The Jam
This is The Modern World

THE REVIEW

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.