Reviews (page 3 of 8)
I'm beginning to come to the conclusion that I was completely wrong to hate Paul Weller with his stupid hair. The Style Council is not what you'd expect from Paul Weller with his stupid hair: it's much more soul-oriented and it doesn't sound anything like The Jam; in fact, I thought "You're The Best Thing" was a Lenny Kravitz number. And then Paul Weller with his stupid hair did Wild Wood, which successfully veered into singer-songwriter territory. You have to be both brave and sure-footed to pull such career u-turns off, but Paul Weller with his stupid hair is one of the few who can do it.
Cosy lounge music! Some songs were instrumental, some with vocals, I liked both. As the album went on it became more upbeat. Stand-outs: Headstart for Happiness, My Ever Changing Moods,
Twas okay. Decent funk but nothing that stood out. Listened to it while playing stardew valley with josh
So good
Þetta var óvænt stuð. Hafði aldrei heyrt um þessa plötu eða band og svo var þetta bara það sem ég þurfti. Fjör.
This album just goes to prove how versatile Paul Weller is, soul, pop, jazz and blues he has a voice that works well with any of those styles. Rap… No, just no Thank God he didn't pursue a career as a rapper
jazzy!
I was kind of taken off guard by how stylistically diverse, yet of a piece, this record was; even the awkward missteps are endearing.
Jazz-pop-rock. Mezcla curiosa.
I had very expectations for this album, but it exceeded them. I wasn't ready for the diversity of styles it brought. Some really fun surprise packed in here.
I thought I knew what to expect on these albums where I can’t tell the difference between the name of the band and the name of the album. Especially with the name of this, the cover, and the time period all compared to yesterday’s album, I was expecting more of the same. When the first track started, I knew I was wrong. This was really nice to listen to and reminded me of old lounge music at times and then turned into weird rap music? Yes, please. I don’t know. It caught me right and I stand by my rating. Come at me, bro.
first listen bouncy affair, fun too
4.0
4 stars!
I was really surprised by the album, given the person behind it being the guitarist from The Jam. Not what I expected at ALL. The instrumentals like "Mick's Blessings" were really groove-y. Not groovy, man, but has a lot of groove to it. Really appreciated and enjoyed it. Definitely will listen to again.
Peruskauraa.. Kuitenkin hipelevä albumi..
The kinda jazzy piano of the first song is pretty good The whole album feel like a new orleans jazz club, with a very light touch of new wave (synthetizer) and soul. Like its very unique at my knowledge a new wave jazz album in 1984 anyway its very good
Everything but Everything but the Girl
Before today, I'd never heard of The Style Council. I came to learn that they were formed by prior The Jam frontman Paul Weller, and prior Dexy's Midnight Runners keyboardist Mick Talbot. I've reviewed a record by The Jam on here already (Sound Affects), and remember being kind of underwhelmed by it. Apparently, Paul tired of making post punk music, and wanted to take The Jam in another direction. The rest of the band didn't want to change, so Paul quit, and formed this band. This is actually their first full length album. You can really tell that Paul didn't really have a direction figured out yet, because this album is all over the genre map! The first 7 songs sound like a typical low quality jazz album, then all of a sudden on track 8 (A Gospel), you're hit with a typical shitty 80's rap number for some reason. After that, you get Dexy's Midnight Runners style of 80's pop for the last few songs. Overall, not a bad record. It kind of suffered sonically from not having a clear direction. It more kind of ambled about, trying many different genres and not really mastering any of them. It would have been better if they had settled on one genre, and really perfected their sound around that. Otherwise, this was a fairly average record. Not one I would actively seek out, but not the worst thing this generator has served to me either. Favourite songs: Strength of Your Nature, A Gospel, Blue Cafe, Mick's Blessings, Me Ship Came In!, Headstart for Happiness Least favourite songs: You're the Best Thing 4/5
3rd listen 🎧 s where it hit me. I enjoy how different this album is and the bluesy jazzy vibes. Different from what the Jam produced, and still good.
I found the mix of musical styles on the record endearing. It's overtly political and is still nice on the ears. Glad this one was served up for us.
I liked this a lot. It actually felt like sitting in a smoky jazz club listening to different musicians play and having fun doing it. I think I'll come back to a fair bit of this. 3.5
Rough start but pretty fun! Kinda all over the place style-wise but I don't mind that. Didn't love all the vocals.
Reminds me a lot of Was Not Was: a big variety of styles, jazz and funk and rap and more. It’s a good listen.
nice and smooth - perfect for a start to a work day
dejó de ser punk para regresar a los orígenes de algo.
Molto molto molto cool e allegro
Loved the opening. Was grooving to a number of the tracks, but it felt inconsistent and incongruous their l throughout. 3.5
Banger banger banger, why haven't I heard of them
Crazy album… kinda nice dock…
I liked that the piano was so prominent in this album! Solid overall
Piano AND trumpet, with sax in an appropriate supporting role? Yes please. What a pleasant surprise. Never heard of this band but this album is them throwing every genre at the wall to see what sticks, with not 100% success but enough to have fun with.
Chill, good for work.
So this is weird as fuck, it's starts off as a instrumental album which I was like yeah, cool I can get on with this. Then a female vocalist comes in for one track who is great...then...I think a new album starts playing because Weller (I think) starts rapping...and it's the worst fucking thing you've ever heard. Imagine if the super weird guy who works in finance was trying to do a rap ...are you cringing into yourself? Because that's what happened to me. Then it's a weird love song, then it's a weird Frank Sintra esq thing...its so all over the place. Its 3.5 so rounding it up to a 4...but fuck me that rap is awful
Dette albumet har alt, men det blir kanskje litt for mye! Mye kult, endel corny greier
I really liked this! Sure wish I’d discovered it in 1984 — I think it would have been one of my favorite albums of the 80s. Love the range of styles, though a few songs (Gospel and Strength of Your Nature) push that range too far and would keep this from being one of those albums I would have listened to straight through. But the rest is great, especially The Whole Point of No Return, The Paris Match and My Ever Changing Moods.
Loved the ideas on this album and they were executed beautifully- some notable highs and lows for me though - especially in the latter half of the album.
This one’s new to me! Side A kicks off with a bang. I am really into the jazzy, new wave cross over; sophisti-pop I suppose. Not a genre I’m all that familiar with outside of Roxy Music’s Avalon. The first reference that came to mind in reading about The Style Council and listening to this album, was Talk Talk’s post synth-pop albums, namely The Color of Spring and Spirit of Eden. Talk Talk’s musical evolution reminds of that which Paul Weller made between his former band, The Jam, and The Style Council. Both are stories of two artists, at peak commercial success, who grew restless, threw that success to the wind and used their newfound notoriety to craft music more soulful, jazz-influenced, and totally different; long-time fans be damned. Obviously, this debut isn’t as experimental and left-field as Talk Talk’s post-rock, but still it’s a jarring turn for Mr. Weller, far from his punk rock roots. And I dig it! Side B meanders a little. I enjoy, in theory, the divergences taken to experiment with rapping on “A Gospel,” and with the melding of hip-hop, funk, and dance on “Strength of Your Nature,” but those forays make me stray a little, in turn. I only return for a few cuts, namely, “You’re The Best Thing,” and the fantastic closer, “Council Meeting.” But I think those few tracks in between that didn’t grab me will only grown on me with time. Actually, those two I mentioned are the only two I wasn’t shakin’ my booty too, I really liked the second and third to last tracks too. This whole affair reminds me a lot of Japanese City Pop. Which is cool. Thoroughly enjoyed this album. It’s really pretty fantastic. 4/5.
