have I not come across this before?!
4 meritate! Se non 5
06/19/24 S Tier—————————5 Mick’s Blessing Me Ship Came In! You’re The Best Thing A Tier—————————4 The Whole Point of No Return Blue Cafe Headstart for Happiness The Paris Match Strength of Your Nature Here’s The One That Got Away My Ever Changing Moods A Gospel Dropping Bombs On The Whitehouse Council Meetin B Tier—————————3 C Tier—————————2 D Tier—————————1
Even allowing for the fact that it's a personal fave, one believes one can maintain some level of critical objectivity relative to the obvious excellence of this record, which the editors damn with faint praise or are apologetic or maybe just wrong about its uneven qualities. Because it is objectively great throughout. Cut after cut is exploratory and compelling and fun. The contemporized R&B and funk. The lovely jazz bits in the middle. The pure, sweet love ballad, the unabashed dance track/club banger, the gospel inflections, the perfectly curated instrumentation, both synthesized and organic. Even the rap works. It's not "too eclectic for its own good" but rather great becausae of that very eclecticism, which is well integrated and balanced. More importantly: the whole thing drips warmth and humanity, authenticity and affirmation (which builds steadily throughout and culminates beautifully in the last few cuts, as if the band wants us to be happy, wants us to deeply enjoy music and life, in multiple modes, reflecting the artful genre merging and showing how what's great about the classic and traditional and why/where/how they might be upgrade/upcycled. A quibble: the piano solo version of "Ever Changing Moods" (one's own personal song of the century) is a cut below than the full single version, which is a "flawless pop tune" (editors have that right), a masterpiece, a full stop.Bottom line: Weller is serially underrated – an evolver like Bowie, but with better taste, one would argue, and less showoffy/peacocky tendencies. Bowie insists on showing us how cool he is; Weller just shows up cool, again and again. Exploring genres, not trying to remake them in some oddball image. But one will say it again – it wasn't just that one was young and beautiful and smart and hopeful when one first heard this – discovered for and shared with friends and felt both smart and cool for doing that but also learned what one would become as a listener, reflections about which this 1,001 exercise has inspired – but that the music, was/is/remains excellent.
Now this is accessible jazz. Easy great listen.
Despite a slight overall quality drop from the Jam, Style Council have of couse made some great albums too, in particular this one. Very smooth.
I am so sad that I didn't know of this album years and years ago. I absolutely loved it and ended up listening to it three times. Definitely going to be checking out the rest of the band's discography
My Ever Changing Mood Lijepe laganica pjesme
very cool
Reminded me of the amazing Live Aid show in London 1985 - a show I was at working for a London Radio station doing stage site interviews and managed to get Bowie, Brian May and anothers to stop and say a few words - Paul Weller was fantastic that day The Style Council where very popular with the crowd too.
Wow I enjoyed this a lot right from the get-go. There was such a pleasant variety of sounds and genres, and I enjoyed every song on this album, especially the instrumental pieces. In fact, I'm gonna go listen to it again.
Fantastisches Album, jazz, Frauenstimme, richtig gut.
This album is freaking awesome. I can’t believe I hadn’t listen to these guys before I’m gonna have to dig more into this genre.
Nice and cool from the Modfather :) Whilst I really loved The Jam and their unique sound, you can't argue that Paul Weller's voice and writing style is perfectly suited for soul too. Really nice stuff
the listed genre of this album should just be “yes” 10/10
Ooo right from the first track I was very into this! Fuck yeah, I'm here for all the funky jazzy keyboard noodling and fun the Style Council has to give! Oh wow, okay left turn. This is such a diverse album in and of itself. Another left turn! And another! Wow. It should feel like an uncomfortable mishmash of moods and styles that give you whiplash with the constant change up track to track, but you know, somehow it WORKS! I enjoyed every second of this strange fun journey, and I loved not knowing where it was going to take me next. I don't know how they fused and melded so many different vibes into this thing without it feeling like a cloudy confusing clusterfuck. It's absolutely brilliant. I love it, will be listening on loop all day today. Great album, flawlessly crafted.
Excellent, uplifting and elegant. The piano solo version of "Ever Changing Moods" is lovely and this might be one's favorite all-time pop song. The jazz playing is well beyond competent – it swings, in fact – and they don't try and do too much with it. "Cafe Blue" and "Paris Match" are heartbreaking, swooningly so. A classic of sophistication and, as with nearly every Weller program, this looks forward even as it appreciates the best of what's past.
Found my new anthem today
What a hidden pearl. I never heard of this album or the artist, but I fell in love. Such good music, especially the opening song Mick's blessing. Good mix of Jazz and pop.
El nuevo proyecto de Paul Weller, guitarrista y compositor de The Jam. Un excelente disco Mod, que toma un poco de Jazz, un poco de rock, pero sobretodo el espíritu del Muzak para subvertirlo con una capa de ironía.
incredible album
It's definitely just the mood that I'm in because I hit 1500 on chess.com while listening to this album, but what a fun album. It's like a perfectly unique mix of jazz, soul, 80s pop, and even hip-hop. I also learned that paul weller started The Jam, whose albums I've given like twos and threes but this is such a step up from that. My Ever Changing Moods is a great exhibit of the first 3 of this combo and is my favorite on this album. It also reminds me of that prefab sprout album I gave a 5.
This was an unexpected treat! Really great. A lot of very different moods and vibes. Will for sure be returning to this in the near future.
The Style Council er svo vanmetið verkefni. Algjörlega dásamleg plata hjá þeim. Þessi útgáfa af My Ever Changing Moods er stórfengleg og You're The Best Thing er næstfallegasta ástarlag sem ég veit um.
Cafe Blew My Mind
Альбом великолепный. Звучит потрясно, музыка в стиле соул/джаз. Это здорово :)
Not sure if this *really* makes the cut for 5 stars or not, but it brightened my day.
Always loved this album. Grateful for the reminder
Great, would listen more
I used to listen to Style Council a lot in my 18th. I had mod friends. This was the soundtrack through Northern Italy with Roberto. We also visited Paul Weller backstage after a show in Mannheim he was very approachable. He had DJs in the foyer playing Northern Soul and hung out with the fans after soundcheck and after the show. Having said all of that I don’t think this album stands the test of times. Some of it sounds pretentious and derivative. Some tracks sound like easy listening Muzak. However the modfathers brilliance shines through on tracks like “You’re the best thing”, “My ever changing moods” and “The Paris Match” with the amazing Tracy Thorn….
Weller after the jam, soul jazz and rap My ever changing moods The best thing
A little bit of everything for everyone
All over the place, from jazzy to brit pop/ rock to hip hop. I enjoyed not knowing exactly what was coming next and found a lot of the musical compositions to be fun if not the most interesting. I wish there were more genre flipping albums in general.
curioso
Some of the vocal performances aren't my favorites, but instrumentally this absolutely slaps.
rap, jazz, and some sort of indie thing going on is actually really fun, solid album to me
Mick’s blessings-nice intro song,8/10 The whole point of no return-allright song,8.5/10 Me ship came in- nice song,nice horns,8.5/10 Blue Cafe- nice somg,maybe a bit better,8.7/10 The Paris Match- nice mellow song,8.7/10 My Ever Changing Moods- such nice piano,amazing lyrics,9/10,* Dropping bombs on the whitehouse- nice piano drums,hirns and the walking bass,8.8/10 A Gospel-what a intro,nice lyrics,8.5/10,* Strength of Your Nature,nice vocals,guitar,bass,8.5/10 You’re the best thing- nice sing,8.5/10 Here’s the one that got away-nice song,8.5/10 Headstart dor happines-nice song,8.5/10 Council Meetin-8/10 Album Rating: 8.5/10
As much as I don’t want to be associated with anything called sophisti-pop, I did enjoy this. Mostly a 3, but a strong ending to the album bumps this up to a borderline 4.
