Search - Style Council :: Introducing the Style Council

Weller Goes Soul

paperbackriter | USA | 04/05/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"A rollicking fine debut which successfully launched Paul Weller's post-Jam foray into blue-eyed soul. While the formula would be refined and perfected before finally reaching an apex with "My Ever Changing Moods", the rawness and spontaneity of "Introducing" is hard to beat.While "Introducing" picked up its share of devoted followers, it never reached a mass audience. Too bad, as several stand-out tracks would have made fine singles. The effortless groove of lead track "Long Hot Summer" conjures the romantic image of escaping the daily grind on a blistering July day. The acoustic sing-a-long "Head Start For Happiness", adeptly structured on a bed of minor-seventh chords, is an achingly sincere love-fest. Best of all is "The Paris Match", a soaring romantic epic, which rightfully earns its place among the upper strata of Weller's work. Really there a no duds on the disc. Even throwaway "Mick's Up", a bluesy send-up a la Booker T & the MG's, is worthy. Overall, a fine introduction to a vastly underrated band."

Arguing with the Chorus

Allan L. Cerf | Sunnyvale, CA United States | 11/08/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Guys/gals! Take it easy! Why reviewer two, seemingly dissed reviewer one, don't know, cause reviewer one liked what he was reviewing.while i am not, as is apparently, reviewer 2, a world's authority on soul, i know great music when i hear it and play it, to wax egotistical for a moment. (i'm a musician.)excepting that, sometimes weller's falsetto gives the game away, (white boy makin' black soul) generally, he can do the blue eyed soul thang perfectly and this record does indeed show him at the apex of his powers. (regarding talbot, actually, mick was essential to the council and while his instrumentals aren't for everyone, his arrangement and keys are vital "in de mix.")a truly great LP from the cover art down, weller's urbane yet pensive expression on the sleeve says it all: ego, talent, fierceness, naked fear (at the reagan-thatcher world order). this album was actually played in REGULAR ROTATION by the world's greatest dj, big rick stewart in california in the sorely missed 80's, so great were the tunes and despite no american mtv or other commercial pumping. as his melodic sense goes, so goes weller. he gets it, loses it, gets it, loses it. with the exception of money go round, all these songs are extremely melodic (and money go round was just fine, too). i agree with reviwer two, the the production was similarly fantastic - why such limited credit in this regard, i'll never no.finally, weller says today, he merely 'likes' the council and finds them interesting. to be frank, at least from point of great melody, with few exceptions, the first three style council records smoke the jam. period.drink your tea, kids, and stop fightin.' get on up!"