I was a big Jam fan and loved Weller's later work but have always avoided this period in his life horrified like Van Gogh turning to Pop Art. However since I was forced to listen to this again after almost 40 years I found myself enjoying it. Hogdammit Paul's consummate skill as a song writer just shines through despite the insipid 80s vibe.
Huge Paul Weller fan, whilst generally hating most 80's music. This wasn't too bad though
Instrumentals are A+. I don't mind the vocals too much, but that rapping was uhhh...not the greatest. 4/5 since I still enjoyed most of what I heard.
I got this album on release since I liked the Jam and wanted more music like that. Typical good news / bad news scenario. Bad news: they didn’t sound anything like The Jam. Good news: I really liked it. On release I liked every song on the album except the two singles. Over the years I gave this vinyl a spin occasionally but play side 1 only to avoid the singles. 1001 made me listen to side 2 again and, surprisingly, I now like the singles. I like the genre hopping on this album. The jazz is quite good. The old school is kind of funny so many years later. My favourite song is Paris Match. I particularly enjoy the “glass half full” lyrics: “Empty skies say try to forget. Better advice is to have no regrets“ Tracey Thorn sings this song beautifully. It might be her best singing ever. It’s interesting how some singers deliver better than ever on an album that isn’t their own. The same could be said of Maria McKee’s vocals on “If Love is a red Dress . . .” on the Pulp Fiction sound track
There’s no doubt that Paul Weller is immensely talented. He founded the punk group The Jam and then did basically a 180 with The Style Council, and although they sound diametrically opposed, both were great groups. He also has a knack for recruiting top shelf musicians such as Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt from Everything But the Girl, who are also a great band. This album starts off rocking with Mick’s Blessings, but where it really shines is with the downtempo tunes like The whole point of no return, Blue cafe, Paris Match (with Tracey Thorn’s lively crooning). The best songs IMO are his slimmed down cover of My ever changing moods and You’re the best thing. I also really enjoyed the up-tempo jazz numbers like Dropping bombs and Council Meetin’. It’s too bad that he dropped a couple of rap songs in here that just sound completely out of place here.
Jazz. Pop. La parte jazz, buena, la pop, normalita. Algunos temas instrumentales.
sottofondo, variegate. Molto bello ed interessante gruppo da approfondire. Brani di molta esperienza compositiva e maturita'. struttura solida
I like it. Surprised with the rap in the song "A gospel". The album feels very jammy and is all over the place and doesn't stick to one genre.
This was a really nice surprise. Funky, jazzy and mellow. Those two house tracks are a bit out of place, mind...
Paul Weller moves from the mod revival of The Jam to something altogether different. A pleasant mix of jazz and funk-equally at home in a Starbucks or while driving on a rainy evening.
quirky, interesting album. Would like to listen more!
The different styles make this album pretty diverse, it's nice to discover
Beautiful voice
This is a good album and I will listen to it again.
zany and eclectic 80s jazzercize pop. enough goofy kitschy cringe to be endearing
Smooooooth
Good music, kind of a chill 80s sound.
Really really enjoyed this album. One of the most relaxing and calming albums I’ve ever listened too. A big 80s lyrical feel too it which just enhances the album with it’s Jazz/Blues undertone. Never listened to hear of this duo before but will definitely be one I’ll be listening too constantly now on. Group members from The Jam and Dexy’s Midnight Runners just makes the album so good both being from world class bands previously. If it was possible I would rate it a high 4.50 felt like it dropped off ever so slightly toward the end. Clear stand out with You’re the best thing. But really enjoyed and will be listening to many more times.
Listened before: No Enjoyed: Yes Listens: 3 Very much enjoyed
Feels weird giving Weller less than a 4 but there's some shite on here
It was my sister that first introduced me to the charms of The Style Council. As with most of her recommendations, I tended to dismiss her. As with most of her recommendations, I tended to change my mind and appreciate where she came from as I matured (case in point: this band called The Beatles). Anyway, I'm a bit torn about how I should rate this particular album. On one hand, I really like the more jazzy instrumental tracks. I also like the superb vocals on The Paris Match, and I always had a soft spot for My Ever Changing Moods' lyrics. The rest is, how shall I put it, mediocre? Tracks that haven't aged gracefully? On the positive side, the bulk of this album is included in that first group. Thankfully.
La plus belle voix du PAF
cet album n'a aucun sens mais j'ai aimé pas mal de chansons
Enjoyed the instrumental tracks most. Pretty cool stuff.
**6/3/2022 - ALBUM #127** https://open.spotify.com/album/6tF9nPl6x7ACsKZ8alL1he?si=WDF1-mWXT1uAdHxGuK-AAg Today's Album: "Café Bleu" by The Style Council - This album really didn't seem like it was going to blow me away from the front cover and name, but wow this is seriously one of the most compelling albums I've listened to on this generator so far. Like when the first track starts, you think you're in store for this really soulful jazz instrumental album with these really punchy piano playing with a tambourine accompaniment. But then, The Whole Point Of No Return subverts every expectation I had with this really soft, yet powerful guitar ballad about how the rich control everything. Then it's right back to jazz instrumental tracks like nothing happened, the first of which has this really fun Latin groove to it while the second is a super laid back club tune. I at this point really enjoyed how it was mostly instrumental cuts, but then The Paris Match entrances me with yet another slow club song, this time with a really nice female vocalist and at this point I was also noticing the amazing acoustics on the vocal production on the tracks that have vocals. My Ever Changing Moods is definitely the most straightforward track here song-structure wise, but the songwriting itself is actually really great and it's amazing with a really catchy chorus and I am impressed by how much sound is coming out of a simple Piano and Vocal performance. We get another jazz track before a pretty cheesy rap track about gun control. I think it's a decent track with a good message in the lyrics, but I also think it's the point in the album where I like a song slightly less than the rest. Strength of Your Nature is an insanely enjoyable electronic dance track that just goes absolutely nuts with synths and background vocals and I think this was the point in the album where I really felt like there was no consistent theme to the song styles here, but I sort of love it. The rest of the tracks up to the end sort of fit into the same styles we've heard throughout the first 2 legs of the album, but they still all feel really unique from one another and it all lends itself to a pretty outstanding record flow. The closer in particular includes this really upbeat and optimistic organ melody that ends the album on a nice upbeat note. Overall, this is a jampacked record full of fun tracks of a variety of different genres. There definitely is a bit of a range of quality throughout the track list, but I commend the band on just how much sonic ground they cover. Give this one a listen. Period. You will enjoy it. Highlights: Mick's Blessing, The Whole Point Of No Return, Me Ship Came In!, Blue Café, The Paris Match, My Ever Changing Moods, Dropping Bombs On The White House, Strength Of Your Nature, You're The Best Thing, Here's One That Got Away, Headstart For Happiness, Council Meetin' Score: 8/10 An incredibly unique and enjoyable jazz/dance/electronica(?) project
I was so ready to hate this album. ANOTHER British New Wave Band??? LOOK at that cover. I knew *exactly* what this was going to sound like... And then I was completely wrong. This was a fun romp that played with a bunch of genres. Sounded like the kind of thing you'd hear in a cafe.
Interesting cafe band mellow swing blues jazz fusion !!
So eclectic I kept checking to make sure it was the same album
Всегда считал Уэллера рокером (и даже не знал что это его проект) и тут такой, неожиданно, джазовый альбом. Класс! Мне очень понравился
So halfway through the I thought to myself “this is kinda bonkers.”
Different and cool, am a sucker for fast piano
“Solid soul-tinged pop songs, including 'My Ever Changing Moods,' 'Headstart for Happiness' and 'You're the Best Thing.’”
