Disco de The Jam: “This Is the Modern World/All Mod Cons”

Many people compare the Jam with the Clash, and there are some parallels. The Clash were probably a little more flamboyant, daring and agressive, while the Jam were probably better musicians, with a bit of a more subtle take on things. Also, whereas the Clash drew on reggae and ska, the Jam drew more on soul and 60's rock. Still, like the Clash, the Jam just wrote so many well-crafted, hard-rocking, touching songs, with intelligent lyrics that covered a wide range of subjects, and without much musical excess. Also, I think the great thing about Paul Weller's lyrics with the Jam is that he really makes you think about the questions he's asking--and he doesn't offer you easy answers or slogans that look cool on a t-shirt. What's the proper balance between maintaining your ideals, and doing what you have to do to live in the real world? That's something everybody has to answer for themselves--the important thing is to think about it. These two albums are both great, with The Modern World perhaps being slightly harder, and this is just a fantastic collection of songs. It's so sad that almost no new bands that are popular today picked up the mantle from bands like the Clash and the Jam. Whereas these bands drew from the best of rock history to form something new,personal and exciting, it seems like most of the rap/rock and boy bands have never heard of the Clash and the Jam, let alone any of their precursors, like 50's rock/rockabilly, The Beatles, Who, Stones, Dylan, Marley, Kinks, etc.

I'm pretty new to The Jam, but I knew that Paul Weller was considered a Modfather, and being a Mod, I figured I should check them out. This is a really good CD. I had always heard that All Mod Cons was an essential album, but I actually prefer This is the Modern World. It's kind of like the Clash minus the reggae, plus the Kinks. It's good music and it suits me just fine. If you like a little pop in your punk, check out the Jam.

Having owned both as separate CDs, I am delighted to see both offered on one. This is an excellent cross-section of the Mod group that, at their peak, were the top group in Britain. Even though I'm American, I always appreciated the gritty back to basics the Jam offered. Clean Rickenbacker guitar chords, punchy bass and precision drumming all drip of early Who - but with a slightly rougher edge. Lyrics laden with anti-societal/parental themes - precursors to what "Rage ATM" are doing today. Definitely the best the Jam had to offer as they slowly got softer with subsequent albums. (Hmm! Just like The Who!) Well worth the buy - highly recommended!!!

"This is the Modern World" finds the band loosening the reins on their sound, opening things up a bit and moving away from any punk orthadoxy. The results are impressive. By my count, about half the tracks here are well-written and pretty timeless. One of the best is "Standards". I used to hear it as an overly-melodramatic song about the effect of right-wing fascists on Britain. Now I'm pretty sure it's actually about "politically correct" liberals like the Clash and THEIR effect on Britain. "Life From A Window" is an especially beautiful song. The band and Weller are developing their style; big perfect guitar riffs are in evidence, slick energetic playing is well in evidence, and Weller's vocals cut across the music with a healthy degree of soulfulness and traction.

"All Mod Cons" was a big hit album in the UK, but impresses me less. Weller's songs here just aren't all that great, to my ears. Still, there are moments of greatness. Check out the creeping guitar figure at the heart of "Mr. Clean", which seems to have inspired Kurt Cobain and "Come As You Are". Check out the killer riff of "Billy Hunt". Check out the adrenaline rush of "A Bomb in Wardour Street".