The Jam - Sound Affects - Review
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critics' view

The Jam’s superb form continues into the new decade with this well-crafted affair, full of nuggets, especially on side one which includes “Pretty Green”, “But I’m Different Now”, “Set The House Ablaze” and the two tracks chosen as singles; “Start!” (appearing here on slightly extended form) and “That’s Entertainment”, the latter of which is truly the songwriters song of songs, wonderfully evocative of urban mundanity and completely unforgettable. The bare, strummed track is completely at odds with rest of the album, which has a sharper dance sound, characterized by Foxton’s funk-punk basslines, Weller’s ever-thoughtful, no-nonsense lyrical delivery, and the subtle introduction of trumpets to Jam sound. The blaze doesn’t rage quite so intensely on side two, but the flip is home to the fantastic “Man In The Cornershop”, a song longing for the ‘freedom’ of the greener grass which looks so appealing on the other side. They are Premier League class in every way.

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