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: The Paris match, My ever changing moods, Dropping bombs, Strength of your nature, Council’ meetin
4/5. Pretty varied, but a lil awkward sometimes ngl
Zaczęło się spoko, później tak sobie 3.5
I can kind of understand why jazz was incorporated in a good amount of music in the early 80s this was a decent album.
This is a very easy listen and one of my favorites so far.
one of the coolest albums to ever do it? An extremely varied series of jazz-pop builds and rises with little to no payoff, notable if only for the fact no two tracks sound the same.
It’s fun! All I can say about it really! Some really good songs in here
So smooth!
Fav songs: - Blue Cafe - You're The Best Thing
Interesting
Back half was weird but it was jazzy and poppy enough to be enjoyable for a lot of it. 8
A nice surprise. Had a fresh jazzy feel...bouncy. Worth another listen some time
why is the cafe blue?
Piano is solid on it, lots of rhythm
Not really my style, but I'm still impressed.
Highlights: The Whole Point Of No Return, You're The Best Thing
hmmm. i don't know what to make of this intro. it was nice enough, let's hope the singer's voice doesn't disappoint. oh second song starts out even nicer. his voice is okay! real nice and imperfect. oh i love this song so much already. "rising up and taking back, the property of every man" uhhh lol. third song: oh so this album wants to be a 5, i see. love the instrumental tracks so far. loving the feature in 'the paris match'. oh i do not like 'a gospel' this will be a 4 after all. also dislike the 'strength of your nature'. the the last couple of tracks are better but not mind blowing like the first seven.
Pretty fucking good
It's actually a good álbum, I didn't think I'd like it as mucho as I do. That combination between synth pop and jazz is like, perfect, so good.
Working class Revolution.. with style.. Nice
What starts off as mostly jazzy instrumentals eventually blends in some soul and even some R/B which I gotta say, surprised me in a good way.
Olin jo lannistunut kun näin että levy vuodelta 1984 ja briteistä. Odotin perus kasarimenoa, mutta tämähän olikin yllätyksekseni ihan raikasta menoa ja vähän jatsahtavaakin otetta löytyi. Tätä kuunteli ihan mielellään.
Jazz-pop-rock. Mezcla curiosa.
This was a refreshing 80's pop album with a great sound. Has a lot of good and fun production that makes it stick out and it continues to hold up.
Chill parlor music
I love Style Council. Smooth grooves.
I'm liking the sound. Very jazzy funk.
This was really good! Not quite a 5, but at least 4.5
Funky piano, nice mostly peppy sound.
this record is all over the place - I hear jazz, I hear hip hop, it's enjoyable.
Lots going on here. While I admire the ambition and it does include some belters, it feels a little disjointed and maybe too eclectic to earn 5 stars.
Me ship came in is excellent. I know its the other way but it reminds me of the hellsing OST but less dark and grimy and more open and mellow. Highly stylistic album with a lot of colour in it.
No fav song
i think people are hating a tad too much but it's still kind of mid, the instrumental pieces are nice
different. all over. genre bending.
This is just okay
Good instrumentals! 3.5/5
I love The Jam but this is a bit up and down. Also have to deduct a full point for the rap song.
A bit hit and miss but there are still some great smooth tracks on this and Weller magic.
Meh not my cup of tea but not terrible
This album sounds like it's been featured in an advertisement for bread or something. On further listening, that's unfair and but completely true. There's some interesting stuff in here, but most of the music feels bland and poppy to be.
This album goes in all sorts of directions, and I love that! 😁 Three stars…
not bad
Kind of a mixed bag of goodies, from late night jazz and blue eyed soul to hiphop. To me these early Style Council albums are the best thing Paul Weller has done.
I enjoyed this - time has been kinder to this phase of Paul Weller's career than I was when he broke up The Jam and started The Style Council. My Ever Changing Moods and You're the Best Thing, especially, are timeless. That rap though - not good...
pretty much completely charmed (if very much not in love with) this deadly serious, very silly record. it is very tempting to see lots of it as a piss-take, but i don't know, the political nature of the record is very earnest and it feels like it approaches jazz, funk, and hip-hop from a place of real reverence. the songs in these genres aren't always great, but they're interesting and honest, and they surround My Ever Changing Moods, a simple, shining pillar of wonderful songwriting. don't love it, happy i've heard it, happy it exists
It was pretty but nothing really grabbed on. I listened while I water flowers and did some light yard work and it was nice to have in the background but if I never experienced this I would have been fine. My favorite songs were the One Who Got Away and Headstart for Happiness and those almost felt like a totally different band/album. So it was kind of strange
Knowing the author is such an Elvis Costello fan, I'm not surprised this is on the list, because this felt generic in a Costello kind of way. They're dabbling in some different styles of music, which is interesting and makes you wonder what's coming next. But I found myself not really caring that much about what was coming next because the songs were generally underwhelming. The music is pleasant enough, and nothing was offensive or hard to listen to. But overall, it felt a little lifeless despite the upbeat vibes.
I remember when Paul Weller disbanded The Jam to do something different, but I never appreciated just how different Style Council actually was having never bought or even listened to anything other than their singles. So I give kudos for such a massive departure. This album is a jazz-pop cocktail, miles away from the snarling Jam. Paris Match is a drag, Strength Of Your Nature is just bad, the rest is passable. Never particularly being a fan of Paul Weller, The Jam or Style Council, this album is hit and miss for me.
More interesting than reviews indicate
I rather enjoyed this album. Style-wise, it has a lot going on.
Unknown band. Good smooth light music. Good album.
Going out on a limb and saying I think more about Paul Weller than most people you know. He's a pretty interesting fella in that he went from the leader of the least interesting first wave punk band to leading this "sophisti-pop" post-new wave thing and then kinda being the spiritual father of one branch of Britpop. So, I definitely respect him and his influence since he’s part of every single musical movement I like. But I've just never really... cared? There's definitely some great songs by The Jam that we will get to at some point but i see them as such also-rans that I just can't be bothered to get really into them. I knew Style Council existed but have never checked them out. I will say this album is a step in the right direction for me as far as digging Weller's stuff. I actually really like the vibe of most of the vocal songs and the instrumentals are, at the very least, fine. A 3 that I’m willing to revisit. Looking forward to hearing some more. ^ IS WHAT I HAD WRITTEN BEFORE HE STARTED RAPPING
I know the band name only, and I know they never had a real hit in the States. We are still deep in the UK rabbit hole of obscure albums and bands that never made a dent in the US or beyond. Impressive listener counts for an album that's 50 yrs old and that I've never heard of. 5.5M people listened to "The Whole Point Of No Return", 21M listened to "My Ever Changing Moods", 38M million played "You're The Best Thing". Impressive on any one album, and yet I don't recognize a single song by title or from the radio, movies or tv -- and I was neck deep into pop/new wave bands in 1984. They were obviously artists, the music was important to them, I can tell. "Mick's Blessing", "Blue Cafe", "Me Ship Came In", "Dropping Bombs..." & "Council Meetin'" don't even have vocals. Hearing what sounds like an early Brit Rap track in "A Gospel" was a real surprise (I hear Whodini influence). Only song I'd give kudos to was "You're The Best Thing", not bad but not great either. Too jazzy and shoegazer for me in 1984, or now. Paul Weller's voice sure improved over time, it's pretty bland on this album. 2.5-3 stars, if you didn't grow up on it or dig it when you were young it's just very average.
3/5 Would listen to some of these songs on my own time but wouldn't come back to listen to the album in full. Loved some of the lyrical songs but I don't really listen to this genre of music. Favorite Song: Here's One That Got Away
Is it jazz? Yes it is. Is it *good* jazz? Who can tell! It’s fine, I guess, as background music in JC Penny’s, or in a fancy elevator. Is it better that any other jazz record that’s ever been released? I have no idea, because it sounds identical to every other jazz album this project has made me listen to.
