Paul Weller - 22 Dreams (New Album) Includes Tribute To Alice Coltrane

"...a spoken-word piece called God - about spirituality, not institutionalised religion."

Can't wait!

Hewitt finally threw him over? THAT took him long enough.

And Steve White is only on one track. Wonder if they've fallen out after all this time.

im intrigued by this. i loved 'wild wood', bits of 'stanley road' were pretty good too.

tribute to alice coltrane? MUST. HEAR.

You know, good! I haven't heard one note of this, but it's about time he took some chances!

Oh, and that Paolo book: It was always just a matter of time.. (still, I want one, how's FOPP pricing it?)

"She was mad her, eh? I really respect musicians who. y'know, follow their own path. It's very inspiring."

He's on the cover of Mojo this month I think.

I'm interested in the concept of Weller working with "each Graham Coxon."

"I would play guitar with all these Graham Coxons"

you both would listen too :)

So weller has apparently been playing Eton Rifles on his current tour.

So the album is out tomorrow and it's been getting fairly good reviews for "weller finally taking risks again". I've heard a couple of the songs which were ok, infact i liked a couple, which is not something I'd ever expect myself to say. Some of the songs were more like wild wood/1st solo album. Stanley Road it's not.
Robert Wyatt plays on the tribute to Alice Coltrane.

I don't know all his solo albums by any means, but most of what I heard bored me. I like Weller when he's soulful or jazzy or funky like Style Council. I don't want rock and roll from him at all. I have been getting into his first solo album lately for that reason. I wonder if I might like the new one? I'm glad to hear he's taking risks.

I haven't heard them all either, but my mates a huge fan, and he says its taking risks for a weller album. I think the album is a mixed bag of styles but there's definitely some jazzy and funky/soulful here in amongst the few rockers and ballads.
It's not the bluesy influenced rock he was making in the late 90s.

Apparently weller has been listening to jazz and even some krautrock according to some article he read.

He's been a long-time collaborator with Robert Wyatt, amongst others, so I think he's probably always listened to that stuff.

Would you listen to paul weller now,Jim?

I still like the Style Council, "Uh Huh Oh Yeah" was a hell of a promising first single - a promise subsequently reneged on in lots of ways - and I'd like to hear the Free Jazz stuff so I can see myself at least checking this out, yeah.

You should check your emails more often then...

lol I am the world's west email checker thanx bud :D

world's west? WTF? worst, obviously.

http://bp2.blogger.com/_TpgUeLvL_Og/SEKJh88rDLI/AAAAAAAAB-I/eIZ__IUJcLo/s200/-1.jpeg
1. Light Nights
2. 22 Dreams
3. All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You)
4. Have You Made Up Your Mind
5. Empty Ring
6. Invisible 7. Song For Alice
8. Cold Moments
9. The Dark Pages Of September Lead To The New Leaves Of Spring
10. Black River
11. Why Walk When You Can Run
12. Push It Along
13. A Dream Reprise
14. Echoes Round The Sun
15. One Bright Star
16. Lullaby Für Kinder
17. Where’er Ye Go
18. God
19. 111
20. Sea Spray
21. Night Lights

It's kind of cute a guy of his age rocking the pretentious song-titles.

Next step he discovers Van Der Graaf Generator?

I still can't get my head around Weller listening to Krautrock. As Victor Meldrew would say , I don't believe it!

You know he's on some of Peter Gabriel's early solo albums, right?

Yeah

It's a short step from hanging with Gabriel and Wyatt to knowing yr Krautrock I figure.

I don't think Weller is gonna get another cover on The Wire though hehe. He's not taking that much risk. Some of the tracks are poppy, some are quite weird for him and some are soulful or folky. Then theres the dreaded weller ballads. The more upbeat poppy songs are alright though along with the instrumentals.

I definitely think it's later TSC and 1st Weller Solo album fans that are going to be the ones who enjoy this album most.

This is the only thread on ILM at the moment where the Noodle Vague/Louis J double act isnt in action.

http://www.gameguru.in/images/double-dragon-xbla.jpg

WE'RE BRINGING THOUGHTFUL BACK

'Eno Collaboration' for Wella is surely overdue.

Has he had one already? Apologies for lack of Weller knowledge.

A couple I know and love are obsessed with the guy - they even based an LA holiday round one of his recent gigs.
I find it disturbing.
They were telling me about the Whitey fall out but I drifted off . I wouldn't know who Whitey was if it wasn;t for their fandom.

Read some intriguing reviews of his new one though. Curious.

It's worth a listen. Can't say that about most of his albums since Wild Wood bar Heliocentric, Which had some strings arranged by Robert Kirby (Nick Drake)

My mate had a bootleg from Paul Weller Movement's 1st tour. There was a cracking funky version of Kosmos(?) I wish he would make some stuff like that.

