22 Dreams

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Customer reviews

review by: timjkelly23 date: 2008-07-01 rating:
Its good very good
I was really surprised at how good the New Weller CD is. He never managed to reach the heights of Wild Wood or Stanley Road until now.
Its a summer album and very long but considering that I cant keep from playing it.
Well done Mr Weller its great to have the quality back.

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review by: date: 2008-06-15 rating:
the modfathers lost the plot
having been a weller fan since the jam through the style council if you want to check out different musical styles try cafe bleu a far superior album if you want something decent unfortunately this album is nowhere near as good as weller seems to think, a bit of advice from a true fan who has every record you have released, dont fret about the cost get brendan lynch back to produce and steve white on drums,weller needs to take a trip down boundary and find himself again if thats entertaintement he should go underground 22 dreams no its a anightmare,

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review by: justwilliamsluck.blogspot.com date: 2008-06-05 rating:
There's life in the old Mod yet
I was too young to have been into The Jam but I was old enough to know that I didn't really like The Style Council so it was Paul Weller's solo work that initially caught my attention. The first two albums anyway. Then it all went a bit dad-rock and he kind of fell off the map for me. The last thing anyone was expecting was his latest album, an eclectic, creative and dare we say it, exciting opus with over 2o tracks.

The title track is a stomping number with blasting horns and bags of energy, not what one might expect from a man who recently turned 50. It's a good example of the vigour of proceedings which makes this album so impressive. Push It Along is another track bursting at the seams with organs and 'ooh-ah' backing vocals which sound like King Louis' cohorts from the Jungle Book have invaded the studio. Which isn't to say that there isn't plenty of what you might expect from the man they call the Modfather but it's all augmented by some interesting musical choices and the kind of wilful disregard for what people think which can produce really exciting results.

It's not always successful; Lullaby Fur Kinder sounds worryingly like hotel lobby music, the spoken piece God is a bit like being harassed by one of those evangelists on the tube and the instrumental (if that's the word for it) 111 is a little indulgent, but these are small prices to pay to get an album that includes influences from South American tango to English folk.

Sometimes it all comes together. Empty Ring sounds like Weller is being accompanied by The Avalanches whose cut-up all-sample Since I Left You was such an amazing album. Black River has a cheeky-chappy appeal. And Echoes Round The Sun is a reverb heavy number with film score strings that lend it bite rather than making it sound pretty. But there are equally impressive songs like Invisible and Why Walk When You Can Run which, with simple accompaniment, hit the right note by leaving Weller's matured voice to do the work.

I didn't think I'd find myself buying another Paul Weller album but if you've ever had a liking for his work I suggest you do just that. There's life in the old Mod yet.

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review by: Running reader date: 2008-06-05 rating:
A disappointment
This album is a disappointment. There are 2-3 tracks worth listening to, all early in the album, after that there are too many instrumentals and experimental tracks.
This is the first time he has done anything like this since 'Confessions of a Pop Group', which basically sealed TSC's fate.
A real disappointment after the brilliant 'As Is Now', which was stacked with top tunes, this has three tracks worthy of his name.
I give it 2 stars for the packaging, otherwise 1 star for the disappointment factor.


review by: date: 2008-06-05 rating:
Folk, Jazz, Soul & Rock on a superb CD
This new CD may surprise a few people, but as most log standing Weller fans know, Paul listens to a wide variety of music. This is reflected in this excellent new project. So if you are into any of the above genres then try out this CD you wont be disappointed. Guest appearances from the likes of Robert Wyatt & The Gallagher's spice up the set, and show the depth of the music on this CD. Weller goes from strength to strength. Roll on his next epic.

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