Enjoyable listen but kind of all over the place, felt experimental and unpolished
Paul Weller founded The Jam when he was 14, disbanded the band when he was 24 and released the first The Style Council album when he was about 26 years old. Cafe Bleu is something really different from the Jam: pop album with soul and jazz influences, some funk and even an awful rap song! I appreciate artists who follow their vision and are not afraid of change even though I don't love this album.
The first track was a high energy piano instrumental, and it made me interested in what came next. But almost none of the songs matched that energy. It mostly feels like a good album to put on when you’re relaxing in the tub with a glass of wine, assuming that’s something people do outside of movies/tv. Fine for what it is.
I wasn't familiar with The Style Council, but I'm quite taken with their album “Café Bleu”. The group experiments with various styles of jazzy pop, and for most of the songs, it works well. One exception is “A Gospel", in which Paul Weller tries his hand at rapping. It’s a cute idea, but a classically trained tenor voice always sounds soft unless it’s mastered modern techniques. In summary, “Café Bleu” is a varied and largely good easy-listening album. It’s a solid effort.
Pretty good. It's very musical, with lots going on. Lots of different instruments that all work well. Pretty upbeat and fun. Quite funky. Some bits are a bit mad and 80's, but I kind of dig that too. Maybe a little disjointed, and there's nothing massively memorable that will last in the memory.
Otroligt blandar album, instrumentalt, bra låtar, dåliga låter. Helt klart variation. Det är överlag inte så bra av den anledningen. Men de bra låtarna ska premieras. Så medel.
Ok, ik weet niet zo goed wat ik had verwacht, maar Mick's blessing als opener? Dat niet in elk geval. Dat is gewoon een soort jazz plaatje! En dat hoor je, ik krijg heel erg bossa nova vibes van dit album, helemaal bij The Paris Match, of misschien niet bossa nova maar zo'n doorrookt whisky cafe. Echt een heerlijk nummer! My Ever Changing moods is dan best wel een styleswitch met veel meer een soort new wave post punk achtige stijl, om daarna weer vol de jazz in te duiken met Dropping Bombs on the Whitehouse. Maar daarna... Oef, daarna... A Gospel, een hiphop nummer(?) Wat? Waarom? Waar is mn jazz/bossanova? Zelfs met de postpunk was ik best wel down. Maar dit? Oef, dit is niet best... Ja de eerste helft was oprecht heel nice. En toen dacht ik zelfs even "misschien worden dit wel 5 sterren", maar de 2e helft? Die haalt dit toch een partij omlaag. Rap eren kan heel goed zonder het zelf te doen. Ook de ballad You're the best thing, geen fan. Absoluut niet het beste ding dat mij was overkomen die dag. Een fantastische eerst helft en een hele slechte tweede helft. Dan komen we ergens in het midden uit he denk ik? Gelukkig hebben we The Paris Match nog, pracht nummer. FAVO: Mick's Blessing, Me ship came in, The paris Match, Strength of your nature
it was ok but some of you are harsh. like it has it flaws but also some ok moments
a rare case where the instrumentals are miles better than the songs with lyrics. if they'd have just had instrumentals throughout the song I'd probably give this a 4, maybe even a 5, but Weller's vocals are horrendous. also what the fuck was the rap song about hahahaha
More like style wankers.
Ok, this is a bit more laid back than I was expecting. I actually really like it. Nice background music for chilling with a cup of hot chocolate and a bikkie.
63/100. A jazzy pop record that is easy to enjoy. The Style Council lean into a smooth and stylish sound. There is a clear appreciation for jazz influences here, and those moments tend to be the most enjoyable.
This was pretty interesting. Hard to say what genre this was, mix of different types.
More that sophisti-opo, I would describe this album as half jazz and that genre, and I'll add that the first half is way better than the other. Really liked the jazz side of this album. From "Mick's Blessings" to "Dropping Bombs on the Whitehouse", the songs are a combination of very smooth and soothing with some more upbeat and fun jazz. It may not be the best jazz of the world, but I think the material worked really great. However, with the second half I don't have that many positive thoughts. It starts with "A Gospel" a very dated sounding hip hop, it is followed by the kind of synth funk and tediously repetitive track "Strength with Your Nature", the slow, long and kind of corny "You're the Best Thing", the more cheerful but forgettable couple "Here's One that Got Away" and "Headstart for Happiness" and ends with the nice and short ending "Council Meetin' ". Although I think this side is way weaker than the previous one, I didn't really mind it. So overall, I think the project is just decent. I would really liked way more if they only focused in the jazz side, but unfortunately, is not the case.
I really expected New Wave from the title and year. I had to keep checking that I had the same album playing because of the genre changes. This was fun to listen to
If one were to search for a prime example of sophist-pop, this would be it. Overambitious? Surely. Eclectic? Absolutely. But that's what this style of music is about, as I see it. I kind of like that music, not regularly, but sometimes it fits the mood. +1 for Tracey Thorns of EBTG.
It’s not bad, it’s actually quite enjoyable I thought. My biggest issue is the consistency because it can’t seem to pick a lane when it comes to genres and it comes off as whiplash. Likes: The Whole Point of No Return; Me Ship Came In; My Ever Changing Moods; You’re The Best Thing
A pretty fun jazzy album that was more vaired in sound than I was expecting. Some of the instrumental tracks really reminded me of the Cowboy Bebop soundtrack which I loved. The more laid back tracks were the best ones here even though there was less than I was expecting. The female vocals that popped up every now and then were a nice treat, and there weren't any outright terrible moments besides the "A Gospel" track where he decided to rap in an awful way for some reason. Still a good time though, 3/5
Enjoyed this. Not what I expected at all, but a very pleasant listen.
I love a ton of mid-80s music and have heard a few different bands on this countdown that I have never listened to from that era that I ended up enjoying. This proved to be no different. Skipping the intro song, which was a bit of a throw away for me, the album got off to a strong start with The Whole Point of No Return, which had some cool muted guitar work on it. Me Ship Came In was a fun instrumental that many would praise if it were sitting on a jazz album. Feels a bit out of place here, but I still enjoyed it. Wouldn't come back to it though. Similar story for Blue Cafe. The Paris Match was solid. Tracey Thorn's voice sounded good on this. My Ever Changing Moods was a cool song, though there was something about the signing on this which seemed a bit over the top to me. It didn't stand in the way of me enjoying it though. The next few songs, I thought, were reasonably forgettable. Then came You're The Best Thing, which was one of the best songs on the album. The chorus wasn't quite as good as the rest of the track, which reminded me of something you might hear from a George Michael type of artist. The next two tracks I found pretty similar to each other. Quality songs, nothing amazing, but well beyond just filler. Almost like big band songs without the over-the-top brass. Frankly, a bit different from the sound of the time. Council Meetin' wasn't a great closer for me. Just kind of there. All in all, a solid album. Some really good tracks, others that were misses. 3 stars.
2 hits and a lot of Jazzy stuff
Wow, not what I expected from a Paul Weller album. Never heard of this, just didn't make any impression in the U.S. And it's a really crazy mix of genres. The soul and jazz stuff definitely works. But the rap songs sound very dated. A Gospel is just so bad.
***An ok, easy listening album
Emmm oki guess, mid
featuring hits such as "dropping bombs on the Whitehouse". also, it is very much music I could listen to in a cafe or on the move.
Smooth Jazz with some old style rap? Definitely enjoyed the smooth jazz ensemble along with the key players throughout the album.
Was alright. Don't really know who the audience is meant to be though.