I for one love the debut - bought on the rush I got from the "Uh Huh Oh Yeh" single (hey, maybe the "yeh" is a nod to Damo Suzuki! ;-). Haven't listened to it in years though and haven't bothered with anything after Stanley Road, which felt very rigid to me, but reading the above I'm inclined to check the newie out...

I wish Weller had made this album after Stanley Road tbh. I wonder how the post stanley road fans will take this new one. There's plenty of poppy rock songs and ballads like on all his albums, but they feel stronger than anything since and the more weirder stuff really is good. It makes you wonder why he didn't take more risks earlier. And he's on a major label so it's not like he's on a small indie and can make whatever the hell he likes, yet , that's exactly what he has done. And It's all the better for it.
I just wish he cut back on the ballads!

The 1st song on the album sounds a lot like Fairport Convention. It's a good start.

world's west? WTF? worst, obviously.

It's east of west, mate.

Also this may sound weird but for some reason it gives me great satisfaction to be buying a new Paul Weller album in 2008. Makes me feel...still current, not too old...or maybe it does make me feel old, but in a good way. Heheh.

I'm getting mighty sick and bloody tired of waiting for the new Coldplay album, though.

Wait a minute holy shit - Robert Kirby of Nick Drake fame did strings for Paul Weller??? OH my god. Wow.

Also this:

'Eno Collaboration' for Wella is surely overdue.

Fuck yeah, mate. Fuck yeah.

Also what's this about a cracking live funky version of Kosmos?

See I knew if I got started on this thread I'd only feel overwhelmed. I'm going to drink some PG Tips tea now and chill. There is no tea in the entire US of A like PG Tips. No fucking way.

Wait a minute holy shit - Robert Kirby of Nick Drake fame did strings for Paul Weller??? OH my god. Wow.

Aye, on half of the Heliocentric album.

Also what's this about a cracking live funky version of Kosmos?

It was on a Radio 1 live broadcast. I think Max Beasley was in his band then haha. (Yes, THAT Max Beasley).
The whole gig was really good. He should've made an album as funky and EXCITING as that. It was full of energy. You should hunt around on blogs or P2P for it. You would love it.

I had a look on a few blogs but couldn't see it. I'm sure it was linked on a paul weller thread once before on here.

Gosh. Sigh. I wish the email function of ILX worked better sometimes.

I'm afraid I don't know Max Beasley at all. It's so nice to be online at the same time as some Brits on ILM. I mean wow, I live for that. I will look for that song/gig?

Give me a song to start with, Herman. I'm a bit confused, now. Help.

Email me at newdawnfades______61@_____yahoo dot com

without the spaces or underlines, got it?

Just one song to help me.

xpost

Ok emailed you.
I'll need to try get that weller gig off my mate. He's the one who is a fan.

Found it on a blog. Dunno if its ok to post it even though its a live bootleg. But if anyone wants it say here.
Emailing it to bimble now. I'll email you too J.

Theres a FANTASTIC version of Precious on it IIRC

and TSC tunes as well

Damn, this version isnt as good as the one i had. I'll get it off my mate. Its much better quality than this.

I'm sorry that I'm a bit too drunk to deal with all this right now.

I will remember this, though and get back to you tomorrow or whatever. Thanks, Herman.

The Jam - Move On Up

and it's on Extras

Well..but...hahahah! It's nice to be proven wrong for once! :)

Did he HAVE to wear an Oxford button down shirt, though? Did he?

Also, little known fact: Paul Weller & Curtis Mayfield are/were both Geminis. Another little known fact is that Tim Burgess, lead singer for the Charlatans is also a Gemini and god knows he tried to copy Curtis' falsetto on the Wonderland album, and did a fine job. I can't do that kind of singing. I really can't. It takes luck and skill to do falsetto well.

I assumed you would've known it was on Extras

It was also on a freebie flixidisc with Melody Maker, catalog no of "Paolo 1"...

(won't be using that catno sequence anymore!)

And the album went in at No1 in the uk charts.

Fucking Hell! That's bloody fantastic! I'm surprised how many times I've played this thing, even though it does have some tracks that I tend to skip after hearing half of them.

Now the light nights are here.

Herman you once sent me a live thing. I'll look for it.

Herman pfunkboy please help me out

Kerr pleae come back. I lost my old hard drive. You uploeaded me a gig. SHIt. Come back.

aw yeah rick james. Never mind, bro. I found your old email now and I have got yer back.

its poor quality. ive got the better version now off my mate, i'll up it later.

Pfunk pleaes

man I was in misery over this
please give me a new link thanx

patience grasshopper

check email

noodle vague check yours too

I bet you didnt check

He deserves props for his bravery although he is never likely to release anything remotely as good as what was on "All Mod Cons" or "Sound Affects" again.

I thought you would like the style council and the 1st couple of solo albums geir.

I guess he's not saying they are not, just that he won't again.

However, he is wrong: This new album is as good as that.

