Few artists can look back on such a versatile musical history as Paul Weller. Now, the "Modfather" - as this Brit is known because of his huge influence on the mod scene - is releasing an album that looks back on his work over the past five decades.
Fittingly titled "66", the record is being released on Friday, the day before the musician's 66th birthday. This marks his 17th solo album, and if you include the albums of his previous bands, it is even his 28th album. He has stormed to the top of the British charts with six of his solo albums in recent decades.
His moody single "Rise Up Singing" has blues and soul elements. Meanwhile on the track "Jumble Queen", you can hear the punk rock roots of the frontman of The Jam and later founder of The Style Council, together with keyboardist Mick Talbot. The vibrant track "Soul Wandering" leans more towards folk rock.
This is a more pensive album that also surprises the listener with the sheer variety of instruments used: brass, woodwinds, guitars, pianos and strings - Weller's songs switch between various instruments and styles without sounding at all experimental.
Artists such as Madness frontman Suggs, Noel Gallagher and Bobby Gillespie contributed to the album's profound lyrics which deal with themes like trust and perseverance in life.
"I remember when I was younger, going through periods when I felt down or things just didn't sit right and I wondered, 'Is it always going to be like this?'," Weller says in a press statement about his new album. "And now I realise, it's just a test, that's all. You just move through it, in order to get back to where you were. The trick to it is to just keep turning up."