Mick's Blessings 3.3 The Whole Point of No Return 3.4 Me Ship Came In! 3.5 Blue Café 3.6 The Paris Match 3.6 My Ever Changing Moods 3.4 Dropping Bombs on the Whitehouse 3.4 A Gospel 2.7 Strengh of Your Nature 3 You're the Best Thing 3.3 Here's One That Got Away 3.4 Headstart for Happiness 3.2 Council Meetin' 3.3 Score: 3.315384615
I enjoyed this - a mix of genres but always grounded in Weller's signature style. 3 - deserves to be on this list
not bad honestly.
This was better than I thought it would be given the ratings. I liked the jazzy bits best. I added “You’re the Best Thing” to my Generator playlist.
★★★½
Rather blown away by the sheer variety of the tracks on Cafe Bleu. Can't make heads or tails of what kind of group The Style Council, but it's pretty cool. It was an entertaining listen, that's for sure. Far from some of the lesser albums we've heard thus far.
I thought I was really going to enjoy this album just based off of the first several tracks but it definitely loses it's momentum in the second half, though I think it does recover some of it. They really just threw everything against the wall and turns out, some things stuck pretty well. Some other stuff, not so much.
Some things land ok, others not so much have to at least admire the attempt to do something really different form the jam 3*
I enjoyed this. The songs are fun, the instrumentals are cool. Idk if it’s better than The Jam or needed to be on this list, but it’s a pretty light, listenable album.
Nice easy listening album.
Cool instrumentals. The songs with lyrics made me think of neutered Oingo Boingo.
Какая то абстрактно арт поп хуета , мне в целом было забавно ))
Não entendi o conceito. Cada música parecia de um artista/gênero diferente
New to me. Enjoyed as background music, especially the variety. Would not have guessed this was an album and not sure why it is. Also not sure why it is in the top 1000. 0 songs added to playlist.
Wasn’t expecting the jazzy, neo-soul elements. At its best when it’s not trying to be conventional 80s new wave pop.
the rap parts were so shitty…. but otherwise it’s fine
I like the first part of the album. It goes downhill later. I'd give it a 4 if not for a few truly awful songs.
The version on Amazon music is a live concert. The audience talk and interaction with Paul Weller was interesting, the band was quality but the sound wasn't great. I don't know why there wasn't a studio version as that would have sounded better. I think that many of their songs have aged poorly, due to the pointed politics that is so closely being critical of Margaret Thatcher. Looking at their catalogue I think I could make a great album of songs with a mix of singles and album cuts. I don't know why Luck is not on any of their compilations. It's a vibrant pop love song.
The Good: We get to enjoy a beer! The Bad: Cafe Blue does not serve alcohol… The Ugly: Finding out that the Style Council is but a nom de plume… just like Bleu really isn’t… Though I am more of a fan of their next album, which isn’t on this list, I found this one to be… well… stylish in it's ‘80s sounds! I have to say that I do miss that jazz-influenced sound that permeated music in the mid ‘80s. Beats that shit people listen to now-a-days with the regeaton, or whatever it is called. Still, would I add this album to a list of things that one must listen to before one dies? I am not certain… as mentioned before, I prefer the album that came after, with that great hit “walls came tumbling down” Maybe I am going to have to buy the 1001 book, so I can read the reasoning behind the inclusion of certain albums to this list? For now, shooting it down the middle… though the rapping almost made it drop another *
Didn't know what to expect going in, assume it wouldn't be my jam but by the end I was vibing. Headstart for Happiness is superb.
This got up for me on the second listen. There are some terribly cringe tracks on this record, I mean, the rapping anyone? Total left turn for something that has mostly modern lounge jazz on it. But I do approve of a number of other songs that were worth the second go-around. Everything But The Girl makes a guest appearance that has Tracey Thorn complete in the spotlight, beautiful work from her. You're The Best Thing and Here's One That Got Away are well-done pop songs and I like how joyful Headstart For Happiness is. Those last 3 make for a great homestretch on this record. This isn't something I would find myself coming back to, but through coming back, I've learned to accept the quirks and styles this project offers. It's also through further consideration, better than the New Order and Solomon Burke I've heard this week. I don't even like the whole record, but it still gets one single thumb from me. Sophisti-pop: for when you want to be hip and fancy all at once. (6/10, 3/5 on this scale)
Never got into the Style Council back in the day. Was still mad at Paul Weller for splitting the Jam! Listening now, I know the singles, but the album is a first listen….its way better than I expected to be fair. Very cool jazzy vibe. Piano led songs aren’t what you associate PW with, which I guess was the point. Tracey Thorn on anything is an instant win also! Overall I’m impressed…will revisit. 3
Odd, esoteric, jazzy stuff. It’s ok but mostly background music. Top tracks: “Strength of Your Nature,” “Mick’s Blessings”
--Mick's Blessings...a fun pianee ditty --The Whole Point of No Return...smooth. pleasant --Me Ship Came In!...cheesy but it's my flavor. Ocean's 11 vibes --Blue Café...yeesh, this is not my flavor of cheese. like one of Steely Dan's lesser tracks --The Paris Match...very nice production but it's way too "mid-tier hotel bar", in my opinion --My Ever Changing Moods...melodrama --Dropping Bombs on the [REDACTED]...spicy title. pretty straight forward but fun jazz --A Gospel...dafuq is this? I appreciate the swing but it misses. the bass sounds like "Freaks Come Out at Night" --Strength of Your Nature...this rips. Paul Weller digging back into his the Jam persona --You're the Best Thing...basically Jon Secada song --Here's One That Got Away...jangly pop. it's fun --Headstart for Happiness...Chicago the band vibe here --Council Meetin'...a fun outro
Album #1,075 Half smooth jazzy piano music and half pop. One song stood out on each side -- The Paris Match and Headstart for Happiness. Actually, that god-awful rap song, A Gospel also stood out and immediately dated this album. Lyrics sounded like they were probably political in nature, something I could not care less about when I'm trying to enjoy music.
Es wirkt wie solide Hintergrundmusik mit Stil‑Council‑Signatur: geschmeidig, leicht jazzig, angenehm unaufdringlich. Die Produktion hat etwas von einer gut gelaunten Bontempi‑Orgel, die sich durch die Arrangements schlängelt, und immer wieder blitzt eine Spandau‑Ballet‑artige Eleganz auf – weich, poliert, ein bisschen zu glatt. Als Album funktioniert es mehr als Atmosphäre denn als zwingendes Statement. Einige Stücke glänzen, andere plätschern höflich vorbei. Insgesamt bleibt ein kompetent gemachtes, aber nicht durchgehend fesselndes Werk.
some songs were a miss for me but i loved the overall experimentation and sound of this album!! 3.5
Interesting shift. Like the jazzy influence
Pleasant enough but didn't stand out to me.
Words cannot adequately express the disappointment I felt being a huge fan of The Jam, and then hearing The Style Council for the first time. That said, taken as it’s own thing, it’s not bad.
Treeren her er ikke for at plata er mid. Det er fordi låtene spriker sånn i kvalitet. Veldig bra på sitt beste, noe skikkelig ræl og en del meh.
Um disco irregular, com peças instrumentais interessantes, mas sem as mesmas virtudes nos temas com vocais.
Intressant blandning.
Intet at blive ophidset over. det er fint og jazzet
Very random, but creative stuff. Very diverse set of songs I enjoyed listening to!
Accidentally listened to all of this with my grandad thinking it was the jazz album we were listening to from a few days ago. ...it was not. This is not jazz, but is fine.
