Cafe Bleu

Not good

nice try

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.

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

Strange progression from jazzy piano blues to proto-hiphop about halfway through the album. Not sorry I listened but could take it or leave it

Feels weird giving Weller less than a 4 but there's some shite on here

Bland and inoffensive. Can't even muster up the interest to give it a shit score. 3/5.

2.5

Halfway through I thought it had skipped to a different album but no, ‘twas still The Style Council. Clearly I had different ideas as to what they’re music sounded like.

Je n'étais plus certain à un moment de ce que j'écoutais. Ca va dans tout les sens et c'est difficile à suivre des fois. Les chansons sont quand même très bien faite et elles on toutes un petits quelques choses à leur facon dans tous les styles représentés dans cettealbum. 3.5

Wanted to like this one better but it randomly turned into some sugar hill gang type shit

Cafe Blew My Mind

I like the slow chill tracks

First half was great jazz, second half was old school hip hop and new wave 80s pop. Both good, but the transition is very abrupt.

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.

They cranked up the genre variety at the cost of writing a few genres well. Overall the album is very mediocre, and almost soulless because of it. 2/5

It's jolly difficult to believe from the first couple of tracks that this is Paul Weller. There's some nice easy listening - and imagine my surprise on hearing track 3 and discovering that this is where Louie Austen's "One night in Rio" comes from. Unfortunately, the album doesn't stay that way and it drops into the more expected synthy type affair. As other reviews have noted - Paul Weller should not rap.

A decent 3-star jazzish muzak album that completely abandons genre coherency at the midway point to tack on a mish-mash of 1 star bargain-bin demos it sounds like. Just utterly bizarre.

A mix of blue-eyed soul, jazz and modern influences (for the time) made this a more sophisticated, progressive pop album. (6/10) FT: You're the Best Thing, My Ever Changing Moods

La plus belle voix du PAF

cet album n'a aucun sens mais j'ai aimé pas mal de chansons

I have mixed feelings about this album. It is incredibly ambitious and features a wide range of genres including jazz, soul, new wave, and even rap. The lyrics reflect economic anxiety and are very pro working class. However, I’m not convinced that the mix of genres succeeds. The more jazzy moments work well, even if they’re not terribly innovative, but other moments are jarring and seem to be thrown in just for variety’s sake.

There are better Style Council records

Enjoyed the instrumental tracks most. Pretty cool stuff.

Nieszczescia zdaja sie chodzic parami, przynajmniej tak jest w przypadku wyspiarskich pickow, bo kolejny krazek ktorego samemu raczej bym sobie nie odpalil, cafe bleu od the style council to jeden z tych albumow, ktory jest wszystkim i niczym, doslownie, bo takiego mieszanca gatunkowego dawno nie bylo, od instrumentalnego soulo jazzowania, ktorego brzmienie swietnie oddaje okreslenie muzyki lounge, czyli latwe sluchowisko, prawie jak windowe, ale z bardziej retro charakterem, przez sophisti-pop, ktory najlepiej wychodzi tej plycie na zdrowie, czego przykladem sa traki the whole point of no return czy my ever changing moods, kawalek ktory stal sie tytulem hamerykanskiego wydania tego albumu, czy nawet murzynskie rapsy, bo tak wlasnie brzmi gettowo brzmiacy utwor a gospel, a jakie to byly czasy, bo sama plyta wyszla w 84 i byla debiutanckim krazkiem zespolu, ktory tworzylo trio Paul Weller glownie gitara i bas oraz wokale i liryka, chociaz warto tez zwrocic uwage, ze plyta byla nagrywana w jego studio i mial swoj wklad w jej produkcje, Mick Talbot wszelakie klawisze, a musialo byc tutaj rowniez troche synthowego grania, bo wiadomo, ze nowa fala rowniez musiala zostac ujezdzona i Steve White na drumsach, ale zespol wspomaga sie licznym gronem muzykow sesyjnych, wiec niektore traki brzmia wrecz przesadnie orkiestrowo, ale na tych 44 minutach jest tak duzo, ze wylowic z tego cos wartego uwagi nie jest latwym zadaniem, o duzo za duzo dziwnych zenskich wokali o nie wiadomo czym, skakanie z gatunku na gatunek, jakby szukanie swojej wlasnej tozsamosci jako grupa, co daje efekt, ze naprawde dobrze slucha sie tych popowo brzmiacych utworow z akustykowymi instrumentalami, a orkiestrowo windowe granie staje sie filerowym zamulaniem, wiec ciesze sie, ze dalo sie cos wylowic z tego odsluchu, ale calosc jako album gra slabo przez brak jednego kierunku tworczego, zadnego konceptu czy planu nie potrafie sie doszukac na tej trakliscie, wiec na plejke leci jedynie the whole point of no return

