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Aging like fine wine

Published Jul 13, 2020 10:11 am
Paul Weller

Paul Weller recently released the album “On Sunset.” The 62-year-old musical chameleon, best known for his seminal punk pop band The Jam, his new wave duo The Style Council, and countless solo work that covers rock, soul, R&B and electronic music (to name a few), was spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic. With his tour discontinued, he focused on putting out new music now heard here, his 15th offering.

“On Sunset” opens with “Mirrorball,” a nostalgic-sounding song. It eventually picks up, criss-crossing between electronic and pop---and beyond.

He croons, “Mirroball you shine so bright/Illuminate the ways of our sight/‘Til everyone’s a shining star/The moon’s a balloon and we’ll go far.”

Next up is the bouncy, old-school R&B on “Baptiste.” He attests his love for music whatever form it takes, singing “I never used to pray /I never been to church/ but when I hear that sound /It goes to my heart / straight to my soul.”

“Father Tyme” is funkier, and comes with sage advice – “In this time of confusion/Hang onto what is real/Hail the love around us/See how deep it feels.”

It’s a Style Council reunion with Paul Weller commissioning his former bandmate Mick Talbot to play keyboards on the organ-heavy “Village.”

Not to be missed is the groovy jam on “More.” And the elegant mish-mash of styles on the title track.

Also check out the electro-dance-funk on “4th Dimension,” and the poignant folk ballad “I’ll Think Of Something.”

An instrumental version of “Baptiste” closes the set.

Like fine wine, Paul just ages so well.  

Related Tags

Paul Weller Mick Talbot Village Baptiste Style Council On Sunset
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