Now going off to 'check my emails' hem hem...(thx)

did it work?

As for Style Council I only liked a couple of early singles. Paul Weller solo is good in theory, but the songs don't work out. Too much of the blues is rarely a good thing.

He's not done a bluesy album in about 8 years.

I got the new link you sent me, thanks Herm. I'll try it when I get home.

So new album has Kevin Shields, Bev Bevan and BRUCE FOXTON on it. It's a bit more refined, definitely more psychedelic than 22 dreams. Songs are quite short but a few of them still have the experimental flourishes (like the jazzy piano parts) that the last album had. I'm not sure if the rip i heard is a bit crap or he's gone for a lo-fi production (my guess is I have a transcode) but my weller diehard mate likes the album a lot. He's pre-ordered the deluxe 2cd version with the remixes.

Mark G, I'm interested in what you think about it.

Mark clearly still doesnt check his emails..

Weller fans are saying this album is more experimental than he's done before, no acoustic songs and a couple of his best songs since the jam.

Hey Ned, Kevin Shields is on this.

Here is the track
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76oOM-tejiM

I'm honestly still wondering how the hell Weller even knew MBV existed. "You mean there are bands that formed after 1978?"

Well, the style council's influences were mostly from the 80s when those albums were made. (one of many reasons they were mostly crap). So I don't think he was always stuck in the 70s. I think the reason his 90s work was so 70s influenced was because in the 70s and 80s he point blank refused to listen to that stuff through his blinkered rock is dead proclamation. So in the 90s he finally went beyond his small faces/traffic/Who listening and discovered the 70s stuff he ignored. maybe now he's bored of that and has discovered other stuff.

maybe weller likes the primal scream stuff shields did?

So has he confirmed where exactly in London the plum vending machine was yet?

You want to book it for the next ATP?

Definitely. I think he'll want cold curry and flat wine on the rider, not sure if we can handle that.

It's a tall order

New album Saturns Pattern streaming:

http://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/may/13/paul-weller-saturns-pattern-exclusive-album-stream

I'm only a couple of tracks in but so far I'm enjoying what I'm hearing, I'm beginning to enjoy the direction Weller has gone in since 22 Dreams... it seems like he's succesfully, finally moved completely on from his Wild Wood/Stanley Road-era sound, which perhaps he'd taken as far as he could.

He seems to be in better form vocally on this record than on his past couple of records, too. 'I'm Where I Should Be' and 'Phoenix' (which is playing now) standing out for me at the moment, looking forward to hearing what the closing 8 minute epic is like.

I dunno, after all these years, I always like the "new Paul Weller Album" but I can't say I ever play it more than once..

^^ that's exactly how I feel. I gave up around Illumination. None of the records were outright bad, or even fundamentally lacking; they were just barely a notch above average.

He's coming to town soon, though (playing at an abandoned strip mall), and I haven't seen him since 1997. I'll probably end up going.

Oh, from 22 Dreams on they've all been great, it's just .. I guess I don't need any more Paul Weller albums.

Am I off the bus? I can only think I've been running with one foot on the open platform since after the "Paul Weller" solo album.

^^ that's exactly how I feel. I gave up around Illumination. None of the records were outright bad, or even fundamentally lacking; they were just barely a notch above average.

He's coming to town soon, though (playing at an abandoned strip mall), and I haven't seen him since 1997. I'll probably end up going.

― Montgomery Burns' Jazz (Tarfumes The Escape Goat), Friday, May 15, 2015 1:16 PM (22 minutes ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

Illumination and As Is Now were probably the last gasp of the "Weller solo sound" that began with Wild Wood. Since then, he seems to have gone back to his late period Style Council ethos of trying to stretch himself, especially over the last couple of albums.

I never liked his "solo sound" and when I heard "Wake Up The Nation" and "Sonik Kicks" I was shocked and thrilled that he'd moved on to an almost Bowie vibe with this incredible energy that had been missing for so long. I'm looking forward to hearing the new one!

I loved Wild Wood and Stanley Road, but found Heavy Soul a bit of a slog (and the show I saw that year was unexpectedly dominated by aimless soloing).

Listening to the new song, wow, I'm really digging it, and pleasantly surprised that he's not still stuck in "how about I shout over some open chords? Again?"

God, the interminable soloing was easily one of the worst thing about '90s Weller. If I remember, he used to launch into versions of 'Foot Of The Mountain' that lasted about 15 minutes, most of that time taken up by aimless widdling.

*things

most of that time taken up by aimless widdling.

Yeah, I was completely baffled by it. I'd never seen him live before, and had no idea that he did that sort of thing at all. I remember many in the audience were exchanging looks like, "Huh? What's he doing? Why is the guy from the Jam playing these long-ass solos?"

I think it was around that time that someone put the word "Claptonesque" into a Weller review (can't remember what it was for) and he got seriously huffy about it!