Nice variety of chill and upbeat catchy songs. Very 80s but I enjoyed it the whole way through. So far 4/5 stars
Very solid and very British album. I like the variety of genre and energy. Blue Cafe and Headstart For Happiness were my favorites in particular. 7.0/10
I don't like cafes but I'll make an exception. 4/5
They really threw everything but the kitchen sink at this one - jazz, rap, ballads, and I suspect someone had been listening to Dexy's Midnight Runners too. I can see why it must have wrong-footed Jam fans at the time, but I'm realising that I like Paul Weller in (most) of his ever-changing moods.
Sophisticated pop with loungey and jazzy overtones. With the exception of an awkward rap-like song, the album has great elaborate songs that contrast beautifully with the angry political lyrics.
That was cute. I liked the sort of jazzy start and even though it ended more rock/popy, it was fun.
This is a fun and interesting album. The jazzy vibe pulls you in right away, then it wanders into a mix of different sounds and experiments. Even the hip-hop track lands better than expected, and there’s a lot to appreciate in how varied it is. That said, as a full album it can feel a bit scattered,more like a collection of ideas than a cohesive album.
nice, mellow music. good stuff
Chill
lindas vibes
Brought by memories
Jazzy, feel-good and a little mellow this was a delight to listen and vibe to. 8/10, Favorite Song: Dropping Bombs on the WhiteHouse
Saved? ✅ Would listen again? ✅ Would recommend to anyone? ✅ Would buy on Vinyl? ✅
Woke lib nonsense
I didn't dig every track on this album, but I did dig enough to say I dig this album. A little eclectic, but the jazz sets were stellar.
This sounds like something out of time for 1984. I did enjoy listening to it.
Good vibe to listen to
This was rather fun to listen to. I’d probably listen to it again. 4/5
Terrible music to accompany a gym session. I do not recommend that at all. Smoking a cigarette in a bar on the Seine? Probably the correct environment. Standout tracks for me were The Paris Match, My Ever Changing Moods and You're The Best Thing. Definitely a 4 when in the right place.
17/03/2026 Surprising as I'd never heard of this band before and I was pleasantly surprised. Spotify listeners: 575.3k
I actually liked this album. It’s unique but not for everyone.
Love, love, this! Melodic, great lyrics, very nice album!
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this, but it’s mostly great! The instrumental tracks really stand out. Favourite track: The Paris Match
I like this I misjudged it at first but now I see how much of a great band the style council is they’ve got various musical incorporations and their leftist political leanings are very pronounced and it’s rare to see that in a pop group at least it’s not that common!! My fav songs are: my ever changing moods / a gospel
Stilig. Svak firer.
Hadde aldri hørt om sophisti-pop før, men jeg liker det. Herlig eklektisk miks av jazz, pop og easy listening.
Överlag härligt sound, lyssnar gärna igen!
primera canción me encantó El resto lindas
Disco com uma diversidade de influências e ritmos
2026.02.25
wow sure is something for everyone on this little album. Based on the ratings/ reviews I was sure I wouldn't enjoy it but heck this was fun. I liked the whiplash of each song. I don't know what makes this so special to be on this list but I enjoyed it!
wth they got soul
leuk
Experimental. Enjoyed
Very good
Quite good easy listening album, the swing and early jazz influences surprised me, this being an album made in the 80s. Sure it has a couple of cheesy 80s rap/italo disco drivel songs, but if you delete/skip them, this is actually one of the finest elevator music albums ever made, and I mean that as a compliment.
7/10
If ADHD was an album... Like, what genre is this album? It starts off with 1980s Pop, then it's easy listening, some Rock, Jazz, oh, a rap song, back to 1980s love ballads, and then some more easy listening. Somehow, I enjoyed this mess. Favorite Track: "A Gospel".
It's a nice enough album to listen to, and the musicianship is superb. Weller's rapping is, indeed, a bit of an embarassment, but overall, I enjoyed the listening experience.
not my type
Definition of versatile
The great songs are great - ‘My Ever Changing Moods’, ‘You’re the Best Thing’, and ‘Headstart for Happiness’. And then there’s just the fact of Paul Weller. However, the bad songs are bad. I’m still going with 4 stars - 3 for the release itself and 1 for 80s nostalgia.
Paul Weller has made a lot of music (The Jam, The Style Council, his long solo career). I loved The Jam and much of his solo work, but I've always found The Style Council to be the most interesting portion of his discography. I would say this isn't my favorite Style Council album - it loses some of its charm around "A Gospel" and "Strength of Your Nature" - but otherwise it's a good outing.
Love this album. Catchy pop tunes with a soul backbone. And powerful vocals from Paul Weller… as always..
On va mettre les choses au clair tout de suite. Si tu regardes ma discothèque, entre un vinyle de Sunn O))) qui fait trembler les murs et une cassette usée de Godflesh, tu vas tomber sur ça : "Café Bleu". Et tu vas te demander si je n'ai pas fait un AVC ou si je n'ai pas perdu un pari bourré un soir de 1998. Moi, l'amateur de bruits industriels, de larsens contrôlés et de noirceur abyssale, je me retrouve à hocher la tête sur du Paul Weller en col roulé qui sirote un cappuccino en terrasse. Mais voilà, on est en 1984. J'ai 14 ans, le monde est en train de changer, la Cold Wave bat son plein, mais Paul Weller, lui, il a décidé de faire le plus gros bras d'honneur de l'histoire du rock anglais. Le mec avait l'or dans les mains avec The Jam, il était le porte-parole d'une génération, le roi du revival Mod, l'énergie punk canalisée dans des hymnes prolétaires. Et qu'est-ce qu'il fait ? Il saborde le navire en pleine gloire. Bam, terminé, plus de Rickenbacker qui sature, plus de costumes étriqués noirs. Place aux mocassins, aux imperméables beiges et à... l'Europe continentale fantasmée. C'est là que "Café Bleu" débarque, comme un ovni dans un champ de mines. Avec mon background de disquaire indé, j'ai vu passer des tonnes de disques "de rupture", mais celui-là, il a une saveur particulière. C'est un suicide commercial qui s'est transformé en triomphe artistique (et commercial aussi, paradoxalement). Weller s'associe avec Mick Talbot, et ensemble, ils montent The Style Council. Rien que le nom, ça sonne comme une réunion tupperware organisée par des étudiants en art aux Beaux-Arts de Paris. Alors, pourquoi 4 sur 5 ? Pourquoi je ne brûle pas ce disque en écoutant "Unknown Pleasures" ? Parce que c'est brillant, bordel, c'est d'une arrogance magnifique. Weller a compris avant tout le monde que le "punk", ce n'était pas un son, c'était une attitude. Et quoi de plus punk, en 1984, quand tout le monde veut faire du rock héroïque ou de la synth-pop glaciale, que de sortir un album à moitié instrumental, blindé de jazz, de soul, et de références à la culture café parisienne ? Ce qui frappe d'entrée, c'est cette "pléiade d'invités". Weller, ce n'est plus le frontman qui gueule devant son micro, car ici, il s'efface, il laisse la place. On croise par exemple Tracey Thorn d'Everything But The Girl sur "The Paris Match". Rien que ce morceau, c'est une tuerie de mélancolie jazzy avec la voix traînante, le piano de Talbot... On est loin de la furie de "Town Called Malice", mais on est en plein