paul weller

[Music Head]

its always good to go back and look at something a few months after its finished to see it objectively, and im really proud of this one, it turned out really well, heres hoping i can say the same thing about the Neil Young one sometime in the future.

usually the reverse for me
when I go back and read something I wrote months ago, I'm all, "what an idiot"

[CRAZY-HORSE]

"SONIK KICKS", 2012

recently married, Weller's new(latest) wife is a big fan of David Bowie and 1970s Kraut Rock...Weller immersed himself into bowie and the whole Kraut Rock genre wholeheartedly and decided to stamp his style in to it...
after a decade of dissing this album it finally clicked with me during the whole Covid-19 period of 2020-2022 and i "got it"...
an excellent collection of tracks in the vein of KrautRock where Weller lays down a collection of songs loosely based around insecurities, expectations and intrigue at reaching middle age (mid 50s)...
I LOVE THIS ALBUM

worst track: that dangerous age
best track: paper chase

tracks:

1. green ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_NCeCo4lqY vevo video
2. the attic ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJZIl7McOC8 live
3. kling i klang **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAc9CQGyqK0 live
4. sleep of the serene ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwqFVmR6x-I video
5. by the waters **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohp1nV70y6A live
6. that dangerous age ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dcJ3-1QZfk live
7. study in blue **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gK3kc63xKXQ audio
8. dragonfly **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrRYOGPL-GM audio
9. when your garden's overgrown ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcxSdnxUDa8 audio
10.around the lake ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdOi9lVutJ0&ob=av2e video
11.twilight **
12.drifters **
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xz6a-BYQLT4 audio
13.paper chase ***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-N61YZ8_R0 audio
14.be happy children **

3s=7
2s=7
1s=0

rating: 2.5

[CRAZY-HORSE]

PAUL WELLER "saturns pattern" 2015:

Weller's twelfth solo set...
still going the experimental route, but not as much to left field as the previous effort...
my opinion of this one has changed since I first heard it, its got worse
from the distortion of the opening track through rock (long time), the pseudo funk of "pick it up"
to the "going my way" ballad, nothing makes any sense, its a disjointed mess...
even the track I used to love off it (going my way) has taken a dive for me,
sounds like a Weller album in places but not enough for my liking....
the worst seller of his solo career even though it reached silver status in his homeland...
interesting to note that had the tracks on the album been live recordings like the links I would have really liked
them because Weller's studio versions are never as good as the raw energy of his live performances...
not a good starting point for a Weller new comer, but neither are his previous two or three,
stick to "wild wood" and "Stanley road" if you want a classic Weller solo album!

I DO NOT LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track: in the car
best track: going my way

tracks:

1...white sky **
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLfknytX114 (live)
2...saturns pattern **
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEUTNc4WGjo (live)
3...going my way **
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTa-lsXdul8 (live)
4...long time **
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpsXOnFR41A (live)
5...pick it up *
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G55Qm78WQu8 (video)
6...where I should be *
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoTUhfhKH6I (live)
7...phoenix *
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP2GasWQBNc (audio)
8...in the car *
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi7U77PrLhc (audio)
9...these city streets *
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BuJzYbN...BuJzYbNG_M (video)

3s=0
2s=4
1s=5

rating: 1.4

[CRAZY-HORSE]

PAUL WELLER  "a kind revolution"  2017  #5 UK

his thirteenth solo album
after the experimental efforts on his last couple of albums Weller returns
to a more familiar sound that fans were used to.
theres a disco/funk track on here (one Tear) in which Weller duets with Boy George
elsewhere theres some blue-eyed soul, a funk track, a nod to Dr John with a rootsy cajun
sounding tune (Woo Se Mama), a gospel/jazz fusion track, even one that has Bowie-esque
overtones (undertones)
the worst selling album of his career so far though, I guess fans had been driven away with 
confusion with the last two albums 
there are a couple of great Weller tracks on here, but also several bad ones
I guess that's the stage he is at now ie: still capable of writing great pop tunes but also unable to
sustain his writing for a complete album


I LIKE THIS ALBUM

worst track:  nova
best track:  long, long road

tracks:

1....woo se mama **
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x1aE8AFd_0
2....nova *
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXSx4hY-FEk
3....long, long road ***
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2POFROw1uFs
4....she moves with the fayre**
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kB7V4qyEI8
5....the cranes are back **
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKLjDylllXI
6....hopper **
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4pJMn053Wk
7....New York **
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnqAvRCztZc
8....one tear *
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08ly7vcVb4M
9....satellite kid *
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwU_j9buHQw
10..the impossible idea **
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG00EZY3Ym0

3s - 1
2s - 6
1s - 3

rating:  1.8

[CRAZY-HORSE]

PAUL WELLER "true meanings" 2018  #2 UK,  #39 AU

fourteenth solo set.
cover art shows a contented man and the music within is in a similar vein.
a pleasant return to a simpler rootsy,pastoral acoustic sound.
some lush strings on most tracks also with hints of jazz on one or two too.
lovely melodies and harmonies.
a welcome return to form after the experimental last three albums.
I LIKE THIS ALBUM

favourite track:  the soul searchers
worst track: come along

tracks:

1....the soul searchers ***
Paul Weller -The Soul Searchers - BBC In Concert True Meanings Live 2018 ★ - YouTube  live
2....glide **  
Glide - YouTube  audio
3....mayfly **
Paul Weller - Mayfly BBC In Concert True Meanings ★ - YouTube  live
4....gravity **
Paul Weller performs Gravity on Later... with Jools Holland - YouTube   live
5....old castles **
Old Castles - YouTube  audio
6....what would he say? **
What Would He Say? - YouTube  audio
7....aspects **
Paul Weller - Aspects (Lyric Video) - YouTube  lyric video
8....Bowie **
Paul Weller - Bowie (Official Video) - YouTube  video
9....wishing well **
Wishing Well - YouTube  audio
10..come along *
Come Along - YouTube  audio
11..books **
Books - YouTube  audio
12..movin' on ***
Paul Weller - Movin On (Official Video) - YouTube  video
13..may love travel with you **
May Love Travel with You - YouTube  audio
14..white horses ***
Paul Weller - White Horses (Official Video) - YouTube  video

3s = 3
2s = 10
1s = 1

rating:  2.1