Album Review

Paul Weller – Wake Up The Nation

• 6th Apr 2010

Paul Weller is off his head. The sheer manic of Moonshine suggests he’d been listening to far too much Doors and Jerry Lee Lewis at the same time. Not that you will find this reviewing complaining about the new funky vibe he’s got going for himself.

And the vibe continues with “Wake Up The Nation,” the title track which has a great rock n’roll old school feel to it, but despite this it doesn’t really head anywhere – and even has to fade out towards the end.

It is clear though that when it comes to creating lyrics and songs that the man who once fronted the Jam and the Style Council has come a long way. Seasoned, perhaps, but not in any serious danger of burning out.

“Wake Up The Nation” the album has variety, life and enthusiasm about it – incorporating sound both old and new borrowed from genres favoured by past decades and present.

Somehow Weller has managed to make this opus last 16 tracks long – and there is little to no cross-over or repetition on hand. Evidence this strong suggests we have one of our finest still working at peek effort.