The Jam - Sound Affects (CD)

Sound Affects - The best of the 80's

By Jay  Jul 24, 2000

While The Jam never made the crossover to US or Canada that they richly deserved to have, the music that they produced in there seven year recording career is well worth re-examining.The driving rhythm section of Bruce Foxton and Rick Buckler provid...ed the solid backbone of a tight R&B trio and make the band reminiscent of the Who. But the creative foundation belonged to that of Paul Weller. While all of the Jam's albums display different aspects of his amazing song-writing abilities, Sound Affects is perhaps his best. The stripped down, trebly, atonal, post-punk sound of the album makes it the best of the uninspired decade that was to be known as the eighties. The melodies of sixties bands like the small faces, the kinks and the beatles are combined with Weller's clear and conscise social observations of a decaying Britain in the late seventies and early eighties. Sound Affects is a barometer of that era. It is also a look at the state youth and the socialist left as they were about to face the massive changes of Thatcherism which would rock British society.Songs like "Pretty Green", "Set the House Ablaze", and "Scraping Away" are harsh inditements of a materialistic society gone mad. But even if you don't share the political sentiements, they are still are great rockers."Monday" and "But I'm Different Now" are love songs which share a lyrical theme but are both very different melodically."Monday" is what could be described as psychedelic punk, with shimmering guitars and loud bass. It's very similar to the style of melody that Weller used on "Tales From the Riverbank". "But I'm Different Know" lifts part of a riff from The Beatles "Dr Robert" and is a plain and gutsy rock number."Dream Time" and the group compostion "Music for the last couple" fit into the psychedelic punk theme of a song like "Monday". The lyrics are minimalist but behind the band are all sorts of special sound effects. The songs are slightly odd but fascinating none the less."Boy About Town" is a anthem that sends the Jam back to there early mod obsessions. It is a rock number and one of Wellers tributes to London. Also, it sports a brass section in the background."Man In the Cornershop" is an attack on the british class system reminiscent of the song "Mr. Clean" on the Jam's third album "All Mod Cons". It is less vitriolic in tone and tries to deal with universal aspects of humanity such as hardship, jealousy and inequality. The subject is universal but Weller is thinking in utterly English terms."Start" was the single taken from the album and was the Jam's second number 1 in Britain. It lifts the bass riff from George Harrison's opener "Taxman" from Revolver (This album was a major influence on the recording of Sound Affects and critics at the time said that it was the Jam's own Revolver!) The song dealt with the theme of social connections and whether the two minute pop single could be used to communicate important political and social ideas.The final song of Sound Affects is the albums masterpiece "That's Entertainment". It remains Weller's most vivid look at British life, and the hardships of the working class in the country at the time. It is almost too brilliant to describe in words.So my advice is to rush out and buy this album! And if you wish to take some more advice, get it on the re-master series which is a bit more expensive but will provide a very good listen. Read more Less