dans une classe internationale. C'est doux, c'est feutré, c'est "sophisti-pop" avant même que le terme ne devienne une insulte dans les années 90. L'album est un fourre-tout génial et c'est ça qui me plaît. C'est le bordel organisé d'un mec qui a décidé d'écouter sa collection de disques de Blue Note, de Soul Motown et de chanson française, et de tout mixer. Il y a des instrumentaux qui frôlent la musique d'ascenseur (mais l'ascenseur d'un hôtel 5 étoiles, attention), comme "Mick's Blessings". Il y a ce groove indéniable qui traverse l'album. Et puis il y a "My Ever Changing Moods" et je défie quiconque, même le plus puriste des fans de post-rock, de ne pas reconnaître que c'est une composition pop parfaite. La ligne de piano, la basse qui roule, la voix de Weller qui n'a jamais été aussi soul. C'est drôle mais quand je bossais à la radio dans les années 90, on avait tendance à mépriser un peu cette période de Weller. On attendait son retour au rock "sérieux" avec "Stanley Road". Mais avec le recul, "Café Bleu", c'est l'album de la liberté totale. Il y a même un morceau de rap, "A Gospel". Bon, soyons honnêtes deux secondes, le flow a mal vieilli, on dirait un prof d'anglais qui essaie d'être cool à la kermesse du collège, mais l'intention y est ! C'était audacieux pour un petit blanc-bec anglais de l'époque. Ce disque, c'est un carnet de voyage immobile. On passe de Paris à Londres, on flirte avec le cool jazz, on touche à la bossa nova, c'est un album "lifestyle". En l'écoutant, j'ai pas envie de pogo, j'ai envie de mettre une écharpe en soie et de lire Sartre en fumant des Gauloises (ce que je ne fais absolument pas dans la vraie vie, rassurez-vous, je préfère lire des fanzines obscurs). Il y a un côté "œuvre d'art totale" dans la démarche du Style Council. Les pochettes, les fringues, les clips, tout était pensé. Et musicalement, ça tient la route parce que les mélodies sont là. Weller n'a pas perdu son talent d'écriture, il l'a juste habillé différemment. Au lieu du denim et du cuir, il a mis du velours et du lin. Bien sûr, pour mes oreilles habituées à des sons un peu plus"extrêmes", c'est une sucrerie. C'est léger et ça s'écoute "sans déplaisir", c'est même plus que ça, c'est un disque qui fait du bien. C'est une parenthèse enchantée dans une discographie souvent tendue. C'est la preuve qu'on peut être un "Angry Young Man" et avoir envie, parfois, de juste se poser et de claquer des doigts sur un contretemps. C'est aussi un album qui a ouvert pas mal de portes car sans le Style Council, est-ce qu'on aurait eu toute cette vague acid-jazz des années 90 ? Pas sûr. Weller a défriché le terrain pour des groupes qui allaient venir dix ans plus tard. Il a rendu le jazz cool pour les kids qui venaient du rock. Alors oui, 4 sur 5. Parce que c'est un album courageux, élégant, parfois un peu prétentieux (on ne va pas se mentir, les titres en français, c'est un peu "too much"), mais terriblement attachant. C'est la bande-son idéale pour un dimanche matin pluvieux, quand on a la flemme de mettre un disque qui demande une concentration intellectuelle intense. On laisse couler, on apprécie la virtuosité de Mick Talbot aux claviers, on se laisse porter par la voix de Weller qui n'a jamais été aussi versatile. C'est peut-être ça vieillir, finalement. Apprécier la douceur autant que la fureur ou alors c'est juste que Paul Weller est un génie qui peut tout se permettre. Probablement un peu des deux. En tout cas, "Café Bleu" reste une pièce maîtresse, non pas du rock, mais de la pop sophistiquée britannique. Un indispensable, même pour les vieux cons comme nous.
7/10 Favorites: My Ever Changing Moods Headstart For Happiness
uber posh and unmistakably british jazzpop music from the center of the 1980s. it's very clean and very beachy. sophisti-pop is a genre that emphasizes '80s contemporary pop clichés and cheesiness, and while it may not be for everyone, this album is a neat little gem if you're wanting something quirky.
Ziemlich abwechslungsreich, Rap, Jazz, Gesang. Auf jeden Fall interessant, kann man nochmal hören?
4.2
Really enjoyed this, possibly an album with the biggest range of genres packed into 40mins that i've ever heard i think i enjoyed it despite, rather than because of that. We open with a bit of honky tonk piano, move through instrumental jazz and hip hop stylings that brought beastie boys to mind, and not even sure where we finish.
Well, if Paul Weller intended to try a sound that was different than The Jam, he certainly succeeded. And I sorta dig it. Some really good stuff on here, albeit with a bit of what feels like filler.
I liked it, although the first half was a little better than the second
Smooth sophisticated Style
The transition from The Jam at the time was tricky and some people reacted against Paul Weller and The Style Council. I wasn't one of them. Great album
Stylish
It starts out like a jazz album, but very quickly (and smoothly) moves through itself semi-eclectically.
For me, it’s an almost perfect album for the last day of the year. Chill, jazzy, funky, unexpected British rap ahahahah. In a world full of New Year madness, it’s a piece of heaven, an island of the calm. I’ll relisten to it later, it’s great. And I want to listen to their next album “Our Favourite Shop” too. I added the first 7 songs to my playlist and then something happened. The first half of the album is 5 out of 5, the second half is worse, unfortunately. I added nothing to the playlist. It was really nice to listen to every song, but A Gospel (the rap song) was a turning point song. Firstly, wtf, it’s fucking strange, nigger rap style, but by a white dude. East Coast style, but British wrap. They’re copying Black East Coast style like Grandmaster Flash, Public Enemy or Run-DMC. It’s not Bronx rap, it’s London rap that copies the Bronx, and it feels weird in a bad way. Well, at least Paul Weller has balls to do that and probably did it one of the first in the UK, respect+. It’s a new band and an experimental album for Paul Weller after The Jam band is over. I think Cafe Bleu is a fantastic change of music style for Paul, this album is much better for me than Sound Affects by The Jam. So, overall… 4/5 —————————————— Liked: — Mick’s Blessings — The Whole Point Of No Return — Me Ship Came In! — Blue Cafe — The Paris Match — My ever Changing Moods — Dropping Bombs On The Whitehouse
first half was great, A Gospel was ... weird. The second half was like you were listening to a whole diffrent album suddenly. Overall an enjoyable album
might satisfy my ever changing mood...
This was a fantastic album. It genuinely felt exactly like being in a little cafe in France…until suddenly there was a rap song? That was weird. The change was so sudden that I literally checked to see if I’d accidentally connected to someone else’s AirPods. It was still a great song, though, and it certainly made the album a lot more interesting. The instrumental tracks in this were also great—amazing piano and ambience.
Nice and smooth one. Surprised to hear young Tracey Thorn here
Fond memories of this album and a carefree summer of 84. I’d forgotten how good it was and why I liked it so much at the time. Lots of jazzy guitar and soulful vocals, producing some cool laidback grooves
Interesting
7.5/10
Should be listened to on public transport at late hours(especially the jazzy part) Takes surprising turns, contains several different atmospheres
Sophisti-pop sounds so pretentious. This was a fun and funky adventure. Lotsa different sounds had me grooving.