I've never liked the Style Council; the beginning of Paul Weller's decline into "rock-dad" mode.

MOR lounge pop that you would hear as background Muzak at a restaurant but done good

This was a confusing album. I didn't mind the first half, the ragtime instrumental opener, the jazzy lounge act songs that would be right at home in a Gotham City mob den. Then utter whiplash as they go into rap, followed by 80s cocaine keyboard dance music. First half was decent, but you lost me on the b side. Don't think it belongs on the list.

I mean I’ve never been that crazy on Paul Weller or anything he’s been in but I don’t know it might be good… The album opens with Mick’s blessings, eh just a piano instrumental. Then is the whole point of no return it’s alright just some nice but dull slow jam with no real bang to it. Me ship came in is filled with lots of like clapping noises throughout the song which are alright, again it’s fairly mellow but not as bad as the others I guess even if it’s just an instrumental. Blue cafe is yet another instrumental this time a rather heavenly guitar based thing It’s alright but instrumental tracks are never really my kinda thing. The Paris match is the second song that’s non instrumental this time it’s female sung which works with the kinda relaxed lounge feel of the song and album yeah it’s alright. My ever Changing moods is a non instrumental song it’s probably the only one that’s genuinely satisfied me in the slightest to be honest as most of this album is rather dull. Ending side one is dropping bombs in the whitehouse a stupidly placed song as it’s the only one with any real energy in the whole album so far. It’s alright though just a long energetic instrumental. A gospel at the start of side two is really different though a more funk/ hip hop based track great bassline it’s not my kinda thing but it’s a good surprise. Strength of nature is another change it’s annoying though just so repetitive ( with only 2 lines being sung for most of the song) and after the four minutes it’s rewarding to pass this. You’re the best thing is the biggest song on the album ( not one I recognise though) it’s decent serves as a nice break from the weirdness of side 2 . Here’s one that got away goes for a more “pubby” sound it’s only short but It’s decent. Headstart for happiness is quite fun though a nice pop rock track just nothing much notable. The album ends with council meeting its a short but entertaining instrumental not a favourite but not dreadful. The thing is side one was as dull as dishwater and then side two while tried quite a few of the ideas failed in my eyes so I have to give it a very low 3.

**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

Yeah, OK, uh-huh.

A little something for everyone.

Interesting mix of jazz and new wave…with a random hip hop song mixed in?? Each song was quite different which I appreciated, and it was mostly engaging. “My Ever Changing Moods” was familiar. I enjoyed it but probably wouldn’t listen again.

Jag är ledsen men detta var aptråkigt

-A totally groovin' riff opens up and continues through "Mick's Blessings" -some violent genre changes between "A Gospel," "Strength of Your Nature," and "You're The Best Thing" -Hinestly the instrumental songs ("Mick's Blessings," "Dropping Bombs On The Whitehouse," and "Council Meetin'") were the best songs. They had solid jams. The rest of the tracks didn't really keep up the energy

nah, not for me

Didn't feel like anything special. I didn't hate it or love it. It just is.

Meh. Feel like I didn't *have* to hear this one before I die.