That was different
Ok. Funny story. I listened to the first 8 tracks of this record and wrote the review below. I wanted to finish it up before I got my next album, so I pulled up my phone, forgetting which track I was on. For some reason I wanted to check wikipedia instead of Apple Music, and I'm glad I did. Because none of the tracks in the Wiki matched up with what I had heard. The dangers of listening to the Special Edition! For some reason, the makers of the special edition made the first disc NOT the original LP, but instead the mini-LP titled "Introducing.....The Style Council." So I was listening to the wrong album the whole day. The mini-LP sounds like straight ahead synth pop to me. So imagine my surprise when I fired up disc 2 of the SE, the correct album for this project, and found that musically it is completely unrelated to disc 1! The first side of the REAL Cafe Bleu is light jazz. Then I got even more confused when the second side starts off with a terrible proto-rap song, and then spins off into all sorts of different directions before finally settling back on jazz-pop for the finale. PHEW. For all it's ambition, I have to say this album's eclectic nature is its downfall. What kind of record do I want to put on? Cafe Bleu will never be the answer to that question because it's too many genres all at once. Anyways. I'm not going to delete my review for, apparently, "Introducing...." because I like it and it's still valid even if its for the wrong album. THREE STARS ### The guy who wrote this book never met an English synth-pop band he didn't like. I think every single English synth-pop record will be on this list, quality be damned. Not that this is a bad record. But - Jesus. I'm guessing the author of "1001 Records to Hear Before You Die" is English (obviously) and had some kind of musical Awakening in the early to mid 1980s, which means he was probably born between 1960-68. He's white. Ok now I feel like I'm profiling a serial killer. But seriously. I think he pulled some obvious "best albums ever" from his own brain, then he grabbed every Album of the Year Grammy winner, as well as every Mercury Prize winner, and then he stumbled on a "Catalog of Synth Pop/New Wave" and just threw in the lot. And that's how we got this book. Which is fine, because I quite like that genre. But even for me it's getting a little tedious.
Felt like I was listening to a lot of different genres.
5/10 Best songs: A Gospel, Strength Of Your Nature This is such a confusing album. It starts as sort of jazzy easy listening - mainly instrumentals with a few random vocals. Then suddenly A Gospel comes on and it's early rap/hip hop; then you have typical synth-y 80s music... It's a sort of schizophrenic album. Some parts are good, some are bad, some are dull... I'm not sure what to think about it honestly, but I like how experimental it is.
Para quien le agrade los géneros contenidos en el álbum le será placentero sin duda, en mi caso al no ser de mis estilos favoritos, ya que disfruto más de tipos similares de música cuando tiene toques o mezclas de ello más no es el rasgo principal de, me pareció muy disfrutable. Destaco como canciones favoritas: Me Ship Came In! A Gospel My Ever Changing Moods 3/5(?)
Pretty backgroundy… is that the point?
Groovy
Эклектика, в этом смысле немного напомнили поздних Битлов.
Good, started of really strong but tapered off to the end.
551/1001
I thought I knew some Style Council songs, and when You're the Best Thing started I got what I thought they were. This was, however, the tenth song on the album so I had to wait a while to get what I was expecting. I didn't dislike the first nine songs, and some of them were quite fun (especially the more bopping jazz tunes). I even got into The Prophet though initially I was shaking my head at the attempt at hip hop. This was a good Sunday morning album. I added two songs to my 1001 songs playlist. The first was indeed You're the Best Thing. The other was The Paris Match. Not because I love the song, but because Tracey Thorn is on it and I'll be going to Paris in a week and I'm super excited about it.
I liked some of this a lot and found other parts a little grating. Almost a 4!
not sure if there will be a funnier album to imagine someone posting a furious review of. hearing an absurdly goofy '80s rap next to some corny jazz and immediately popping a blood vessel in my forehead alternatively, i'm going to tell my kids this was geordie greep
not sure what genre this is, but i found it interesting.
Prefiero a The Jam pero hay que reconocer que hay buenas canciones en este disco, aunque sean muy pop-jazz. Paul Weller se merece un respeto por toda su carrera.
This record embodies everything about mid 80s adult contemporary music. Little soulful, lots of drum machines, synthesizers etc. so very 80s. So very average.
Quirky, entertaining, sophisticated-sounding montage from the mid-80s. Not everybody's thing, to be sure, so can't claim you gotta hear it.
One of those albums with a hot song that sounds nothing like the rest. A spirited jazzy, lounge-y sound that throws a lot at the wall, but not a lot sticks. “You’re the Best Thing” is lively but goes on too long. “Headstart for Happiness” features a woman vocalist whom I wish had been featured more. “Ever-Changing Moods” is a kick, but even that is lower-energy than I remember. A band that sort of couldn’t get out of its own way.
Decent music but I'm just not that into Paul Weller
Album 40 Top 3 favorites off the album: Dropping Bombs On The Whitehouse, The Paris Match, Here's One That Got Away Strong start. I love some jazz. It stayed fairly strong throughout with the exception of the rapping. Tracey Thorn has a lovely voice, and then The Paris Match is followed up by a dude whose voice I don't like all that much. Oh well. Funniest song title goes to Dropping Bombs On The Whitehouse for sure. Much to everyone's shock I'm sure, I didn't vibe as hard with the bouncier tracks. It may be because I am sitting at a desk rather than driving or cleaning my house (definitely the case with Here's One That Got Away), but I'm unwilling to seek those tracks out again later to test that theory. Another album I wish I could give half stars.
Schon ziemlich durchwachsen. "Strength of Your Nature" und vor allem "A Gospel" (Paul Weller rappt und es wie zu erwarten ist furchtbar) sind einfach nur Unsinn, sonst gefällt mir dieser seichte und angejazzte Sound recht gut. Catchy, gefällig, aber nicht sehr tiefgründig, auch wenn es teils politischer wird.
The instrumentals are nice, but some of the soul tracks are bad and the rapping is laughable. 2.5/5.0: Mixed
the instrumentals are very enjoyable. once he starts singing, all bets are off. most of the songs go from great to ok, some go to downright awful. the rap song was especially hard to listen to.
What the heck did I just listen to?? This band was all over the place. Sounded like 5 different bands on a mid eighties compilation album. Very talented though.
Entertaing. A nice change of pace. Nothing special but a fun listen.
quite varied, a lot of genres and well executed. I couldn't connect with it despite that, sadly
Council Weller is a million miles away from Jam Weller. Smooth jazz vibes sprinkled with some songs that I knew and grew up listening too. Me, I enjoyed it and have continued to listen to it over the last few days.
Interesting to say the least...I thought it was so hilarious because I definitely know "You're the Best Thing" and didn't expect the album to be jazz, pop, even a rap song?!
The first half of this album was okay and I really enjoyed Dropping Bombs On The Whitehouse. But then right in the middle of the album it morphed into something weird. There were a couple of songs that sounded like an early glimpse of skits for In Living Color. The last half of this album is way too cheesy.
Nice
What surprise! Liked this!
Büro, Heidenheim, Deutschland. Ganz okay.
This one took me by surprise. I kind of see how they took rock a little more R&B but it seemed more jazzy to me than that. Good overall.
This was pretty average, but an easy listen.
All over the place, but kinda fun
Started off jazzy and fun with that opening track. Fell into a sad maelstrom of meh. I found their jazzy elevator music tracks at least somewhat enjoyable. Although the rap song out of left field was interesting
I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate it. This album ia kind of all over the place, which isn't such a bad thing for 1984.
It was Ok, though it's not particularly impressive and didn't wow me in any way.
Not your usual album regarding compositions and tone, but it is quite unique in its boheme style.