I guess I really like Sophisti-Pop as a genre if this is what it is all about. Straight out with some really nice jazzy songs that I was not expecting at all. Middle got a little weird with some strange 80's cheese sounding hiphopish music. But then ended very strongly with a couple nice songs. Totally unexpected 4
The Jam is one of my favourite bands of all time. When I first got into them, I learned about Weller’s transition into Style Council and tried listening to the first album. To say I hated it might be an overstatement, but the sentiment was there: it was nothing like the Jam. This was my first time revisiting the band, with a new set of ears and an open mind. I absolutely love it!
Extra points for being an unexpected sound for that era. Interesting blend of jazz, hip hop, and pop.
Not my style, but it's quality music for its genre. Rare 4* that I'm unlikely to revisit, but I certainly don't mind listening to it.
This shit is wild, in a fun and good way.
Impressive amount of variety.
Pop, Jazz, 1984 -> 4
Honestly pretty nice for the most part. I like jazzy instrumentals more than most, so having those little interludes is always welcome. Seems like Weller should probably leave the rap to the experts, but I'm sure his heart was in the right place.
Na de vorige plaat zakte de moed me al in de schoenen bij het zien van (alweer!) het jaartal 1984. Ten onrechte gelukkig. De plaat heeft pit en is met talent gemaakt. Wel lijkt het alsof je een 'Het beste uit de Top 40'-LP hebt opgezet, want qua genre schiet het alle kanten op. Van jazz tot hiphop, van soulballad tot popsong. Blues, funk, een gastzangeres, het is er allemaal. Een echte knaller staat er niet op, maar het klinkt verzorgd.
Het is een mooie zondagmiddag, midden in de jaren '80. We gaan stappen vandaag. Maar eens rustig beginnen. In dit café wordt vrolijk op de piano gespeeld. De muziek is vrij jazzy en luistert, zoals het hoort in de kroeg, vrij makkelijk weg. Er komt af en toe een zanger of zangeres naast staan om de beleving compleet te maken. Een prima begin van de avond. Maar vanavond willen we meer. Er zijn zoveel cafés te verkennen in de stad. We zullen dansen op de synthesiser-disco klanken van deze tijd. We zullen de lokale rappers bezoeken. De avond wordt van ons! En af en toe komen we weer terug in dit prachtige kleine cafeetje om begeleid door de piano weer even met elkaar het goede gesprek te voeren. Op het leven! Proost!
Not what I expected at all. Where jazz meets pop.
interesting mix of blues, jazz, and hip hop
I would say that tone-wise this album was a bit all over the place, but what it is consistent in is quality. I found this album to be really fun. At one moment I was being soothed with beautiful melodies, the next nodding my head to the guitar, and the next dancing along. As far as being cohesive goes, this album is not that. What it is is a great listening experience, and I appreciate that.
Never listened to Style Council before but I did quite enjoy this. It’s a little bit all over the place but I enjoyed that. It’s quite good reading music. Still think Paul Weller is a bellend though. 4.0/5.0 Best Song: that one where they tried being really cool
Dripping with style and cool. This is an excellent set of tunes which is the measure of any jam album. My ever changing moods still sounds excellent and you're the best thing is arguably wellers best song. The style council are slept on because they are not the jam, however this is weller singing and sounding better than anytime before and after this excellent collection of songs.
Great!
Really good traveling music
3.5
Oh wow had no idea this was Paul Weller, but it’s great to see quite a lot of artistic development from the Jam stuff, which I guess would become stale after a while. I feel like they probably took inspiration from a load of places here, and this must have been really interesting to hear back then. I also think you realise one it’s stripped back a bit how great his singing voice is, and it’s also great to break things up with the guest singers and stuff. The rapping stuff is also quite good if you ignore the cultural appropriation. The funky stuff is great as well. Think this is also influential as quite a lot of more modern pop sounds quite a lot like this. Just overall very well written and interesting songs. Favourite songs: all. Overall around 8/10
Mér fannst mjög gaman hvað þeir skiptu ört um stíl! Eina stundina er ég að hlusta á jazz, þá næstu á hip hop og þarnæst á kántrýskotið popp
Skemmtileg instrumental inn á milli. Ég fíla þetta alveg svolítið. Og ég er jákvæður í dag.
This album was a trip, and not like the one the one that Mia is on. This album was an unexpected gem, that combined various genres, with a strong Jazz Pop presence. It reminded me of a 2000's band called the Kings of Convenience, and maybe a little bit of Belle & Sebastian.
LOVE the mix of genres, moods and songs/instrumentals on this album. So fun. Think it's especially cool to start and end with instrumentals instead of reeling people in with a catchy song and finishing on a banger; love the confidence there that folks will stick around and leave satisfied (and it worked! I was intrigued and both tunes were good).
What a strange album this is, I really like how varied it is. The first half sounds like a typical, of the era Jazz album. It's inspired by the 50's vocal Jazz and has this overall overpolished and kitsch aesthetic to it. Kind of like a Pat Methany Group but without the gut to it. But then, a fucking rap song out of nowhere. And then there comes R&B, and by the end it's a blend of pretty much every sound of the era. It's all done very competent as well. Overpolished at times but the variety makes it really enjoyable.
3.5 stars. Upbeat sophisti-pop (never heard of this genre). Approachable amount of jazz and the bits of soul add in at times make it a good listen. Long stretches of just instrumental music are mostly better than when there's singing. Didn't care for the rap parts though and was glad there wasn't much of it. Enjoy this alternative to the more standard 80's pop.
little bit of everything
Love Style Council. This is not what I was expecting from one of their albums. Almost felt random the mish mash of songs put together on here. One minute its barroom jazz then its hip hop? Did really like the piano and vocal version of Ever Changing Moods a log. 7/10
A complete change of direction from Paul Weller but ever since I heard this - I wasn't a Jam fan - I've just loved listening to this record. I heard this for the first time on the Cape Verde Island's and the sea, beach and local vibe along with this record's jazzy smoothness made it all the more perfect. Memories abound whenever I hear this or put it on. Simply put, I love it.
All the people giving this album 1 and 2 stars must not like fun. It’s certainly not perfect, but this album is fucking fun. It’s like a movie with a plot twist.
I really liked it. It was varied, humorous, and pleasant to listen to.
Nice one.
4.5
Love their instrumentals! Hate Paul Weller's vocals in this iteration (he sounds fine in The Jam).
Holy shit. "The Whole Point of No Return", wat een pracht. Ik dacht dat ik deze plaat helemaal niet kende, maar "My Ever Changing Moods" heb ik wel degelijk eens op de radio gehoord. Ook mooi. Eigenlijk is de band op zijn best als ze echt liedjes schrijven. Helaas staat er veel pastiche op de plaat, van fotorealistische jazz tot een Prince-parodie en een beschamende poging tot hiphop. De plaat eindigt sterk, met onder andere "Headstart for Happiness". Daarom toch vier sterren. Leuke ontdekking!
geiler stil, einfach mal sehr coole mukke
Boring jazz and then fun jazz and then dope P-Funk\hiphop and then yacht rock. I didn't the English had it in them
really takes you on a journey, but a journey that i enjoyed!
Ok this was kinda insane. Becomes more basic (but good) sophisti-pop after “A Gospel” (once I hit that song I couldn’t fathom what was in store for me…) but it was quite good! Successful jazz & pop!