This is..fine? Weird collection of stuff. One of those albums that reminds me this is some random British guy’s list

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.

Coming to a hotel lobby near you. Fave: The Paris Match for the Tracey Thorn vocals.

The payoff of diminished expectations, eh? As a British indie kid ca. 2000, The Jam were, like The Clash and The Kinks, part of my heritage; when my mates and I made mixtapes for the car in order to impress each other, a Jam track usually found its way onto our exacting compilations. However, The Style Council never got chosen; the only mate of ours who listened to The Style Council did so as an act of genuflection to his hero Paull Weller. This attitude, by my understanding, is pretty common across the UK: The Jam get praised as a key part of the British canon, and The Style Council get dismissed as a peculiarity by a iconic songwriter fleeing from his previous image. In any case, the sophisti-pop, 80s blue-eyed soul, jazzy instrumentals and (gulp) raps each seem, at first glance, a threat rather than an experiment. But ride me sideways, I rather like it. Paul Weller, giving his reasoning for this iconoclasm against The Jam's kinda thing, pointed out that the kids today in the mid-80s were grooving on down to soul, disco, R&B and other genres rooted in black music, so he and his new bandmate Mick Talbot might find exploring such music rewarding. The discerning listener may note that Mick Talbot was formerly the keyboardist for Dexy's Midnight Runners, the great soul champions of British new wave, so The Style Council were not going into these exotic genres that blindly. And Weller makes a decent enough fist of this more soulful style for Café Bleu to work. The album has 5(!) instrumentals, but neither their smoothness nor their jazziness grates. However, songs like The Paris Match (sung by Tracey Thorn of Everything But The Girl) have moments of real beauty, Strength of Your Nature possesses a fierce pulse, and the rap of A Gospel, remarkably, doesn't embarrass Weller nor the listener, a frankly miraculous turn of events when one contemplates the Wham! Rap and a thousand other sorry stabs at hip-hop by white singers. Now, I said I came into this album with slightly diminished expectations, allowing the album to surprise me with its high quality. So if you read this, I might unintentionally heighten your expectations, possibly leading to a sizeable disappointment. Maybe you should just ignore me.

Paul Weller, a social consciousness in the Thatcher era, plenty of guest musicians; this album should be great, but it's a mess of styles muddied by ever present 80's synths and saxophone. I wanted to like this one, as I do early and contemporary Paul Weller. Unfortunately, this is about as bad as the mid-80's has to offer.

Альбом великолепный. Звучит потрясно, музыка в стиле соул/джаз. Это здорово :)

This is way smoother than I thought it would be, it looked like some weird electronic shit.

Hi- The Whole Point of No Return, Council Meetin' The first half of the album is sorta jazzy and funky, the second is early rap/funk. It's all very upbeat and contemporary for the time (1984!).

Ce qui est amusant avec cet album est qu'après avoir démarré par une ambiance jazz, les Style Council se sont vite orientés vers de l'ultra-sexual-soul, n'arrivant évidemment qu'au quart de la cheville du maître de la discipline, j'ai nommé l'incontestable Marvin Gaye.

Les chancelliers du style auront tout tenté sur cet album, passant de Willie Nelson à Ice Cube, mais le point qui nous intéressera le plus sera la dixième piste de l'album. Sur cette chanson, les chancelliers vont s'essayer à l'ultra-sexual soul. Mais qu'est ce que l'ultra sexual soul? Si l'on s'arrête sur la page wikipédia de ce genre musical, voici ce que nous trouvons: "L'ultra sexual soul est un genre musical popularisé par Marvin Gaye, dans lequel l'artiste cherche à se présenter de la manière la plus sexuelle possible." Le pari est pris, mais ne parvient malheureusement pas à nous convaincre, l'image de Marvin Gaye flottant au dessus de la chanson. Une prise de risque que l'on salue néammoins.

