Rolling Stone:
1/30/07, 12:43 pm EST
Paul Weller Invades New York City
Yesterday marked the beginning of what might unofficially be called
Paul Weller week here in New York City. The legendary Jam and Style
Council frontman (and bona fide personal hero/role model to many)
began his three-day invasion of the City via an absurdly anticipated
performance last night at Irving Plaza. Outside, tickets were
apparently changing hands for $300-$400 and inside a collection of
rowdy British expats and thuggish Jerseyites in ill-fitting leather
jackets lost their collective minds as Weller played one Jam hit
after another. During „That’s Entertainment“ we came very close to
witnessing a room full of drunk, grown men sobbing.
Tonight Weller will reportedly change the set list to focus more on
Style Council material, and Wednesday he will perform rock from his
entire career. That final show will most likely reflect the feel of
Weller’s new album Hit Parade, which features a well-balanced
sampling of the Modfather’s best material. Classic Jam anthems
like „Town Called Malice“ and „Going Underground“ sound as
magnificent and brave as ever next to the elegant, clever piano and
string pop of Weller’s Style Council years. And then there’s the
solo stuff. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the solo inclusions
from Hit Parade sound as good as they do. Weller has long been
perceived as more than the frontman for one of the most important
rock bands ever (as if that weren’t enough) but also as a formidable
solo artist and songwriter, and on Hit Parade he reminds us why he’s
so worshiped. Tracks like „The Changing Man“ and the explosive,
confrontational „Come On/Let’s Go,“ sound vital and prescient, like
he’s a free, wise sage and we’re the lucky disciples.
[photo by David Atlas]
— Elizabeth Goodman
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„Weller’s new album Hit Parade, which features a well-balanced
sampling of the Modfather’s best material“:
Hä? Das sind doch nur die Singles-A-Seiten, oder?
--
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