1/3/2024 0 Comments Paul weller discographyIt gives “Illumination”, the first LP not produced by Bredan Lynch and the first one after the so-called “classic” Weller period. Where do you go after such a brilliant LP ? Well, you do another one, trying at the same time to have a look backwards and imagining what one’s future will be like. Illumination (2002) : or how to start the intermediary period. Top songs : “He’s the Keeper”, “Frightened” and “There’s no drinking after you’re dead”. Strings were back in the game as well, reminding the fantastic under-estimated Style Council LP “ Confessions of a Pop Group“. To my mind the best Weller LP, it was the one mixing still great tunes to sing along with but with a new sounding structure influenced by psychedelic rock in particular. Heliocentric (2000) : or how to reach excellence. The tunes are strong as well but one could feel that Weller had gone to the limit of the soul/rock formula and that something else was to arrive… Top songs : “Heavy Soul, Pt. One of these albums in which you feel at ease immediately when listening to it. This is probably Paul Weller’s most groovy LP and heavy soul indeed it is. Heavy Soul (1997) : or how to stay at the top of the Major Leagues. This LP was probably Paul Weller’s most expected one since The Jam period as he was definitely back on the music scene and one was not disappointed as it was one of his best. I had forgotten the quality of the songs and re-listening to it again was a good reminder about how pleasant having the man back on top was (he was only in his mid-30’s after all…). Top songs : “The Changinman”, “You do something to me” and “Broken Stones”. Indispensable! Top songs : “Sunflower”, “Wild Wood” and “All the Pictures on the Wall”. Lots of efforts as well to create an ensemble with nice instrumentals often linking two songs. There is not one weak song on this LP and each of them, either being a punchy pop/rock number or a beautiful ballad has enough life and emotion to stand on its own. It was indeed with this fantastic album that Paul Weller confirmed he was back with a revenge (and was to become again one of the most popular artists ever in the UK). Wild Wood (1993) : or how this LP definitely put back Paul Weller on the music scene. Top songs : “Bull-Rush”, “Into Tomorrow” and “Amongst Butterflies”. Everything was already there and I remember personally being so full of joy to find him back playing such great news songs. And what a great album, mixing soul/rock influences but with a style that would become his personal one (influenced by band such as Traffic for instance or called “dad-rock” by lazy critics). He found the sparkle back little by little by playing back to his roots and this 1992 LP was the first one under his own name. ![]() ![]() It eventually fainted, leaving Paul Weller with no recording company but moreover no real will to keep on doing music. ![]() Paul Weller (1992) : or how to be back from nowhere… After having been the most popular artist in the UK at the end of the 70’s and start of the 80’s with The Jam, the soul/dance/jazz work he did afterwards with his second band The Style Council had not really found its audience and critics were so-so. I recently read one great Uncut magazine specific issue dedicated to Paul Weller ( #11 in our TOP 100) and it made me want to listen once again to his records, starting with his solo career.
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