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Rating: November 1977 Paul Weller and Band strike while the iron is hot, releasing their second LP, punctuated by the successful single "All Around The World".
The haste in publishing will prevent Paul from presenting tracks of equal quality, giving too much space to Bruce Foxton, who will showcase a couple of tracks, at most valid as B-sides of singles.
The subsequent period will find Paul immersed in a creative crisis; at the beginning of '78 they will release the modest single "News of The World" written and sung by the bassist.
However, it will be only a short and fleeting period because by the end of the year with a renewed Weller they will release what many consider the pinnacle of the early period, "All Mod Cons".
In this album, Paul himself tries to expand his musical range; the album stands out a lot even though only 7 months have passed since "In The City", inspired by bands such as Who, Kinks, or Small Faces.
The album opens with the title track, which represents one of the few truly punk rock songs in the group's discography. The track is a classic, other tracks to remember are the energetic power pop "Standards", "Here Comes The Weekend", "The Combine", as well as the almost ballads "Life From a Window" and especially "I Need You". The cover of "In the Midnight Hour" is cute.
Unfortunately, the other tracks lower the album's quality, "London Traffic" and "Don't Tell Them You're Sane" by Bruce Foxton, but also the same "In The Street Today" by Paul.
Not a bad album, simply not up to the trio's discography, they will more than make up for it.
Tracklist and Lyrics
03 Standards (02:30)
Oh we make the standards and we make the rules
And if you don't abide by them you must be a fool
We have the power to control the whole land
You never must question our motives or plans -
'Cause we'll outlaw your voices, do anything we want
We've nothing to fear from the nation
We'll throw you out of your houses if you get too much
If we have to we'll destroy your generation
'Cause we've built up a frontage and we've gained respect
There's no one to endanger our position -
Standards rule OK
Standards rule OK
Standards rule OK
Standards rule OK
And we don't like people who stand in our way
Awareness is gonna be redundant
And ignorance is strength, we have God on our side
Look, you know what happend to Winston
05 The Combine (02:22)
And life is very different, when you're in a crowd
When you're in a crowd, you see things as they really are
The smell the fear and hate, generated by all around -
I wanna breakaway, but the ties are too strong
I wanna go on holiday, but the crowd says I can't
See life is very difficult, when you're in a crowd
Sometimes in the night, I wish I was faraway
But then I realize, even escape will be in vain
I wanna close my eyes and be like the rest
I mean, nobody wants to die, although the crowd say they do
Look, life is very intricate, when you're in a crowd
Life becomes the movies
And everyone has a role
It's easy being the actors
When the combine's the only star -
Sunday papers
And the dailies
Ena Sharples
Page 3 girls
News at ten
War in Rhodesia
Far away
In a distant land
But we're alright
We're nice and warm here
No one to hurt us
Except ourselves
06 Don't Tell Them You're Sane (03:42)
A boy I know is sick in his head -
At least that's what the doctors say he is
Shut in his room for hours on end
Looks like he's forgotten, but is he
His mind it ticks, more than you know
One day something in his head will click
Warders fill him full of lies, he fights he knows
They'll never convince him that he's mad!
At breakfast he is strapped in a chair (won't go far)
Just a word out of place, he's sent to his room
Don't tell them you're sane
They'll laugh and put you to sleep
Don't tell them you're sane, but you are
Tell me what you did today, was it good
What was it like and who was it with
Don't think I'm prying I'd just like to know
Why it is you do things so slow
Take him to the doctor, see what he says
I don't know why he bothers, he's in for good
10 Here Comes The Weekend (03:31)
If we tell you that you've got two days to live
Then don't complain, 'cos that's one more than you'd get in Zaire -
So don't hang around and be foolish
Do something constructive with your weekend -
From Monday morning I work for Friday nights
Collect my wages, then try to paint on the smell of soap -
'Cause tonight I get ready early
Score what I need and go pick a girl up
It seems like ages since we had some fun -
Here comes the weekend - I get to see the girls
Long live the weekend, the weekend is here
(the weekend starts here)
Everything feels right now
I know why I'm alive now
Everything else is a lie now
Now I know why I'm here
Here comes the weekend - I'm gonna do my head
Long live the weekend, the weekend is dead
11 Tonight At Noon (03:02)
Tonight at noon, tonight at noon
When we meet in the midnight hour,
I will bring you night flowers (coloured)
Like your eyes
Tonight at noon, I'll touch your hand
Held for a moment amongst strangers
Amongst the dripping trees
Country girl
Walking in city squares in winter rain -
Walking down muddy lanes or empty streets -
Arranging a time and place to meet -
Tonight at noon, you'll feel my warmth
You'll feel my body inside you
We'll be together for hours
Time and tears -
Won't wait for evermore
For the time is now -
And now is the time to explore
Why waste the world outside
When you're sure
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