Paul Weller plays the Apollo Theater July 25, Webster Hall July 26th, and Music Hall of Williamsburg July 27. Now bugger off and argue amongst yourselves.
That’s because it’s a highly, unapologetically subjective personal Top 10.
The sharp eyed amongst you will notice there’s no Jam or Style Council material, and precious little of his late ’90s output. So, to celebrate, here are 10 of his finest moments. But he’s back on the creative track again and he’s about to play three nights across the city. Still, you’ve loosened up since then, so that’s OK, isn’t it?Īnd, let’s not forget, Weller’s not always been entirely Godlike-a substantial chunk of his late ’90s/early ’00s output consisted of a surfeit of earnest, lumpen, stodgy blue eyed soul and RnB, heavy on the perspiration, a little too light on the inspiration. Back in the glory days of the Jam, while Weller was racking up the hits back home, the great American public, in all its infinite wisdom, was embracing the dubious delights of Foreigner and REO Speedwagon, while simultaneously burning disco records for being too offensively black and gay. That said, he’s always been more of a cult figure on this side of the pond-too doggedly English. This is “the Modfather”, a beloved national institution back in Britain, and unquestionably, one of the finest English songwriters of the last half-century. Not bad for someone who, after leading the Jam (the UK’s biggest singles act after the Beatles, trivia fans…), the Style Council, and enjoying a lucrative solo career, could easily be forgiven for resting on his creative laurels. Indeed, his last two albums-2010’s Wake Up the Nation and last year’s Sonik Kicks-are not only his two finest solo albums, but contain some of the most vibrant and experimental material of a long and illustrious career. It seems safe to say that Paul Weller’s been on something of a creative roll of late.
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