Never heard of this band. Saw the name and the year it was released (1984) and thought "here comes another new wave/early Britpop band..." but I was wrong and I'm thankful for that. Then I read about them, and it is Paul Weller's band - which explains the new wave naming conventions - but that he wanted to take a more soul-based approach. Interesting. All of that is good. But, this is not a record I would return to.

I thought I would hate this, but I really didn't. It was pretty crisp "studio jazz" - which is okay in my book. But, it also encompassed a lot of what made the 80s the 80s (for better or worse). This guy has the stereotypical new wave vocals down, and they even through in a little hip-hop. I'm fine with all of it.

On dirait le portfolio d’une personne fraîchement diplômée en arrangements, soudainement désireuse de composer des chansons, soucieuse de montrer sa polyvalence. Manque d’originalité à part peut-être l’incursion dans la rap, idée plutôt nouvelle à l’époque.

Allegaartje van genres: jazz, hiphop, funky... Leuk om te luisteren, maar niet super

Best Song: My Ever Changing Moods. Like a budget Billy Joel. Worst Song: A Gospel. Sounds like an alternate take on the Ghostbuster's theme. Overall: One of the least cohesive albums I've ever heard. None of the songs seemed to have even a passing similarity or relationship to one another. There were some alright (albeit overly 80s) takes here, but they're tough to appreciate while you're getting musical whiplash.

The album was alright. It was a mixture of jazz and pop. The jazz wasn't that good. It is better than a 2 but not quite a 3. However, I will round up because I did not skip any of the songs.

Innom mange sjangre. Improv jazz, Poirot-stil. Så show rock/storband Elvis Costello-typen. Gikk lei.

Ujevnt. Begynte bra og ble bare rart og masete. jeg digget Blue cafe og The Paris match. Mistenker dette var et slags konsept der de skulle prøve mye rart og mente det hadde kunstnerisk verdi. Resultatet er et godt eksempel på hvorfor uttrykket "skomaker bli ved din lest" eksisterer.

Interesting cafe band mellow swing blues jazz fusion !!

I really want to like this, but I don't.

Perhaps this was instrumental in that quintessential 80s sound but it just sounded like generic 80s music to me.

I dunno what I was supposed to be taking away from this. The literature on this one calls it “sophisti-pop” which I guess just means “80s jazz + they rap at some point”. For the range of stuff touched on, there’s nothing in here that I can’t find better-done elsewhere.

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

Alright, not bad, not my favorite.

A little disappointing, not the fun, pop version of Ever changing moods. Very low key jazz first half with lots of instrumentals. Second half is much more upbeat, although the songs are more diverse. Please don't rap Paul!

Uma loucura.

A mix of Austin Powers, Peter Frampton, Ian Raymond from High Fidelity and much more. This album is like a Jackson Pollock painting, all over the place.

A very bland album

Apparently I have no style

So halfway through the I thought to myself “this is kinda bonkers.”

First song was the best, the rest were okay

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

This was an interesting one. I like The Jam and I like Paul Weller... and I somehow had no idea this entire project existed. It was a fun record (though A Gospel was realllly bad). I don't think I'd revisit the whole thing but there were some good songs and it was a nice one to discover

This was a fun listen. I’m still not 100% sure how I feel about it. I think that’s because it plays with so many sounds and styles. I’d listen again from front to back for sure. Totally different feel from The Jam as Paul Weller intended. But still rooted in great songwriting and creativity.

Good jazzy album

Jazz I think? It was all over stylistically.

4/5. Pretty varied, but a lil awkward sometimes ngl

Not feeling it. Some weird 80s European-mod-jazz

Zaczęło się spoko, później tak sobie 3.5

It was ok. Insite that I would go back

Ahh Paul Weller and his then partner DC Lee. Great album with some super tunes on it. Love Mick Talbots Keyboard playing. "The Whole Point of No Return" "The Paris Match" "My Ever Changing Moods" & "Your The Best Thing" highlights but their isn't a bad track on this. I saw Mick Talbot with Jools Holland's Big Band a few years ago. Justifiably on the list!