Grew on me…
i was about to give this album a 5 because the vibes on the first half are giving parisian cafe lattes and smokes which is MY VIBE but the rap track completely derailed things for me and made me contemplate my life and taste so i have to dock stars but i'm definitely going to listen to the first half of this album again in the future
Great
Cool funk and jazz sounds but slightly ruined by 80s pop sounds.
I remember this one was interesting
Interesting! Kind of all over the place like a mixtape.
Groovy!
OK, minus a star for that awful rap, but this album was wild - it was like a movie soundtrack- the songs all thematically fit together, but sound like they are from nine different artists. Nope. It's all the Style Council. I like the idea of dropping bombs on the White House.
Actually the whackiest shit i've ever heard. I can't believe it kind of works? The rap was sorta cringe but not as bad as I was expecting. Plus it's only 1 track? Ya'll are exaggerating big time. Rap track was the worst, rest honestly is pretty good for it's time.
"The Style Council" is a fun name, and I love this intro song- great energy and impressive piano playing. This was a really enjoyable listen. I feel like it strives to be eclectic, but it can't help but sound tight and true to itself when it tries to not. Which I really like! It bounces around a lot between bluesy jazz and different subgenres in there- like bossa nova ("The Whole Point Of No Return"), ballads, big band ("Dropping Bombs On The Whitehouse") and a few that sound like more traditional standards ("Blue Cafe"), but then after track 8 it really has a tonal shift. "A Gospel" is a 80's/90's hip hop track, "Strength Of Your Nature" is a 90's pop R&B track with synths. Very cool. I really like "Here's One That Got Away", it sounds like a 90's Brit pop rock song- with strong acoustic guitars and a fun violin. They've certainly got style. It's cool and interesting and I really enjoyed it. A band like this would feast in today's indie scene.
Great energy on this album. The instrumental songs were all good. The songs with lyrics have the sound of their era, but still somehow sounded fresh.
I liked this overall, but that rap track is pretty bad.
Wild ride
I have to say, I didn't know what to expect, but this was pretty cool. Very interesting musical choices overall. Very chill record.
Actually liked this one a little more than Our Favorite Shop. 3.5/5
I have had a MASSIVE crush on Paul Weller since I was listening to these guys as a teen, hard to be objective here..I'd give this record a 5 just for Everchanging moods, one of my favorite songs of all time. Also You're the Best thing and Headstart for happiness, all indicative of the time but don't seem dated to me, more like old friends. I love Style Council and all the influence they had on so many so this gets a 4, even though there are a few tracks I could forget forever
3.75
## In-Depth Review of *Café Bleu* by The Style Council *Café Bleu*, released on March 16, 1984, marks The Style Council’s ambitious debut, signaling Paul Weller’s sharp departure from the mod-punk sound of The Jam into a cosmopolitan blend of soul, jazz, and pop. The album is widely regarded as a bold, genre-hopping statement, both celebrated and critiqued for its eclecticism and stylistic risks[2][4]. --- ## **Lyrics** *Café Bleu*’s lyrics oscillate between biting social commentary and introspective romanticism. Weller, liberated from the constraints of The Jam, explores new thematic territory: - **Political and Social Commentary:** Tracks like “The Whole Point of No Return” directly critique Thatcher-era Britain, with lines such as “The laws made for and by the rich / It would be easy / So, so easy,” reflecting Weller’s leftist leanings and disillusionment with the establishment[4]. “A Gospel” features a rap by Dizzy Hite, delivering a scathing critique of propaganda and societal dysfunction: “Eating propaganda and shit spoon fed”[4]. - **Personal and Romantic Themes:** Songs like “You’re the Best Thing” and “Headstart for Happiness” pivot to soul-infused explorations of love and optimism, showcasing Weller’s ability to write tender, emotionally resonant lyrics[1][4]. While the lyrics are often sharp and evocative, the album’s frequent instrumental interludes and stylistic shifts sometimes disrupt the narrative flow, making the message feel fragmented[1][4]. --- ## **Music** *Café Bleu* is a masterclass in genre fusion, drawing from: - **Jazz:** Instrumentals like “Mick’s Blessing” and “Blue Café” foreground Mick Talbot’s jazz piano, setting a sophisticated, lounge-like mood[1][4]. - **Soul and R&B:** “You’re the Best Thing” and “Here’s One That Got Away” channel 1970s soul, with slinky rhythms and lush arrangements[1][4]. - **Pop:** “My Ever Changing Moods” (in its stripped-down album version) and “Headstart for Happiness” are prime examples of blue-eyed soul-pop, balancing melodic hooks with emotional depth[2][4]. - **Rap and Experimental:** “A Gospel” ventures into early 1980s rap, an unusual and divisive move for a British pop act at the time[4]. The album’s musical diversity is both its strength and its Achilles’ heel. While the stylistic breadth is impressive, the sequencing can feel jarring—moving abruptly from jazz to rap to soul, sometimes at the expense of cohesion[1][3][4]. --- ## **Production** Produced by Paul Weller and Peter Wilson, *Café Bleu* was recorded at Solid Bond Studios (Weller’s own facility) and CBS for string sections[2]. The production is polished, with a clear emphasis on live instrumentation and organic arrangements: - **Instrumentation:** The album features a rotating cast of “Honorary Councillors,” including Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt (Everything But The Girl), adding depth and variety to the sonic palette[2][4]. - **Sound Quality:** The mix is clean and spacious, with particular attention paid to the interplay between piano, horns, and strings. The use of real instruments over synthesizers gives the album a timeless, sophisticated feel, distinguishing it from many contemporaneous 1980s pop records[2][4]. - **Sequencing:** The album’s sequencing, especially on the UK version, has been criticized for its lack of flow, with abrupt transitions between genres and moods[1][3]. The US version (*My Ever Changing Moods*) attempted to address this by reordering and omitting tracks, but opinions remain divided on which version works best[3]. --- ## **Themes** *Café Bleu* is thematically ambitious, tackling: - **Social and Political Discontent:** Several tracks reflect Weller’s dissatisfaction with the political climate of 1980s Britain, using both direct and allegorical language[4]. - **Personal Growth and Change:** The recurring motif of change—both personal and societal—is encapsulated in “My Ever Changing Moods,” reflecting Weller’s own artistic evolution[4]. - **Romantic Optimism:** Love and hope are central to tracks like “You’re the Best Thing,” offering a counterbalance to the album’s more cynical moments[1][4]. The album’s thematic ambition is admirable, but the frequent instrumental detours and stylistic experiments sometimes dilute the impact of its messages[1][4]. --- ## **Influence** *Café Bleu*’s influence is substantial, particularly within the sophisti-pop and jazz-pop genres: - **Trailblazing Sound:** The album paved the way for acts like Everything But The Girl, Matt Bianco, and Basia to explore jazz/pop hybrids, legitimizing a more refined, adult-oriented pop sound in the mid-1980s[4]. - **Legacy:** Despite mixed contemporary reviews, *Café Bleu* has grown in stature, earning a place in *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die* and being cited as an essential sophisti-pop album[2]. - **Paul Weller’s Career:** The album established Weller as a restless innovator, willing to abandon past glories in pursuit of new artistic directions—a trait that would define his subsequent solo work[4]. --- ## **Pros and Cons** | Pros | Cons | |------|------| | Bold, genre-defying experimentation | Lack of cohesion due to abrupt stylistic shifts[1][3][4] | | Strong, soulful pop songs (“You’re the Best Thing,” “My Ever Changing Moods,” “Headstart for Happiness”) | Several instrumental tracks feel like filler or mood pieces rather than essential compositions[1][4] | | Lyrically ambitious, blending social commentary with personal themes | Some tracks (“A Gospel,” “Strength of Your Nature”) have not aged well and disrupt the album’s flow[1][4] | | High production values, live instrumentation, and guest contributions | The sequencing, especially on the UK version, undermines the listening experience[1][3] | | Influential in shaping the sophisti-pop and jazz-pop genres | Overambition sometimes leads to a lack of focus[2][4] | --- ## **Conclusion** *Café Bleu* is a fascinating, if flawed, debut that captures Paul Weller’s restless creativity at a pivotal moment. Its willingness to traverse jazz, soul, pop, and even rap was both ahead of its time and, at times, its undoing. The album’s finest moments—“You’re the Best Thing,” “My Ever Changing Moods,” “Headstart for Happiness”—are among the best of Weller’s career, showcasing his gift for melody and lyricism in a sophisticated new context[1][2][4]. However, the album’s lack of cohesion, reliance on instrumentals, and occasional genre misfires prevent it from achieving classic status in the eyes of some critics. Still, its influence on the sophisti-pop movement and its role in redefining Weller’s career are undeniable. *Café Bleu* remains a bold, intriguing listen—one that rewards both casual fans and dedicated students of pop innovation. In summary, *Café Bleu* is an album of great highs and frustrating lows, a testament to the risks and rewards of artistic reinvention. Its legacy is secure as a touchstone of 1980s British pop, and its best songs continue to resonate decades later.