I'm a Paul Weller. I loved the raw energy and scruffy lyricism of the Jam. And I like his more mature and sonically-adventurous solo work. I didn't get Style Council when it first came out in the 1980s. I didn't get why he turned down his guitar and started playing what sounded like Middle of the Road Am pop. But this is a lot better than I realized. No one's going to mistake Weller and the keyboardist Mick Talbot for Wes Montgomery and Jimmy Smith, but it's an honest effort to adopt American jazz and modern R & B sound to an English setting. I particularly liked some of Talbot's Ramsey Lewis-style instrumentals. Weller has some good songs at the beginning of the album and the end, especially "My Ever Changing Moods." But then there are some embarrassing stinkers like a hip-hop-style effort called "A Gospel" and a banal tune called "Strength of Your Nature.," It ain't bad, but if I was goikng to introduce someone to Weller I'd start with Setting Sons or Stanley Road.
What a interesting combination of genres. Jazzy rap at one point. Kind of catchy but nothing I would turn back too
Wow what a wild variety of music. Sometimes jazz, sometimes funk, sometimes hip hop, Some songs really felt like Prince. Fun listen.
There are a couple of gems on here but too many instrumentals plus a guest appearance from Everything but the Girl (who I do like) push this album down to a 3 for me
Didn't do a lot for me, but it is okay. 3 stars or C.
It was fine, I would re listen to a few!
A bit hit and miss, some nice background tunes, some boring..
This comes across as Weller having lots ideas and wanting to get them out rather than a coherent album.
Sounds pretty fun.
Ok, this whole time I thought the Style Council was new wave. Nay! Sophisti-pop, indeed. I felt very ‘80s chrome bar, martinis and powersuit and heels listening to this. Kinda loved the vibe and the piano, jazzy and soulful stylings going on. It exists on the same planet of Sade, if not at the same level. Unfortunately, at about the halfway mark there is a four-minute record scratch of truly horrible white man “rapping.” This might be entirely unfair but I now can’t remember anything after that. It was that horrific a train wreck. It possibly could have been a 4 but I cannot.
Great album, but very much of an age, some songs remain firm favourites but overall hasn’t aged well
Album #23 The Style Council: Cafe Bleu I did go into this album already being a big fan of The Jam and Paul Weller in general, so it was only a matter of time before I listened to The Style Council, as they were already on my radar. So, going in assuming that I would enjoy it, I was surprised to see just how poorly it has been reviewed on this site. Some of the reviews here are absolutely vitriolic, calling it boring, tasteless, and nonsensical. So I grew even more curious to hear how Paul Weller could create something so divisive, as for the most part, The Jam is universally loved. And to my not-so-great surprise, this is actually good, and you guys are tripping. Yes, this won’t be for everyone, and the changing of styles could be a put-off (especially the rap track), but in my opinion, it was never too jarring; everything seemed to belong amongst one another. And the highlights here are some absolutely wonderful songs. The ‘boring’ parts are simply pleasant and short instrumentals that don’t derail the momentum in any way. I suppose if you aren’t a fan of sophisti-pop in general, this might seem obnoxious, but I’ve never been too put off by pretentiousness, unless it was laced with arrogance. Weller’s influences in Black music culture have been well established, with a lot of The Jam songs being heavily influenced by Motown; so it’s not a surprise to see him dip his toes into soul a lot here, and even be an early adopter of hip-hop (though how successfully he adapted it is up for debate. Overall, it wouldn’t rank amongst the best Jam albums, but this is a very solid effort from Weller, and proves his talent to alter his style so drastically and create something nice. Best Tracks: My Ever Changing Moods, Here’s One That Got Away, You’re The Best Thing Worst Track: A Gospel Score out of 10: 7.5
disjointed
Late night TV/lounge act vibes. Not bad, just gotta be looking for something in the vein. Until the rap, that is. Interesting addition, that, but in an eclectic compilation like this album, fits right in
A wide variety of styles here! some instrumentals i didn't care about that much and some that I loved, same with the vocal tracks, wish they got that Tracey Thorn back for more I loved her contribution. Highlights: The Paris Match Blue Cafe My Ever Changing Moods You're The Best Thing High 3
Great to get back to this album after such a long time. Back in the day I quite liked it. And the tracks I quite liked I now think are really very good. But boy are there some stinkers. Especially around what we used to call the start of Side B and we now call the bit where we might drift off if the material isn't good enough. I'm still at a loss to understand why Welller would invest in this project overall, but on balance I'm glad he did if only for the gift of the better songs here. 3* as a package (though a slack handful of 4* and 5* individual outings
Café Bleu is an album that wears its ambitions very openly. It wants to be sophisticated, cosmopolitan, and forward thinking, blending soul, jazz, pop, and politics into something cooler and more refined than straightforward pop. At times, that confidence works, creating moments that feel stylish and self assured, but just as often it tips into self consciousness, as if the album is trying a little too hard to signal its own tastefulness. What I find frustrating is how uneven the experience is. There are tracks that glide along beautifully, full of warmth and melody, and then others that feel like sketches or mood pieces rather than fully realised songs. The spoken word moments and instrumentals add atmosphere, but they also disrupt the flow, making the album feel more like a collection of ideas than a cohesive statement. Paul Weller’s songwriting is sharp when it lands, but here it does not always commit strongly enough to either emotion or melody. In the end, Café Bleu is an album I like in parts rather than as a whole. I enjoy dipping into it, appreciating its textures and its sense of curiosity, but it does not quite hold me from start to finish. It feels transitional, caught between pop immediacy and artful experimentation, succeeding just enough to be interesting without fully pulling everything together.
Once again, not wowed by any of the songs or the artists.
Good duo from the 80’s. Good sound, and music. Still good listening today.
Good for background
Good lyrics, and nice jazzy feel to it. Largely ambitious album with good instrumentals. A few duds, such as the rap attempt in "A Gospel." I listened to Cafe Bleu first while drunk and thought "wow, 4 stars!" Listened sober the next morning and thought "meh, there are some duds here.
interesting conglomeration of a bunch of different elements that make it a much more engaging and fun listen than most of the other 80s english albums on the list, but those elements don't really come together to make anything special. the jazz parts are pretty uninspired and very lacking compared to what you'd get from talented, dedicated jazz musicians, the soul is a pretty pale imitation, and the less said about the embarrassing rapping, the better. fun and weird, but not particularly good
Decent bluesy album.
Absolutely wild album. Jazz, funk, pop, country, rap, rock. It has a little bit of everything. It's a wild ride but every song has something good about it. A couple songs are coming to my playlists. 6/10
Beep boop?
Solid album. A lot of pretty music here. Not a ton to say about it, but it sounds hood
I like some songs but seems uneven
Interesting album. Not what I expected, but also not something up my alley.
6 - AVERAGE
Thought there was a lot of variation in this one. Not all of it was my thing but there were some songs I really liked and overall I enjoyed the album. Not sure I would come back to it, but I had a nice enough time listening. Fav song: My Ever Changing Moods Least fav: A Gospel
Very neutral on this one
surprise - had 1 hit but the rest pretty good
Paul Weller strikes again, ma this guy is all over the place. Weird album with some cool songs, never heard of this before either.
Nice. I like Tracey Thorn's voice on this record.
3.5, musica de fondo buena, sirve cuando quiero escuchar musica pero no quiero escuchar musica (como recien que estaba ansiosa y necesitaba ruido)
I quite enjoyed this, some of it was a little too meh, but there were some great instrumental pieces.
