Setting Sons – THE JAM****

Girl On The Phone/Thick As Thieves/Private Hell/Little Boy Soldiers/Wasteland/Burning Sky/Smithers-Jones/Saturdays Kids/The Eton Rifles/Heatwave

Setting Sons demonstrated the increasing maturity and popularity of the beat group The Jam fronted by Paul Weller. They would maintain a high profile on the British music scene during the next few years. Features the UK No. 3 hit single The Eton Rifles. (US:137 UK:4)

“Musically the band are chain-saw sharp, and the production is raw and punchy. The gruff, vernacular vocals, together with the topical locality of the lyrics probably ensured that their success wouldn't travel far beyond Blighty. For those of us in the UK at the time, who saw this album establish the band, these were exciting times; the sense of anticipation with each new release palpable and usually worthwhile.”

“Originally conceived as a concept album about old friends reunited after many years to find they had nothing in common anymore Setting Sons doesn’t quite follow through on the premise of a song cycle, but it still makes for a fascinating listen.”

“For their first three albums, there were plenty of chestnuts, together with a lot of angst and promise. It all came together in this more mature, polished effort. The musicianship was far better and expanded beyond three chords, the arrangements were more complicated, the songs were longer, with more instrumental solos.”

“The production is brilliant, the choruses catchy and the riffs are tight. Weller is calmly passionate, deconstructing British society without hysterical finger pointing. The cello-led Smithers-Jones is a work of genius. The lyrics in general are just so understated and great.”

“On the verge of becoming Britain’s biggest band, the Jam’s Setting Sons melded sixties influences with the group’s ever maturing sound to create a highly entertaining album. While their earlier work clearly betrayed their love of The Who, this album was distinctly Kinks flavoured. Another sixties reminder was the fact that it was sequenced like a live set list with a light opener, the hit single at the end followed by an energetic rock ‘n’ roll encore.”

“Originally conceived as a concept album about friendship, politics and war, Weller thankfully ditched this approach and instead went about putting together an album of character vignettes, which were able to convey his message much more powerfully and succinctly.”