Wild Wood

The Good: The many ways one could misinterpret the title of the album
The Bad: Considering the possibilities of misinterpretation of the title, now start misinterpreting the image on the album cover…
The Ugly: all your dirty minds!

What?

So, Paul Weller, ex The Jam, ex Style Council, raconteur of this here album that I had never heard of before. And I am liking it.
Setting aside the bithcin’ and moanin’ of plenty of people stating that this is drab, I think that this album is a clear reminder that it is time the music industry allows well produced albums to come out again, by people who actually know something about music.

I am uncertain what ranking I should give this album; 3 or 4*?

This dude started the rock band The Jam in the late 70's, then when they disbanded, he formed sophisti-pop band The Style Council in the 80's. After this, he went out on his own in the 90's. Dudes done a lot of stuff across a lot of genres.Because of that, it's hard to slap a genre on this music. New wave /pop/rock? It's that low key waiting room rock. It's not bad. Reminds me of Richard Hawley. I first heard him on this generator a while back. Just good easy listening light rock. That's what this is like. Someone commented that it is the British equivalent of Hootie and the Blowfish or Blues Traveller and I think that is pretty spot on.

Favourite songs: The Weaver, Sunflower, 5th Season, Hung Up, Has My Fire Really Gone Out?, Can You Heal Us (Holy Man), All the Pictures on the Wall, Wild Wood, Foot of the Mountain, Holy Man (Reprise)

Least favourite songs: Moon on Your Pyjamas

4/5

It's...not great. I don't really think it stands out. It sounds like stereotypical early 90s rock. That time where grunge was starting to wind down, but there were these acts that were kind of stuck between grunge and Clapton era classic guitar rock. 2 stars

I really wanted to like it.

Forgot how good this album is, haven't listened to it in years. I think I used to see it as an aging artist clinging desperately to relevance, but its just a very very good late stage album. Great songwriting, singing and guitar playing. Can see how this would have had a big influence on Oasis, Ocean Colour Scene, Gomez, etc. 9/10

I said on the Wilco release that I was ready for Dad Rock, but maybe this is a bit too far. I liked it but it all felt a bit too safe; I doubt it's something I'd return to. Side note; I remember when this came out thinking Paul Weller was old, but he was only 35!

Wild Wood is an album that's pretty solid for what it is but doesn't seem to noteworthy. The album did start off with it's fairly weird moments but then transitioned into a far more normal album. Weller's singing is fairly good and the actual music also had its good moments but sometimes, the songs felt like they were dragging on and not adding much onto themselves especially when you consider that this album is a fairly long one. The album is pretty decent but i just feel like i don't really have mush else to add to this review other than that.
Best Song: Can You Heal Us (Holy Man)
Worst Song: Has My Fire Really Gone Out?

Interesting, but unfocused

His second best album....

I was not expecting to dig this as much as I am. Already listened twice and feel like this is one I'll come back to. No real complaints about it. 5/5

Mid 90s, Sunday afternoon, disappointing pub lunch.

This was pleasant to listen to, but nothing here really stuck with me. Favorites were Sunflower, Has My Fire Really Gone Out?, and Shadow Of The Sun.

One of my favorite surprises so far. Really enjoyed the atmosphere, instrumentation and his voice.

Dødkedeligt.

What a painfully average rock/blues-adjacent album. It sounds like muzak playing in the background of a JC Penny or a Hooters. Other than a few artistic gleams, overall generic. 2.4/5 -> 2/5.

Ruhige Blues Töne mit sympathischer Stimme des Interpreten. „Wild Wood“ ist ein schöner Song und „Hang Up“ interessant. Das Album ist schlüssig und gut zu hören aber auch nich faszinierend.

I think, much like Synchronicity, I’m gonna go with a light 4, but I think this one’s a little closer to the side of a 5 for me.

As far as the instrumentation goes, I think this is one of the nicest albums we’ve had yet in terms of pure easy listening. Vocally, I do think there were some times where I would’ve loved a little more gruff in his voice to better fit the mood of some of the songs, but other than that, his biggest crime was just sometimes staying a little too monotone for me.

I think my big issue with this album is that it just goes a little long, and like I’ve said, if the sound starts to lose its luster, you start to lose the listener, and there are some tracks on here that either dragged on, or suffered from the infamous “the first minute is the entire song” problem. When this album hits though, it fucking hits, and I can’t say I ever really got bored of the album like that. Is it generic in a few spots? Of course, but when everyone was hitting around this sort of sound in the 90s, there are bound to be a few. I’d definitely recommend it, and I think some of the album’s weaker spots for me would be strong points for others.

It's a really nice album and well crafted. Very consistently good across all the songs. I really like the instrumentation and like his voice.

This was the first album on the list where I hadn’t heard of the artist. Then I read the bio and I have heard of the jam, just didn’t know the singer had a solo career.

I don’t have much to say about this album. It wasn’t bad but it didn’t do anything for me. It felt unnecessary, like this album doesn’t need to exist. It’s just a collection of bland forgettable songs.

If you told me this album was released in the 70s, it would probably make sense. And I would probably know more of the songs as my parents would've listened to this in the car any that sort of thing.

But as an album released in the 90s? I don't quite get it.

That said, I could easily put this on at a party and no one would be offended. But I don't think anyone would be listening, either.

I did like some of the guitar work. So it has that going for it.