Who would have thought it? The Modfather's recent material has been largely well-received, but underwhelming to the casual fan. He's cracked it with album number ten, though - a record bursting with top-notch, diverse mod-rock tunes.
It might not seem like it, but Paul Weller is something of a polarising figure. Most people are in one of two camps; you're either in awe of 'The Modfather''s godlike genius and extensive back catalogue that stretches back to The Jam, or you think he's past his prime and should be put out to pasture at the ripe old age of 51.
If you're of the latter opinion, his tenth studio album might just change your mind. 'Wake Up the Nation' is a surprisingly good collection of short, snappy mod-rock tunes that clocks in at just under 40 minutes. More impressively, Weller has managed to keep his sound fresh, at least on this album - no mean feat, considering the number of times he's been around the block over the past three decades.
Sure, it'd be all too easy for him to veer into laddish, pub-rock territory (something he has arguably done in the past); but these songs are simply too likeable to resist. There's diversity within the rock genre, too; the crackly midtempo jangle of 'No Tears to Cry' has a '60s soul flavour to it, the '70s funk bass and big band stylings of 'Aim High' sees him hit the high notes splendidly, and instrumental 'In Amsterdam' sounds like he's been immersing himself in Serge Gainsbourg's back catalogue.
It's not that Weller is reinventing the wheel by any stretch of the imagination, but if he keeps making albums as genuinely re-playable as this one, his detractors best make themselves comfortable - he may be around a while longer.
