Sound Affects

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Though the meaning is ambiguous, the music is not—The Jam confirm their status as one of the tightest rock groups ever with a ripping lead guitar from Weller, thumping and nimble bass runs from Coxton and a thrilling performance from Buckler on skins and hi-hat. Ultimately Sound Affects shows a band that was being pushed by its leader slightly beyond their level of ability. In a somewhat ironic twist, he formed Style Council with Mick Talbot, whose previous credentials included playing with Jam imitators the Merton Parkas. I would give a bit more credit to Set the House Ablaze, probably the most propulsively angry anti-fascism song ever recorded, but you are right that Weller’s vocals do get a bit buried in the mayhem. Our success at knowing how to flip a disc to side two is confirmed immediately by the backward guitar and choral overture that create the dreamscape that opens “Dream Time.

Stuck in their give-the-people-what-they-want mindset, they ignored the obvious flaw in “Pretty Green” that should have made it a non-starter—the song lacks a strong hook. Instead, the overriding mood of the album was a large sonic template full of sound effects and double-tracked instruments.

The influence of Revolver, on the other hand, is quite obvious, and Sound Affects generally maintains the connection to the mod-oriented rock played by The Jam on their two previous albums.

Clean" start, with the chorus" melody played on guitar, so when it comes in you all ready know the tune to sing along. Eclectic to the point of haphazard, the album bottoms out with the positively lame "Planner's Dream Goes Wrong", a limp song marred by busy steel drums. I’m going to be rich someday” is a profoundly pathetic desire, as all it confirms is that you’re a selfish asshole willing to sacrifice any sense of moral responsibility in the pursuit of purchasing power and/or influence. I don’t think “wishing you were far away” qualifies as “finding beauty,” and I find that characterization rather condescending, in my always-humble opinion.

The Jam was a punk/ mod revival group formed in Woking, England in 1972 consisting of Paul Weller (vocals, guitar), Bruce Foxton (bass, vocals) and Rick Buckler (drums). The 80 Greatest Albums of 1980 What came out of all this was, arguably, the greatest year for great albums ever".

The dark soundscape of “Scrape Away” is marked by an ominous bass riff from Foxton and excellent rhythmic management from Buckler, who punctuates the song’s stuttery beats with plenty of rim shots. It is therefore difficult to look at the album as inconsistent " virtually every track is memorable " even semi-instrumental "Music For The Last Couple" is memorable, though this time through it"s funky guitar and bass riffs.However, for all its accessibility, the tracklist often dips into more experimental territory, and also explores an almost-psychedelic sonic template in places, augmented with layered instruments. More likely then not, "That's Entertainment" has given you an unfair judgment of the album not unlike The Cure's "Boys Don't Cry".