WAY better than i expected gonna rememeber this one when i travel to london
pretty nice
Hot damn!!! Probably my favorite album I’ve heard from this project so far. Insane range as far as genre and musical style goes (just within this album), and some really awesome features on some tracks as well. The mix of instrumental and vocal tracks are perfectly balanced and do well to show both musical chops and leave room to just listen. Really excellent and cohesive album that has something for everyone, very close to being a 5 star for me. Fav Track: My Ever Changing Moods
First half of this album was delightful. Jazzy little ditties to tap your toe along on a nice cool morning. Takes a turn at A Gospel which functions as the Jazz Police of this album in the literal sense. Strength of Your Nature felt like when Monty Python yelling "and now for something completely different" halfway through the album. Overall an extremely pleasant listen, probably a 4.5.
This album was all over the place, but I liked it.
An interesting dance/pop album with some jazz mixed in.
I enjoyed this thoroughly. I liked the switching of styles from jazzy to dance and back again.
What a pleasant surprise. Jazzy and funky and great
Joyful and elegant. Loved this.
Wow, my freshman college roommate used to play this all the time but I completely forgot about it! That’s what I love about this project. Thanks for refreshing my memory, Album Gods!
This album surprised me - I didn't expect a Blues/Jazz record, albeit with the production values of the 80s. But there you are. 3.5/5
The jazz heavy tracks are so insanely good but the more pop forward tracks seem like relics of their time.
oooh I'm diggin this jazzy shit today. Wow there's even some rap in here.
Jazzy. Lots of piano. Some singing better than others. Love the instrumentation. Maybe a little coffee housish? Mixture of slow and fast beats.
Good find
What a great jazz album!
Cool variety! I'm used to the full band version of Ever Changing Moods, which is a fantastic song, but this version is definitely good as well.
Alti molto alti, bassi molto bassi
I never realized how jazzy this album is. Plus, guest vocals from Tracey Thorn, and some early-80s rap on A Gospel. When are you going to find the strength of YOUR nature?
Wish I could do 3.5. It’s honestly pretty nice and versatile. Sad girl songs. Romantic. Hmmm maybe round up?
Wild album. A handful of very 80s pop sounding sounds, but then there's like 5 insanely good lounge jazz instrumental tracks. Nailed both genres
wow this is like stevie wonder meets huey lewis and the news, but i kinda dig it. the sound is all over the place and super cheesy, especially that incredibly cringey rap track, but it's kind of a jam (see what i did there) favorites: mick's blessings, the whole point of no return, my ever changing moods, strength of your nature, you're the best thing, headstart for happiness
Lots of genre bending which is very fun. The rap song felt really out of place though.
I was really enjoying this one until "A Gospel". Lots of loungey jazz. Vocal-less, chorus-less tracks where warranted. Second half was quite disappointing though. 3.6/5
3.5
Fun lil 80s bops
After disbanding his previous band, The Jam, singer-songwriter Paul Weller formed a new group with keyboardist Mick Talbot called The Style Council. It was a short-lived outfit that allowed Paul to branch out and explore different artistic avenues, and after a mini-LP, Café Bleu was the debut that would set the tone. What did we find in the café? Well, I found this to be a sophisti-pop album where the synthesizers largely took a back seat in favor of more jazz and soul influences. On side one, there is a degree of well-detailed compositions and warm production where Paul thrived in the ambiance. Tracks like "Mick's Blessings" and "Blue Café" were exquisite pieces with soft glossy guitars, keyboards, and ensemble arrangements. Not to mention, they made effective use of guest appearances such as Everything But the Girl coming in on "Strike the Match" and the horns adding to the tropical bounce of "Me Ship Came In!" But then came the start of side two with "A Gospel", where between the clunky rapping of Brian Beaton and the blocky percussion, I was snapped back to reality and reminded this album came out in the early 1980s. This was followed by the synthesizer blare of "Strength of Your Nature", and I was even less enthused with how dated the second half became. "You're the Best Thing" was a decent enough song to course-correct, but at that point the damage was done. I get that Paul was trying various styles with this group, but not every sound has aged well in hindsight. Suffice it to say, Café Bleu was an intriguing case of a man trying his best to break away from the creative limitations of his last group. While the result is far from perfect, it is admirable.
While I was listening to this I thought it was just a short album and autoplay kicked into the next album. Turns out the latter half is just completely different, whats nice is that it does both pretty well. I really enjoyed the first half, I got a lot of lo-fi smooth jazz vibes and then the latter half with all its 80's style pop funky energy was a treat. Cafe Bleu is probably my favorite off the album, and A Gospel just for the enjoyable whiplash.
What a treat this album was! Fun jazzy lounge music in the first half, pure 80s nonsense in the second. A Gospel hits like a brick and the album really doesn’t let up from there. The two halves are completely incongruous with each other and I wonder why the album was made that way? Either way I enjoyed the heck out of it!
This album is all over the place. Not bad though.
I definitely recommend this album. Just skip "A Gospel" and “Strength Of Your Nature” which are complete duds and don't belong on this otherwise sublime record. https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-cafe-bleu-by-the-style?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Stylish
Really like this new-to-me album!
You know, I’m giving it points on diversity and groove alone.
I respect the boldness to completely change your musical direction. Hip-hop, jazz, and cheesy pop? Sign me up!
Quite nice actually
Solid
Omg, j’t’avais complètement oublié, toi! J’me souviens que j’avais eu bien du fun en t’écoutant, j,vais te donner un 4 pour ta patience
I don't know what it is about whatever this type of music is but it's great. It was all over the place genre-wise and I enjoyed everywhere it went.
Fun jazzy themes throughout. Some country mixed in there too I feel like. 3.5 just because as some other comments say I think it lacks a bit of soul.
Really fun album, super random but kinda love it
An interesting mix of jazzy blues and old school punk - weird combo but I liked it!
Some cool blue-eyed soul, smart mod jazz, a very clunky rap, and the wonderful "My Ever Changing Moods", which is a CHOOOOON!
Didn’t know about this. Fun album.
This album is actually great, you all are just mean (the rap song does suck though)
Good and enjoyable.