Very eclectic album. Some jazzy beats, and some more upbeat bops as well

I can kind of understand why jazz was incorporated in a good amount of music in the early 80s this was a decent album.

Surprisingly good! I really liked The Jam and thought this was a good exploration outside the mod-sound into new territory that could have been quite risky. Not all of the tracks are amazing but it's consistent despite the variety of genres and style.

This is a very easy listen and one of my favorites so far.

5/10

loved Mick's Blessings probably my favourite of them all 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

Boring.

A smooth and seamless record, through both its rhythmic jazz and 80s pop backdrop. The Style Council employs colorful chord progressions and brilliantly mastered drums to evoke the 'Cafe Bleu' emotion, and full discretion; to its album's success. Soul meets the blues on this record - although popularly existing hand-in-hand, The Style Council's prior stylistic decisions influence this amalgam, making it a bright and pleasing listen.

First half of the album was ok - esp Mick's Blessings & The Paris Match. Did not care for the last half!

chiant

Listened to this while on a road trip, the jazzy compositions made for a great distraction from the monotony of road noise. Vocals seemed unnecessary, the instrumentals are where this album really shined. Cafe Bleu deserves to be on a road trip rotation, if not also remarkably appropriate for background music.

Bland 80s. I liked Paul Weller in the Jam, but this is the worst kind of boring. The Jam was rollicking and fun, but this I do not like.

So ecclectic

Not sure if this *really* makes the cut for 5 stars or not, but it brightened my day.

I liked The Jam (Paul Weller's original band)... I'm not sure about British R&B, personally, but I understand it as a (possibly) important album.

Very unique album with regards to it's style: it's got sophistication, quirk, and playfulness. It's the kinda of style that would be later adopted by Vulfpeck with their more funky stylings. Regardless, there's a lot to like about the album but there are some off choices, such as the hiphop song. It might be the most eclectic album I've heard on the list so far, for better or for worse. It's really side B that leans heavy into it's right turns, so be ready for that. Pretty good otherwise.

5/10

A bit weird but enjoyable overall.

Funky soulful jazzy. Not what I would have expected from Paul Welker but very glad I've discovered it

Too eclectic for me, and the rap kind of lost me. Still, "You're the Best Thing" is a great one. "Our Favorite Shop" is the 4-star one for me.

I’d like a 4 but meanders a bit too much Some great tunes and great playing

Interestingly different

I really enjoyed the first half of this album a lot. Then it sorta changed around Gospel. Dude started rapping? And like, eh I don't think it's very good. So first half solid, then nose dives.

1984. The Whole Point Of No Return, You're The Best Thing

So smooth!

Fav songs: - Blue Cafe - You're The Best Thing

Imagino que es feia difícil en aquesta época seguir el camí de Paul Weller i els seus 'ever changing moods'. El seu primer disc postJam no pot estar més allunyat del que va fer amb la banda, amb temes instrumentals d'una gran influència jazzística, de vegades amb elements de big band. Curiosament, la primera part, molt més jazz, resulta més meritòria que la segona, més propera al pop, però sense cançons gaire memorables

Interesting

As someone who likes Mr. Bungle and Zappa, it’s hard for me to say that this album is too varied for its own good. That said, jazz to rap to pop, no cohesion.

I mean, just settle for two or three genres or something.

What genre is this? Feel like there's a reason I have never heard of it

A lot of variety on this, which was interesting. I liked the instrumental jazz a lot, but the hip hop styled track was pretty bad. I didn’t like the male vocal performance, it sounded very affected. Overall nice to listen to, I probably won’t revisit it though 6/10

6/10. Not especially memorable, but sounded pleasant throughout. Possibly one to visit and to revise scoring on in the future.

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

Half of this album is a solid 4. But overall, I'm giving it a 3/5.

Bit jazzier than I’d hoped for…. I like all the stuff I’d heard previously so I’m a bit disappointed by this long player. Not too bad though.

