Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 16-20 of 48
 The Mod Father Evolves June 28, 2008
foxysusie (Uk)
All good talented musicians evolve in time. This is something very different from the Mod Father. But I actually like it very much.
Weller's "Sandinista".... June 27, 2008
Magic Rat (uk)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Just as it is clear that this is, as many have said, Paul Weller's "White Album", it is perhaps more pertinent to say that it is his "Sandinista" - a sprawling, bloated cornucopia of musical influences and differing styles that is as fascinating as it is stylistically bizarre. Weller has certainly gone out on a limb with this remarkable yet perplexing piece of work. He has burst right of the comfort zone of albums like "Heliocentric" and "Illumination" - he got half way there with "As Is Now" ("Misty Morning"; "Pebble And The Boy" and "Savages" would not sound out of place on "22 Dreams") - but this is the real thing in terms of brave experimentation and an effort to be different.
It has to be said at this point that "22 Dreams" requires a lot more than a cursory one listen only and then a cursing "what rubbish" expletive. Furthermore, the album has to be experienced in sequential mode, so don't make the same mistake as I did and make your first listen a ipod "shuffle songs" play ! The effect of the running order is completely lost. Listen to it in one sitting as it was intended and it should grow and grow on you and get into your consciousness.
The album seems to flow in phases. From the folky opener "Light Nights" (which wouldn't sound out of place on a Fairport Convention album) where Weller ploughs a familiar bucolic lyrical furrow, we are thrust immediately into some upbeat Jam-influenced "rockers" - "22 Dreams"; "All I Wanna Do" (which sounds as if it should have been a late era Jam b-side!); the souly, Marvin Gaye influenced and heavily orchestrated "Empty Ring", and then seamlessly into some piano-driven Style Council mood music - "the beautiful "Invisible" with its "Café Bleu" chords; the instrumental "Song For Alice" and the bassy, intoxicating "Cold Moments", complete with Isley Brothers guitar circa "That Lady"; "Black River" and "Why Walk When You Can Run" see a return to a folky feel before the driving bluesy "Push It Along" and the manically Beatles-esque "Echoes Round The Sun" bring the mood right up again as the album reaches its last burst of a summer afternoon. Evening is heralded in by the evocative and haunting "One Bright Star"; the lovely piano instrumental "Lullaby Fur Kinder" and the even lovelier "Where'er You Go".
Then, unfortunately, it is nonsense time (Like the old side 6 of "Sandinista") with the spoken "God", the highly indulgent "111" with its overtones of David Bowie's "Low" and the pointless "Night Lights" which fades the album out rather like "Kosmos" did on Weller's first solo album. In the middle of these is the upbeat "Sea Spray". Take out "God", "111" and "Night Lights" and leave "Sea Spray" and the finale to the album would, in my opinion, have been more convincing.
These are minor criticisms though. This album is a far, far worthier a piece of work than many reviewers have said.
The instrumentals are more like additions to the vocal tracks and should be seen as such, as opposed to fillers. Indeed, instrumentals like "The Dark Pages Of September" and "A Dream Reprise" actually have you wishing they were longer.
Overall, I feel time will serve "22 Dreams" well. Although where Weller can go from here is open to question.....
 Boring June 26, 2008
hickman (uk)
3 out of 11 found this review helpful
Sorry to agree with others but this album just does not work it is all over the place in style which if it was good it would make it interesting.
I was a big fan of the Jam and i loved Wildwood and As Is Now the last album. The truth is Weller is running out of ideas and is trying to be clever but it just doesn't work.This album in the years to come will not be looked on kindly once the hype is over. Dont waste your money i sold my copy on e bay to some other poor soul.
 A few good songs, but lyrically he can do much, much better June 25, 2008
J. Burlace (South London)
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
Sorry, but this album isn't a patch on Wild Wood/Stanley Road or even Heavy Soul which in my opinion were all examples of Weller's strongest solo work. Many of the lyrics are forgettable, throw-away nonsense more akin to Scouting For Girls demonstrated in just the title of All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You). Seriously, Paul?
I don't hate this album, its more of a disappointment. Have You Made Up Your Mind isn't a bad track, but its about the best of the CD which is disappointing. Although it sounds nice and summery and will probably sell in dozens, its all a bit vacuous for me. What happened to the steely riffs of 'Out Of The Sinking' or the wistful wordage in 'Wild Wood'??
Unfortunately this album has missed the mark a bit for me.
1 Star and that's being generous.... June 23, 2008
Spinnyman (UK)
5 out of 13 found this review helpful
Jeez this album is bad, I mean really bad. Musically it's all over the place which usually for an artist is no bad thing, but the tracks are so weak it should be retitled '22 Fillers' thank God for the skip button. There's nothing memorable about this album at all, very disappointing.
To make matters worse he recorded in his own studio and produced it himself, maybe he should have taken a listen to Wild Wood (ironically recently remastered and re-released and sounding brilliant) to see how it's done. It's a dull, muddled listen, time to call it a day methinks.
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