

' Failed' More of a rock track this one, and a self-effacing one about some of the things Weller's done wrong in his life. And another change of musical style, with the sound of an updated 1970s soul track. Treat everyone as an equal, we're all people… the sort of message that seems to be missing from too much political discourse. ' That Pleasure' And we go into an anti-bigotry track. There is something about this song that just sits in the brain. ' Testify' Another change of pace, Weller with chorus and flute, feeling like a pseudo-gospel song, and then comes a saxophone solo. ' Cobweb/Connections' A song that has that wonderful guitar with handclaps that don't detract and lyrics of hope: " So don't go/ And get by/ 'Cause that's not life/ It's just getting through the day…" There are some Style Council vibes about this track. ' Glad Times' Slowing right down with strings and yet with a sense of hope. It is a song that feels joyous and has a positive message: " Spend all your life/ Just to find out/ All that matters/ Is close to you…" ' Shades Of Blue' The first single from the album, and featuring Weller's daughter Leah, this is a definite highlight of the album. ' Fat Pop' We slow down a little for this track, a dreamy piece of work that floats on a simple synth base with some nice added woodwinds (I think – without the album cover it's hard to know). Short and to the point, but really gets you moving. ' True' This comes in more like the sound I was expecting with guitars at the fore, and guest vocals – well, shared vocals – from Lia Metcalfe. The sound was not what I was expecting at all, and the lyrics are a little downbeat" " I'm a lost cause, never found." ' Cosmic Fingers' We open with a synthesiser riff that drives along with electronically enhanced vocals and stabbing guitar. It should go without saying that the lyrics are all masterclasses of construction, so I don't keep harping on about them throughout this review. There's little more I can say – this is a magnificent album.
#PAUL WELLER FAT POP REVIEW HOW TO#
This is yet another fine release from an elder statesman who knows how to write a good song and then deliver it with near perfection. For what it's worth, I know this isn't Weller's fault, but the fault of the Australian distributors, but I just thought I'd vent.Īnyway, listening to the album… I was put at ease. I know that companies are trying to force us into this situation, but I prefer to have the hard copy and was a little peeved going into this. So, last weekend, I bit the bullet and bought a digital copy of the album. So I waited until after the release date, but finding a physical copy proved impossible. I then went online to a store and they had it available from June. I heard this was being released a day or so before it was due to come out, so contacted my regular record stores to pre-order it. “For any customers who are unable to attend the new dates in 2022, you should seek a refund from your original point of purchase.However, a small backstory first. Please note that November/ December 2021 tour remains the same.”

“If you currently hold a ticket, keep this, as it will remain valid for the new date. “Due to ongoing uncertainty through the pandemic, the decision has been made to reschedule Paul’s UK June/ July Summer 2021 tour to March/ April 2022,” a statement read. If there’s anything left on the phone, there’s more time still to find it after The Jam frontman’s UK tour was rescheduled again, this time to March and April next year.
#PAUL WELLER FAT POP REVIEW FREE#
Opportunity knocked for Weller when a cancelled tour gave him the unexpected free time to dip back into an arsenal of song ideas which had been stored on his phone, Fat Pop (Volume 1) eventually put together with his band at Black Barn studios. Paul Weller by Sandra Vijandi Paul Weller has released the sixteenth studio album of his prolific solo career today – have a listen on New Music Friday right here.