Gaaanz schlechte 3. Paul Weller ist aber ein guter.

Good album. Interesting. Best songs: Paris Match, A Gospel, My Ever Changing World, You're the Best Thing.

// Favs: – Score: Decent 3

why is the cafe blue?

- nice enough vibes, oddly out of period - accessible, diverse jazz - strong musicianship, no band ~sound~ though - less said about A Gospel the better.

Seemed like they tried to be decent at about 9 different genres of music rather than excel in one genre.

Piano is solid on it, lots of rhythm

Couldn’t get into it. The songs seemed disjointed and not in a good way.

Not really my style, but I'm still impressed.

Ok

Slow jazz Relaxing 3.5/4

This album was kind of all over the place but I enjoyed it. Favourite track was My Ever Changing Moods.

Instrumental for the most part. Jazzy and fun. Like it.

I found it a rather average album I didn’t hate the album but didn’t love it and none of the songs really stood out

Liked A Gospel on more than the first half

Highlights: The Whole Point Of No Return, You're The Best Thing

Not my thing... jazz that turned into weird hip hop.

cool

Worse than imagine

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

The beginning is pretty much what I would expect in a jazz bar in Grand Rapids at 7pm on a Friday. Then, starting with "A Gospel", it veers sharply into bad white 80s rap, followed by generic 80s synth pop, to 60s-esque horn music. This album is tonally all over the place, and none of it is great.

Some cool/interesting songs, but this is a bizarre collection of tracks to be on the same album

This album is interesting. Half of it is like if Ben Folds Five made a jazz album and half of it is intricate new wave pop. Pretty cool overall.

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.

I remember some of these tracks from when they came out. I kind of liked a couple of them, and now listening to the whole album for the first time (and re-listening to the couple of songs I had heard before for the first time in a long, long time), I can very much appreciate the musicianship in them much better than I did back then. Much as I admire how expertly this music is written and played, on a personal level, it's not really my thing. It's odd to say that because I still love listening to The Jam, and I think Paul Weller is amazing.

terrible album. very confusing.

Working class Revolution.. with style.. Nice

Really enjoyed this album particularly the first half. While I haven't delved much into the Jam or Style Council it seems like this album pushes more into the direction Paul Weller would go in his solo work. Nice mix of soul, jazz, and pop and a lot of fun to listen to. Favorite songs The Paris Match (noted the Duo from Everything but the Girl are featured on this), My Ever Changing Moods. Give this one 3 stars

Not totally sure why this album is considered essential, it somehow feels overstuffed with ideas, but those ideas aren't that memorable. Maybe when it was released it sent shockwaves through the [New Wave/Pop Jazz] scene, but for me it was neither an easy listening or a challenging listen. Fav Tracks: The Whole Point of No Return and The Paris Match. Rating 2/5

Man, that opener really made me feel like I was in store for something very different than I got: half a breezy, jazzy new wave album, then half a grab bag of different soul/pop experiments. I enjoyed the guest Tracey Thorn vocals, but felt like it was a little forgettable, overall. When it wasn't, it could be kind of cringe-inducing, like the pseudo hip hop of "A Gospel." I did NOT need to hear Paul Weller rapping today! Favourite track: "Here's One That Got Away"

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.

fuck me, that rap track is epic. meandering along on a sea of cafe jazz waiting patiently for shout to the top to come on and then boom, a super 90s funk rap track that you just know had a keytar involved. would happily have taken an album full of that. extra star for that bad boy.

Actually quite enjoyed decent chunks of this album, but I found it confusing, to many clashes on theme and style and no intention of revising

Easy listening for pretentious twats.

A total mish mash of styles in which nearly all of them miss the mark completely - it holds onto a two on the basis that it’s competently done

Some okay instrumentals, but the whole thing doesn't work for me. The vocals and guitar both sound strangely out of tune, and it makes the whole thing pretty hard to listen to

Kind of boring

I was enjoying the instrumental tracks, they're quite pleasant so took the edge off the Weller vocal tracks. However, in a completely unexpected swerve, rap happened. From Weller. The second hand embarrassment is too much. What the fuck was he thinking. It's so cringey, it hurts.

