Yahoo! Music Album Review

Released on 02/06/08
Label: Island

Time was that the 50-year-old rock star was something to flee from. Bloated, lazy and beyond their sell-by date, these relics from a bygone age had all but extinguished the fire that once burned hot in their bellies as it was replaced by fat and a paucity of ideas. Yet the last 12 months has seen a perceptible shift from received wisdom; punk's grand dame Siouxsie Sioux returned with an album of vibrant urgency while Nick Cave has just delivered a career best collection of material.

Stepping up to the plate next is The Modfather himself, Paul Weller. Or rather, it would be, if Weller had been happy to deliver a sequel to 2006's "As Is Now", because "22 Dreams" - a double album no less - is as far from the public perception of the singer-songwriter as is possible. Recorded over a period of nearly a year in his country studio outside Woking, Weller deliberately removed himself from his comfort zone to stretch as far artistically as his imagination and influences would allow.

Dispensing with much of his usual coterie - long-time drummer Steve White was an early casualty - Weller's core team of guitarist Steve Craddock and producer Simon Dine set about ignoring boundaries by setting sail on a sea of adventure. The result is Weller's most daring album since The Style Council's ill-fated "Confessions Of A Pop Group". Whereas that release succeeded in alienating much of his key fanbase, "22 Dreams" is as likely to pick up new converts as it will satisfy many long-term fans.

The key here is diversity. From the opening 12-string folk strums of "Light Nights", the notion that Weller is going somewhere new is abundantly apparent and before we've had the chance to catch our breathe to work out what's going on, the horn-infused crunch of the title track makes a sharp left turn. This is Weller painting from a broad palette.

Be it psychedelia ("Echoes Round The Sun", "Night Lights"), soul ("Cold Moments"), instrumentals ("Song For Alice", "111"), folk, meditations on the joy of life ("Why Walk When You Can Run") or straight-ahead air-punchers ("Push It Along"), Weller is playing from the heart with a sincerity that's utterly infectious. Happily, the collaborations enhance rather than detract.

Noel Gallagher, Gem Archer, Graham Coxon and Little Barrie are amongst the all-star guests and the fact it sounds like anything but a matey knees-up simply adds to the album's seductive charms. Inevitably, over the duration of 21 tracks, Weller drops a couple of clangers (check the spoken word "God" or unconvincing "Invisible" for evidence) but these are easily forgiven thanks to the volume of quality on display here. Ultimately, "22 Dreams" is, simply put, Weller's best album since "Stanley Road", and one to be remembered for years to come.

    by Julian Marszalek