Paul Weller : 'Wake Up The Nation'
Released: Out Now!!!
Label: Island Records
5 decades on, and ten albums later, The Modfather is back with ‘Wake Up the Nation’ an album that sees Paul Weller continue his theme of constantly striving to change and develop his sound. ‘Wake up the nation’ however is by no means perfect, while it’s undeniable that it will please the die-hard Weller fans, it may struggle to arouse much interest in casual listeners who still associate him with The Jam.
‘Moonshine’ the album opener is pure unadulterated old skool rock-n-roll complete with background feedback and a generous helping of honky-tonk piano. It sounds more Billy Wyman than Paul Weller as each key is aggressively beat, yet his succinct lyricism ensures it becomes pure gold.
Although for the main, what Weller has delivered this time round is comprised of various styles of 60’s rock and roll and psychedelia , with more contemporary topics with songs like ‘Wake up the nation’ referencing social networking sites like Facebook, certain songs make you stand up and take notice. ‘In Amsterdam’ is sure to surprise even the die-hard Modfather fans (although it might not be in the way he hoped), it’s a dreamy confused combination of heavy bass and melotron. At little over a minute the inclusion of the fairground music style instrumental doesn’t do much to aid the album, and in a way it throws an unneeded spanner in the works of an album that up until this point was near on perfection.
Whilst ‘Whatever Next’ is slightly amusing with a host of jangling bells, sitars, bird noises and the bizarre inclusion of a recorder, yet is just another nail in the coffin of an album that opened so well, but let’s itself down continually with experimental instrumental nonsense. Luckily, the closing two tracks see the album come full circle, ending as brilliantly as it started. ‘Pieces of Dream’ displays Weller’s true skills and enviable versatility as a pianist, whilst ‘Two Fat Ladies’ sees the frustration and intensity of the previous song released in a classic style no holds barred rock out that only The Modfather himself could pull off.
‘Wake up the Nation’ will annoy as me people as it does impress, for the most part Weller delivers his usual brand of quality song-writing and effortless musicianship, however the frustrating forays into experimental psychedelia and lack of a sense of a direction mean that he could have shot himself in the foot.
Words: Kevin Angel
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