A kind of Girl from Ipanema vibe

I enjoy listening to this but I'm not that crazy about it. It's got lots of really nice parts and is fun in places. On one hand it's got variety but on the other hand it's a bit inconsistent so difficult to review, but it's mostly jazzy and bluesy numbers. Favourites are "The Paris Match" and "You're The Best Thing".

A bit boring, innit.

Production: 8/20 Songwriting: 8/20 Innovation: 7/20 Bangers: 5/20 Emotional response: 9/20 =37 Up the Council gritter

Ooooooh so, so smoooooth. I could feel my fingers sliding down my thighs, take the underpass and arrive with such desire in my dark soft tunnel. It's the record that made me fall in love with music...and also anal fingering.

Pfoe, daar had ik wel wat meer van verwacht. erg gezapig

The piano was annoying at the start. I thought that that was just going to be an intro, but the shit show just continued. Sorry Weller, but it's just a big pile of wank. Utter horse shit. Unacceptable.

Comfortably the worst album we've listened to on this list. I had hitherto been unaware that it was possible to make music that sounds so soulless.

acoustic guitar sets, plus catchy pop tunes with a rap tune also. good listen.

Wat een saaiheid... niet vervelend, maar doet me helemaal niets.

Best tof. Beetje alle kanten op qua stijl, maar dat stoorde niet.

Pretty good until the ‘rap’ but I guess it was the 80’s rap was a new thing then. 3><4

Na het beluisteren van dit album ging ik er iets over lezen en kwam ik er achter dat dit de band was van Paul Weller. Dat had ik er echt niet uitgehaald. Wat een samenraapsel van nummers in allerlei stijlen. Maar veelal zoetsappige elevator-music. Ik kon er niet zoveel mee.

Zoetsappig!

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.

Nice

Some great tracks. And Weller determined to do his own thing. Some shite too tbf.

An extra star for being Paul Weller. Not sure how the hell he ended up doing this dull and boring record. Now i'm gonna have to go and listen to The Jam.

I thought this album was really fun, I was instantly on board. It made me dance about and I felt a longing for gigs and clubs and accidentally knocking drinks out of strangers hands. There was one love song that was a bit slower which killed that vibe for me a bit. But I guess the variety of the album was kind of why I liked it so maybe I've gotta accept that as part of that.

Rítmico. Variado. Muy de piano. Buenas voces

Jazz-pop-rock. Mezcla curiosa.

Great album for a Sunday morning. Heavy on the instrumentals. A Gospel was a bit unexpected.

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.

Always loved this album. Grateful for the reminder

This sounded pretty generic to me - basically elevator music

not my cup of whatever sugary drink this is

The vocal performances aren’t my favorite thing ever, but the songs themselves are really great. From the instrumental jazz to the solo piano and voice tracks to some of the more poppy stuff, there’s a surprising amount of variety. Favorite Track(s): “The Paris Match,” “Dropping Bombs On the Whitehouse,” and “Here’s One That Got Away”

I’m not a hundred percent sure who this is for, it seems all over the place in tone

Lack of focus in genre and direction made it difficult to get through.

Surprising! Generally dislike ol' Weller but this was much better. Clearly should have quit while he was ahead

Hmmm, a weird one - I quite liked the slightly jazzy easy listening of the beginning of the album (that apparently maps exactly to the A side of the vinyl) but was much less keen on the more upbeat poppier B side. Especially "A Gospel", which was cringingly bad. Fave track - "My Ever Changing Moods" - makes sense that was a successful single!

Though i'm a huge paul weller fan and there is some cool, soulful lounge act music in here (with a few amazing songs)... there is also enough embarrassing lounge rap that it's hard to enjoy the whole album.

