Paul WellerWake Up The Nation
Yep Roc Records [2010]
Fire Note Says: Weller still plays with no rules and wins on Wake Up The Nation!
Album Review:
I don't think anyone will argue with you that Paul Weller's last record 22 Dreams [2008] was slightly long, clocking in at over an hour but was also crazily creative and a realization that Weller has not lost a beat. Wake Up The Nation continues this creative punch, as Weller not only revisits some of his past styles but pushes beyond them into several psychedelic stomps, disco foot tapping beats and spirited jazz-outs throughout the records 40 minutes. He is an artist that has always done things on his own, enjoys starting from scratch and doesn't like to make the same album twice. Wake Up The Nation has this motto holding true with the one major expectation to the rule being the return of longtime writer/producer Simon Dine. The rest of the album brings in different talent with the most notable being My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields, Move/ELO drummer Bev Bevan and the surprising reunion with former Jam member Bruce Foxton on bass. This pairing ups the energy on Wake Up The Nation, as it has almost been three decades since these two men have played together. Paul Weller is already a rock icon but it is exhilarating to know that for being over 50, he can still release an album of style shifting rock that is excellent, relevent and worthy of every minute you give it, when it would be so easy for him just to fade away or rely on a Jam reunion to get his kicks - thank God for us he didn't!
Key Tracks: "Wake Up The Nation", "Up The Dosage", "Two Fat Ladies"
Bands With Similar Fire:
Elvis Costello
Noel Gallagher
Morrissey
Paul Weller: 22 Dreams [Fire Note Review 8/1/08]
Official Paul Weller Website
Paul Weller MySpace
Paul Weller Facebook
Yep Roc Records
-Reviewed by Christopher Anthony
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