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Non-Prog CD Reviews

Paul Weller

A Kind Revolution

Review by Gary Hill

Paul Weller is best known as the leader of the Jam. This is his new solo album. There is quite an intriguing mix of music here, but it all has a nice mainstream vibe to it. If there's a complaint to be made it's that the disc is short, just about forty minutes. Still, it's always better in the entertainment world to leave them wanting more than to overstay your welcome.

This review is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2017  Volume 5 at  garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2017.

Track by Track Review
Woo Sé Mama

This is a cool rocker. It's packed with classic sound. it's a catchy tune and a cool opener.

Nova
Trippy sounds are the order of business here. There is a lot of psychedelic rock here. That said, it's built on a punk rock concept at the same time. I dig the instrumental section on this thing. The punk aspects take more control later in the piece. This is a solid rocker for sure.
Long Long Road
There is a bit of a Beatles meets Joe Cocker vibe to this cut in a lot of ways. It's a solid melodic rocker with a lot of the 1970s packed into it. It's more of a ballad than it is anything else.
She Moves with the Fayre
Effects driven stuff open this. The cut grows out to a funky kind of rocker from there. There is a psychedelic, trippy edge to it.
The Cranes are Back
More of a classic pop and soul vibe permeates this mellower tune. This is effective, but not one of my favorites.
Hopper
Now, this 1960s styled pop song is catchy and just plain cool. I really like it a lot.
New York
There is a Latin vibe to this cut. It's energized and jazzy. It has some space music and a lot of other cool stuff built into it. This is great stuff. The keyboard led section is a nice touch. This is my favorite tune here for sure. There is some great retro styled jamming on this later that includes a chance for a number of instruments to shine.
One Tear
Trippy stuff starts this off with an intriguing arrangement. This builds organically, working within a space rock sort of sound for a short while. It gets energized and rocking later. This is a dynamic and intriguing cut, really. It's probably the most unusual thing here, even if it might not be the most accessible.
Satellite Kid
I love the guitar soloing on this tune. Beyond that, this is a tasty, catchy up-tempo pop rocker that's just a lot of fun. There is a short jam after the three-minute mark that's almost prog. It works back to the song proper after that.
The Impossible Idea
The closing tune is an effective pop song. This is catchy and serves as a nice closer.
 
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