Really nice surprise
Fun album. Hard to categorize the musical style, because they changed genres several times. Little bluesy jazz, some rap, some other pop styles. A good, eclectic listen.
Love the variation that they've brought, they haven't stick to a formula restricted to their genre, i like this album and its worth revisiting (this review is after my 2nd listen ) so yeah its a thumbs up album.
Not bad. Very jazzy.
I wonder how many frontpersons have two bands as good as or better than The Jam and The Style Council?
Man the rap track was tough to listen to. The rest was decent though and there was a complex sonic palette. I liked the stripped down acoustic song in the beginning best. Organ on "strength of your nature" was awesome too. Low 4
Golly gee. What a fruity little pastiche of an album. I rate it.
Weller not at his best but they were particular in eighites
Loved it want to listen to it again
Surprising. A brave move. Varied throughout. Jazz, hip hop. I really like this.
Lemppari: You’re the best thing Vähiten lemppari: Mick’s blessings
I'm not sure that this is a cohesive album at all, but man did I have fun listening to most of it. Favorite track: Strength Of Your Nature
Kind of a weird mix, sounded like a playlist rather than an album, but I liked it.
I really dig this album. It has a varied style for each track and kept me engaged listening throughout.
I like the jazzy style of this album. It is a classic, with some important voices and tracks.
interesting. more jazz but eclectic
Straight from the beginning, there's a stark contrast between the bombastic, jazzy instrumental intro, followed by a mellow pop song with heavily understated instrumentation. Side one continues like this. It's either peppy instrumental jazz, or pop with great vocals but understated instrumentation. Seems like they decided either instruments can be intense, or vocals, but not both. Side two then caught me completely off guard. Every track is in a different style. When the album was done and music by other artists started playing, I didn't even notice, thinking it was just a different track in again a different style. In the end, there was nothing bad on this album. Every single track had its qualities and was well-executed by itself. I could have done without A Gospel, since I don't like rap, but that's personal preferences. But what keeps this record from being really great is that it ends up being a collection of tracks, rather than an album. It's more like a random spotify playlist than an album. Still good, but all over the place.
In order to get out of a jam, you have to have a style council. On Cafe Bleu, Paul Weller and his admirably ambitious group stumble upon any genre that suits their fancy, from muted jazz to hip-hop and all sorts of pop in between, and mostly succeed on their own merits. It can be a bit surprising and a tad overwhelming if there was only one thing to expected just to be bombarded with another, yet The Style Council prove that they cannot be pigeonholed into any one entity. Favorites: The Whole Point of No Return, Me Ship Came In!, The Paris March, My Ever Changing Moods, Dropping Bombs on the White House, A Gospel, Strength of Your Nature, You're the Best Thing.
impressive, diverse and good album, definitely underrated on this project
I liked a lot of this album, but it seemed a little non-cohesive.
A fun and interesting change of pace. It's not the greatest thing in the world, but I enjoyed listening to it.
The opening track really surprised me. I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't that and I was really excited for the rest...then the rest showed up and, well, there was a bright spot here and there, but overall it let me down a bit.
This eclectic collection of tunes was a pleasant surprise. If I'd stopped at one listen, it might've been a 5-star rating. But the second listen rubbed off a bit of its luster --- without my low expectations, it was clearly not really something I'll return to much.
Punchy, fun, dynamic, just a solid as hell album.
Gillar Style Council. Denna platta saknar kanske deras bästa låtar men den är bra ändå.
Прикольный, понравилось. Первая половина очень понравилась, вторая уже меньше, но всё равно хорошо.
The random switch from jazz to a funk/hip-hop thing halfway through was a bit jarring, but the whole thing was still really solid and didn't miss, outside of maybe that weird rapping section
Interesting album! Every song was quite different from the other with the unexpected turn of 'A Gospel' on the B-side, and I really like the mood it set. Feels like a perfect thing to put on in the background whole working, or having dinner, for example. 'My Ever Changing Moods' stood out as one of the better songs. In general I was missing some stronger songs, but I really enjoyed the whole album. Realistically it should probably be a 3, but I really dug the album for some reason, so I'll give it a weak 4.
Side 1 was a clear four star. Long time since I found something completely new (to me) that sounded so good. An interesting mix of styles and songs. "My Ever Changing Moods" was a really good song. Side 2 was a different story. The first two tracks were really bad, with a bad rap track and an equally bad funk track ("A Gospel" and "Strength of Nature"). It recovered a bit towards the end to being decent with "Here's One That Got Away" being the best track of side 2. Side 1 gets a clear 4 and side 2 a weak 3. Giving it a 4 still.
Every song was good but I found the Male vocals a little karaoke than professional. Hard to put above a 3 with how non cohesive the album is overall But I like how the back half of the album just pretends the middle didn’t happen.
Just a weird mix of stuff on this one. I think if it was all filtered into individual genres it would land better, as it is it was too whiplashy. I did like pretty much all the individual songs though which earns a decent rating.
Really enjoyed this album. The variety of the song genres are refreshing. Album sleeve... boring as, i have to take a star for that.
This was a nice little surprise. Probably a tad generic but I do love some soulful jazz from time to time. This had a little bit more of a rockin' feel to it as well which is maybe why I liked it a bit more.
Mick's Blessings - 3 The Whole Point of No Return - 4 Me Ship Came In! - 3.5 Blue Cafe - 3.5 The Paris Match- 3.75 My Ever Changing Moods - 3.5 Dropping Bombs on the Whitehouse - 3.5 A Gospel - 3.75 Strength of Your Nature - 4 You're the Best Thing - 3 Here's One that Got Away - 3 Headstart for Happiness - 4 Council Meeting - 3.5 Probably a 3.75, but we can't do it so I'm giving them some credit. 4/5. Actually different and fairly enjoyable, most of the way through.
Cafe Bleu by The Style Council Wednesday 6/19/24 10:31 S Tier————————— Mick’s Blessing The Paris Match A Tier————————— Me Ship Came In! Here’s One That Got Away Dropping Bombs Blue Cafe B Tier————————— Council Meeting My Ever Changing Mood The Whole Point of No Return Strength of Your Nature C Tier————————— Headstart For Happiness You’re The Best Thing A Gospel
After Mick Talbot ditched Dexys & formed The Bureau, they had a Top 5 hit in Australia with Only For Sheep (didn’t chart in the U.K.), before Talbot split to form The Style Council with Paul Weller after Weller broke up The Jam. Through 1983 the band released a bunch of successful singles before releasing Cafe Bleu, their debut studio album, in March’84. I have to say it’s worn extremely well. It includes a couple of big hit singles - My Ever Changing Moods & You’re The Best Thing; four instrumental tracks (my favourite is The Blue Cafe, on which Weller’s guitar work tries to channel Django Reinhardt); a rap by Dizzy Hite (on A Gospel); a couple of vocals by D.C.Lee; and what a gift - Tracy Thorn’s delicious vocal on The Paris Match, which also features her Everything But The Girl partner, Ben Watt, on guitar. I don’t think the band were ever again as interesting as this.
Ok I'll say it...this album was really good. I don't even know what to describe it as. Songs that were instrumental, some jazz others light rock. Some were great rock songs and others felt like pop songs but the uniqueness of this album is what I love. There's still hope for this list. I kept Me Ship Came In! (sort of sounded like the West Indies song in Dr Terrors House of Horrors), Blue Cafe, and Strength of your Nature.
