Paul Weller - Studio 150
Well the Modfather is back with what I think is a refreshing change of direction. For so long known for his own innovative and organic music style, this is a complete volte-face. And a very interesting one at the – Weller doing cover versions! Having followed his career over the years, from The Jam and The Style Council, to his solo career, his music and his musical style have always interested me.
From the opening of the Album with the steady guitar cords and drum beat and Weller’s unmistakeable vocals in “if only I could be sure” with keyboards from another age and a very 60’s and 70’s beat, you delve into a great song. This glides easily through to his current single “Wishing on a Star”, the old Rose Royce classic given a brilliant re-working a stronger beat, and heavier sound. Some say you should never remake a classic hit, and with “Wishing on a Star” he succeeds where others fail. And you can’t help getting carried away and tapping in rhythm or pretending that you are doing the great guitar solo in the track.
An unusual album of covers that eases smoothly from track to track, from the steady “Don’t Make Promises” to, a very 60’s quick drum beat in “The Bottle”. This glides into “Black is the Colour” with a great acoustic guitar sound backed up with a lone violin, to make it quite haunting. To the absolute shock of hearing the Carpenter’s classic “Close to You” reworked, again a heavier drum beat, and a far more rock sound to it.
There are some fabulously reworked covers on this album, which when out originally you would never have thought could be made to sound better or in some cases totally improve. Weller doesn’t worry about who had covered the track first, Sister Sledges hit “Thinking of You”, an Oasis cover with “One Way Road” to my favourite on the album the Dylan classic “All along the Watchtower”
He is a musician that is not worried about changing direction he relishes it, and rises to the challenge. When you look at the track listing on Studio 150, you look in amazement and wonder can Weller carry this off? He certainly does, with much assurance this is an album I could quite happily play time and time again. This album is the sort that you can play and relax too, on an easy Sunday morning.