Thursday 8 November, 2007

The Jam - Sound Affects (1980)


Sound Affects is a 1980 album by British group The Jam. This release, their fifth album, is frequently considered the closing point of The Jam's artistic peak begun on their third LP, All Mod Cons and carried through on its follow-up, Setting Sons. This is considered by many fans and critics to be The Jam's best album; only All Mod Cons receives more claims thereto. Paul Weller considers this album to be The Jam's best work.

After the ambitious, harder-rocking Setting Sons, The Jam returned to the pop-oriented outlook of All Mod Cons, albeit with a noticeably different sound. The most salient influence on this album is '60s British psychedelic pop, such as The Beatles' Revolver, The Who's The Who Sell Out, and The Kinks' The Village Green Preservation Society. The psychedelic overtones run throughout the album: in the backwards guitar on "That's Entertainment"; in the swirling, gauzy feel of "Man in the Cornershop"; in the punchy British horns of "Boy About Town" and "Dream Time". Other obvious influences are post-punk groups such as Wire, Gang Of Four, and Joy Division and, particularly evident in Rick Buckler's drumming, Michael Jackson's Off the Wall album. Indeed, singer/guitarist/songwriter Paul Weller said at the time that he considered the album a cross between Off the Wall and Revolver.

The album's cover is a pastiche of the artwork used on the various "Sound Effects" records produced by BBC Records during the 1970s. This album features the group's second UK number one single, "Start!", built around a bassline obviously inspired by The Beatles' "Taxman", the lead cut on Revolver. Ironically, Polydor pushed for "Pretty Green" to get the single release instead, thinking it a surer bet, but Weller insisted on "Start!"

"Pretty Green" is perhaps the apotheosis of the Michael Jackson and Beatles fusion, melding a throbbing funk bassline and rhythm with melodic guitar breaks and psychedelic sound effects. The group would later explore the "Britfunk" sound in earnest on their next and final album, The Gift.

Perhaps The Jam's best known and most acclaimed song is the striking acoustic ballad "That's Entertainment"; it was recently named to the List of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time at #306, The Jam's lone entry. For a full discussion of this song, see the relevant article page.

Wikipedia

link @192

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

For me "Setting sons" is a better album although "Sound Affects" is good too!

yesyesyes said...

Truly great pop band

the saucer people said...

I remember getting this album for christmas when it came out and its hard to believe thirty years has passed since then. As a huge Jam fan, this was without a doubt their finest moment (along with the last couple of singles 'Funeral Pyre' and 'Precious'). A couple of the earlier singles such as Down In a Tube Station at Midnight and Butterfly Collector were indicators of the more "experimental" direction they were going in and Sound Affects was the culmination of that journey.
Interestingly, I only found out a couple of months ago that the cover was taken from a BBC Radiophonic album called "Sound Effects"..I cannot remember which blog I saw it on but a little bit of googling should find it...wonderful blog by the way!

the saucer people said...

The link seems to be dead..I found another rapidshare link just in case:
http://rs316.rapidshare.com/files/109033920/The_Jam_-_Sound_Affects.zip
Hope this helps!

Anonymous said...

i definitely enjoy your own posting way, very remarkable.
don't quit and keep writing as a result it simply just worth to read it.
impatient to find out far more of your current well written articles, have a good one ;)

Anonymous said...

Sorry for my bad english. Thank you so much for your good post. Your post helped me in my college assignment, If you can provide me more details please email me.

Anonymous said...

wow, since February no one's noticed that the reposted link needs a password? if it is known, please provide. otherwise, thanks anyway for the original post - a nice effort at least.

Penis Enlargement Pills said...

I am thoroughly convinced in this said post. I am currently searching for ways in which I could enhance my knowledge in this said topic you have posted here. It does help me a lot knowing that you have shared this information here freely. I love the way the people here interact and shared their opinions too. I would love to track your future posts pertaining to the said topic we are able to read.

Unknown said...

Visit Website t4j95b9z24 bags replica ysl replica bags philippines wholesale replica bags wholesale replica hermes a4j26v7z23 replica bags in delhi replica bags delhi you could try these out u7l84h1h97 replica bags from turkey