I like this one quite a bit! Listed only as "sophistipop," for blending jazz, neo-soul, and some other stuff, my first thought was bossanova or lounge music, but I'm obviously not an expert. Regardless, it's a very cool album, and a smooth departure from the usual fare. Great vibes, great crisp instrumentals. Vocals aren't too powerful, but that's not really a bad thing here. This one's great. Favorite tracks: My Ever Changing Moods, Mick's Blessings, The Whole Point of No Return, The Paris Match, Here's One That Got Away. Album art: A blue (bleu?) image of two boys walking around, perhaps at a cafe? It's simple, but it gets the job done I suppose. 4/5
I actually own this on CD. The wiki article mentions that this album is also on the list 10 essential sophisti-pop albums and when I looked that up I found I own 4 of the albums on that list. So we are well inside my musical comfort zone here. I hadn't listened to this for some time so was glad to be reminded. I really enjoyed listening to it. It is no masterpiece, it is no Dark Side of the Moon or Bat out of Hell so it is not going to get 5 stars but it gets 4 stars easily.
Like how Style Council makes cheery, sunny music but with revolutionary lyrics like in Shout to the Top, and naming an instrumental song Dropping Bombs on the White House. If you bring revolution, then do it in the way Paul Weller (the Cappucchino Kid) did, making people cheerfully sing along. Some songs I like less, A Gospel and Strength of Your Nature, therefore only 4 stars. Best songs: The Paris Match (even better in Everything but The Girl Version) You're the best thing (what a love song!) and their best song ever My Ever Changing Moods
I liked this album. It’s chill and calming.
This is pretty neat! I prefer the jazzier material to the more “modern” stuff (the hip-hop beats are not it), which means that I preferred side 1, but it’s still a good time. B
Giving this a 4 because it was many genres and voices in one and not bad, so overall a cool concept
So many albums are preachy or have some sort of message they want to get across. The message of this album is: we make good music. It’s just enjoyable quality stuff. It’s eclectic but almost all of it(not the rap. Please no 80s rap) works for me. Great inclusion on the list.
This was a real treat in amongst the other picks I’d been getting. Loved the whole vibe of this album, would happily listen to it again. You’re The Best Thing is a top notch song.
This is a hidden gem. In their debut album, "Cafe Bleu," The Style Council explores undiscovered territory. By playfully combining elements of funk, jazz, soul, hip hop, pop, and even rap, The Style Council has created an interesting and fresh take in what could be called adult contemporary or sophisti-pop. Every track sounds unique, eclectic and beautiful.
The way this album blends genres is so far ahead of its time. I can’t believe this came out in 1983
I listened to this & suddenly I was wearing a suit. What happened to my work uniform?
80s music with jazzy undertones and instruments? Don’t mind if I do.
It was fun and had a saxophone in it. That’s all I ask for
An unexpected gem! Thought it was gonna be an 80's cheesefest but turned out to be smooth and really well produced. Lots of styles. Seems like a lot of different artists too. Will play again next time I'm cooking
fun listen
A classic album that was in heavy rotation for me back in the day. Paul Weller and Mick Talbot ooze cool. I just love the vibe of this album---pop blended with approachable jazz.
This blew me away. Such an eclectic sound. The track we all know is the most boring of the lot.
Kies een stijl man
Great album. Classic songs
Interesting!
Great chill/alternative first part of the album. Second part is a bit more experimental, not so much to my taste
kick, slide fresh prince slay
Very nice, a bit jazzy, a bit of this and that.
Agradable R&B, hay canciones para mi playlist de pomodoro. Dee C Lee estaba acá y en Wham!!
Blue eyed soul for those who feel they're above Hall and Oates. The highs certainly soar here but my word is it horribly sequenced. It's like they had no idea what the hits would be. Which is odd because the hits clearly tower over the duds.
Decent background music.
I know some people tend to be lukewarm on the whole so-called "sophisti-pop" genre, but Style Council were really the best of this particular moment in music. Their sound was smooth, smart, soulful, eclectic and beautifully crafted. But its musical loveliness belies a striking political undercurrent that's really unusual. There's nothing else quite like it, a truly enjoyable listen. Café Bleu is probably the band's second best work, after the outstanding Our Favourite Shop. My minor critiques of the album would be that some of synth elements sound a bit dated, and that the album is a bit overly-weighted with instrumentals. But when they get it right, it's pure jazz-pop perfection. Tracey Thorn's vocal on "The Paris Match" is one of the prettiest things I've ever heard and "You're the Best Thing" is an underheard classic of the era. The album version of "My Ever Changing Moods" pales in comparison to the more upbeat version that was released as a single, but it's still one of my favorites. Fave Songs: Here's One That Got Away, The Paris Match, Headstart for Happiness, My Ever Changing Moods, You're the Best Thing, The Whole Point of No Return, Dropping Bombs on the Whitehouse
Never heard of them but I love them. 80s funk with jazz influence
Instrumental tracks were the highlight. This album makes me feel like I'm starring in my own early 90s family sitcom.
4/5. I like the chill instrumental songs the most, but this does provide a nice atmosphere of late night sad bars with single people who have never been loved. Then it becomes way more diverse than I expected, side 2 bangs out a rap song out of nowhere and stays pretty hype through the next song. Then it slows down and goes back to similar energy as first side. Overall, a much more enjoyable than it started out to be, glad I didn't just give up immediately lol.
- i like the ambience they set
*what an excuse to relisten to this album! i really only like it bc it brings back good memories tho, not entirely bc i adore the music 4/7
Pretty good sounding album. At times the style of genre changes are odd but the album has an overall nice sound to it.
The instrumental tracks are a definite highlight of this album, whilst the other tracks are pretty solid throughout. I love the jazzy feel a lot of the songs have, whilst the album manages to still hop around genres a bit. The rap is definitely a bit out of left field and I hesitate to say I liked it, but maybe it's so bad it's good? Either way, a thoroughly enjoyable album.
Different then expected. Does have different styles. Enjoyed listening to it.
Beautiful album! Sophisticated and well-made in all aspects. I only had time for one listen yesterday, but this one will stay with me for a while.
Wonderful
Absolutely unhinged, and I'm ok with that.
# Playlist track - Strength of Your Nature # Notes - This album is all over the place. - I actually opened Spotify a couple of times to see if it hadn't changed to a different one for some reason. - It's breadth is super interesting, but a lot of the tracks are kinda uninspired. - Definitely worth a listen and revisiting.
Weirdly, my album two days ago was All Mod Cons. At no point during that did I think "this is all very good... but I wish Paul Weller would start rapping." That track excluded, the album is great fun. I love the jazzy instrumentally tracks and the politically charged songs in between. Big fan.
So nice. An album I was already fairly familiar with. Has some moments that do feel a little like filler. But the heights of the album are just so good
First half 4.5, second half 3.5, evens out
Is it jazz? Is it hip hop? Idk. Fun stuff though, the music and lyrics are indeed an awkward juxtaposition of upper class sounds with working class lyrics.
Really like Paul Weller but this wasn't really brilliant.
Most part I enjoyed this album. Favorite song(s): "The Whole Point of No Return", "The Paris Match" best song on the album, "My Ever Changing Moods", "Here's One That Got Away". Side 1, instrumental tracks were good, there was my favourite song on this album and then there was "A gospel", i don't know who thought that it would be a great idea to put a rap song in a jazzy/soul/pop album, after that there was some good fun tracks, but in the end i would give this album a 4-/5(without "A gospel" it would be a solid 4/5)
Big swings all over this album Fantastic vocals My Ever Changing Mood is an all timer You're the best thing is a classic Scapes a 4
221223 18:20 3.5