I guess 'eclectic' is the right word to describe this. Some of it I enjoyed but most of it not so much. A couple of the songs were super repetitive and annoying. 2 stars.

jazz baby

Cool as a cucumber, but maybe a bit bloodless for soul.

Chill parlor music

This is fun and unexpected. How many times is Paul Weller going to show up on this list?? And quite differently each time. The album really goes downhill for me though as it fractures into different genres - was hoping it would stay in that strange clowny jazz realm they started in.

Not good. Dated

Chill and jazzy. Definitely some easy listening.

Jazzy, soulful, not bad not bad. Was a bit repetitive to me but everything sounds that way when i'm not concentrating on the music

Alright

First thing from this list that I actually hadn't heard of before. After reading descriptions online I guess I was expecting something like a Billy Bragg-esque folk rock, which it is definitely not. Interesting and another one that merits revisiting. The rap delivery section in one of the latter half songs has not aged well.

Pretty nice, more soul than you usually find in new wave

I love Style Council. Smooth grooves.

This album is genre-bending at best, or completely different genres at worst. Jazzy, but then you have songs like "A Gospel" which are basically Hip-Hop, then it goes into "Strength of Nature" which is... new wave? I think I like the instrumental jazz pieces the most, the vocals don't add a ton for me.

I'm liking the sound. Very jazzy funk.

Wikipedian mukaan tämän genre on "sophisti-pop". Ilmeisesti oma sivistys ei riitä, koska tämä ei kyllä toimi ollenkaan. Sinänsä mitään suurta vikaa en keksi ja ei tämä ärsytä, mutta myös positiivisten puolten löytäminen tuntuu vaikealta. Tai noh, uusintakuuntelulla alkoi myös ärsyttämään jolloin arvosana meni naksulla alaspäin.

Way better than I expected, really enjoyed it at some parts and would definitely list to it again.

That was good fun.

pretty decent - paul weller has a big range of styles

This was really good! Not quite a 5, but at least 4.5

Great, would listen more

It was alright. Relaxing and chill.

A very wild mix of music, from old school rap, to jazz, to pop stuff. Some nice tunes, in particular "The Whole Point of No Return".

Funky piano, nice mostly peppy sound.

this record is all over the place - I hear jazz, I hear hip hop, it's enjoyable.

Meh

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.

I liked parts of this album (the song with Tracy Thorn singing was great), but other parts not so much. Started much stronger than it finished. Feels like it's trying to be too many things - Paul Weller stepped out of his comfort zone in a few places on this record, and it shows. The rap and funk efforts in the mid-section of the album, in particular, are horrible clichés. In fact, the entire back end of the album sounds like a series of poorly executed parodies of a range of genres, but I get the impression they were supposed to be sincere... which makes it that much worse. I definitely won't be coming back to this one.

Great variety, variable quality

Muutama hieno juttu mutta levynä kovin poukkoileva. Pystyi kuuntelmaan ilman vitutusta.

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.

Not great

2 stars for musicianship but what the fuck was this

Kinda weird mix of stuff. Some nice and/or groovy parts, but mostly bad.

Blandet landhandel, pop, soul, jazz, rap, sangskrivning, fængende

I'm not really sure why this album is on the list. It's jazz/easy listening that isn't particularly innovative or influential. Even the review in the book damns it with faint praise. It's not bad, I guess? Best track: You're The Best Thing

The guitar on the self titled track was tight. The other tracks were cool too but that specifically stuck out

Ihan vekkulia paikoin ja välillä kivaa fiilistelyä. Tykkäsin, mutta en tiiä meneekö uudelleen kuunteluun.

The word to describe this is, without a doubt, "fun". One part of me wants to immediately queue it up again, another wants to find something to complain about. I certainly don't think it's too busy, too cheesy, or forgettable. Perhaps it's slightly less musical sophisticated than other albums on this list. One of the most body-activating listens, though. Certainly a strong album at its rating, and I might be underselling it.

Vile