If Dissociative Identity Disorder was an album
Perfectly fine some songs I liked and thought it was interesting but never had me feeling things
Better than Coldplay
The band name, album cover, and release year lead me to guess that I'd hear some corny synth-pop new wave (prejudging albums by their covers is my favorite morning game). I was pleasantly surprised to get something a little different when I pressed play. Side one is a pretty straightforward jazz record. Not experimental jazz, it's the kind of basic smooth jazz you learn when your teacher doesn't trust you to play outside of 4/4 yet; the kind of jazz I learned to play when I was 14 years old. Jazz is complicated - you show off too much and you sound pretentious, you don't show off enough and it also sounds pretentious, but in a way that makes you look like a poseur (pretend-tious? let's coin that). On second listen, I could be convinced that "Dropping Bombs On The Whitehouse" shows off enough to prove their jazz chops; I don't care enough to dig deeper on it though. Side two is a little more dynamic and maybe could have been a separate album. "A Gospel" (Track 8) is a rap song that I never need to hear again, but after that we get some jazz new wave fusion! I was unaware of the concept of jazz new wave, but it seems inevitable that someone would try it. Whether intentional or not, this record does capture that plastic soul quality of the early Bowie new wave recordings. I do feel like these guys were genuinely trying and didn't mean to leave it so soulless. This was a side project from Paul Weller (of The Jam) and Mick Talbot. I previously reviewed one The Jam album and was thoroughly unconvinced that it was doing anything new/different/exciting; I guess I can't say the same about this record. I still just can't get over all the pretense here. Even dropping the "The" and calling the band "Style Council" might have done loads to lighten things up, but I get the feeling that's not what they were going for. Wherever I land on my rating, know that it got a full star removed for "A Gospel". If I owned a physical copy, I might intentionally scratch it in a way to make that track forever unplayable.
I’m a big Paul Weller/Jam fan but this album has a mixed feel to me. The jazz part feels like smooth jazz and not really a dive into the genre. But the ballads tunes are great and could stand as smooth jazz standards. It’s a weird contradiction but that’s the Style Council.
Their best songs are sans vocals, but the entire album felt too safe to be on this list.
Upbeat pop with some good Jazz-ish bits
This was a great airplane album, didn't know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised at each turn of genre. Really well written songs of totally different styles that still somehow pull together into a logical set.
Very nice
This was an odd likable album. It took me on a journey through classical, rock, weird hippie.
Started out jazzy and smooth, and then kind of jumped all over the place. Wasn't expecting the rap song. Not a bad album, but nothing to write home about.
I was really enjoying it until the ‘rap’ started.
Pop, which winds it's way through multiple other genres
Cafe Bleu was certainly an interesting album. I went into this album thinking that it would be a punk rock album but after reading the genre tags and listening to the album, it was this odd mix R&B, Jazz and Rap held together by a central new-wave sound a bit reminiscent of Everything But The Girl which make sense because it's members did help out on this album (and by the album, i just mean the song The Paris Match) I have pretty mixed feelings on this album, part of me likes the variety on offer but the other part of me thinks its a little unfocused. This is an album that i didn't really love or hate so its kinda in the middle. Best Song: You're The Best Thing Worst Song: Mick's Blessings
Surprising
6.5/10 Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Lots of variation with a lot of instrumental tracks. The political lyrics should be cringe (especially when they are in rap form) but somehow feel earnest and hopeful. Highlights: My Ship Came In The Whole Point of No Return Headstart for Happiness A Gospel
Paul Weller hebben we hier eerder al gehad als onderdeel van mod-revival bandje the Jam. En daar werd ik wel vrolijk van, tot twee keer toe 4 sterren. Hier gaat hij de overduidelijk de iets te vrolijke 80s kant op. Jazzy sophisti-pop, met hiphop-uitspattingen, een goede scheut newwave en zelfs een soulnummer. De jazzy stukken vind ik nog wel ok, maar ik haak toch een beetje af als hij de rest vd 80s gaat verkennen. Ik heb toch het idee dat anderen dat beter of in ieder geval overtuigender hebben gedaan. Ik weet hier met veel moeite nog maar net een kleine 3 uit te persen, omdat de beste man natuurlijk wel een aardig potje kan musiceren.
I thought some of these songs were a lot of fun, some were a bit wank, like that it tried something.
My first impression was that this reminds me of Joe Jackson... but without any hit songs. I didn't latch on to any songs that I would immediately want to keep repeating. There are a couple songs that might work better as singles by other artists. I was surprised that there was a rap song. The genres seemed to be all over the place. I thought at one point possibly the genres were changing intentionally as if a character was moving into different settings which caused the genre and music to change. I was surprised that this was a Paul Weller band. I was a little familiar with The Jam but did not know what else Paul Weller had done. I kept thinking this was possibly a George Michael band before he was known in the pop genre.
Not what I expected at all, in a good way. Some funky stuff here. Some of is it perhaps a tad cheesy by today's standards, but overall pretty nice. Favourite tracks: Mick's Blessings, Me Ship Came In!, The Paris Match, Dropping Bombs On The Whitehouse, Strength Of Your Nature.
I really enjoyed this album, although I've never heard this band before, but there was at least one familiar song on this. Great background music.
It's sophisti-pop, but without synthesizers. The Style Council lean more toward jazz than other artists in the same sub-genre. The problem I have with this album is its forced eclecticism. There are just too many styles converging in every song. At the very least, they should have left out the rap number.
This bruh was in the jam? I guess that’s a little surprising. I would rather a jam album be on this list (maybe there is one? Idk)
This album is all over the place in the worst way possible. I like albums with wide sonic palettes, but I also like some element of cohesion. The first half of this album is fine, and I enjoy the instrumental jazz songs (the ones with vocals are a little generic). However, the second half has, a hip hop songs, a new wave/synth pop song, a song with a fiddle, a wannabe Steely Dan son, and more weird jazz soft rock. This is really close to a 2, but I will round up. Low 3.
Incredibly cheesy in a way that I could sometimes accept and sometimes went too far. The jazzy bits were ok, You’re The Best Thing is fun, but the rap song was unforgivable
Fun and well-performed, but the material is mostly lackluster.
Some fun stuff.. It's all over the place.
Love the slightly ragtime-y piano at the start
Abwechslungsreich, Fahrstuhl, Hip-Hop?
Surprised this came out in the 80s. There were points that almost reminded me of Burt Bacharach. Not my favorite, but maybe it just has to grow on me.
3 belting songs. I like it
The second half was a lot better. A bit too faux Marvin Gaye for me. A low 3.
Weller, as usual, marcando la pauta, con estilo, determinación y compromiso. Todo un cambio musical desde la urgencia mod de The jam hasta un pop orientado al jazz, soul, funk e incluso bossa nova, sin perder el instinto melódico. De nuevo a la vanguardia, aunque temas como A gospel no hayan envejecido nada bien (si querían sonar como Kurtis Blow, se quedaron lejos y da un poco de grima aunque en su momento pudo ser algo avanzado). Entre este y Our favourite shop es difícil elegir, tal vez este suene más fresco, luego ya fueron derivando en algo más complejo o abriendo brecha con el House. Eso sí, temazos siempre los han tenido. Hubo discos mejores en el 84, por mucho, porque ese año estuvo Born in USA, Purple Rain o Let it be. Siempre han publicado muy buenos temas, algunos formidables, de aquí los clásicos son The Paris Match con T. Thorn (y ben Watt) y You´re the best thing, el resto no está a esa altura, lógicamente, pero My Ever Changing Moods, Headstart for Happiness (una canción realmente buena) y Here's One That Got Away (con su falsete y su violín, un homenaje a los Dexy´s) no andan lejos. The whole point of no return es otra pequeña joya, mientras Me ship came in! o Blue Cafe son delicados temas casi easy listening o lounge. Cierra otro buen instrumental para mover algo más que los pies, a cargo de Talbot.
80er jazz, mit rap elenenten
Not too bad.
This was an eclectic mix of interesting genres, well worth the listen.