Sound Affects

Product Information

Larkin, Colin (2011). "Jam". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th conciseed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8. Sheffield, Rob (1995). "Jam". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp.195–96. ISBN 0-679-75574-8. But it isn’t. In fact, Sound Affects is one of the band’s finest and most colourful albums, filled to the brim with – despite the often bleak topics – melodies and fun arrangements. Here, the band really tried to move on from their mod-punk style and try their six hands at guitar-pop (“Monday”), Ska experimentation (“Music for the last couple”), and even traces of post-punk (“Set the House ablaze”).

British album certifications – The Jam – Sound Affects". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 14 November 2020. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Sound Affects in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.Connect your Spotify account to your Last.fm account and scrobble everything you listen to, from any Spotify app on any device or platform. Another great piece of writing about one of the best bands ever. Can’t argue with anything you say here. I remember when this album was released and feeling a bit let down by it, especially since it followed the amazing Setting Sons. I also recall being disappointed with Start’s obvious Taxman ripoff. Still, there are some excellent songs on this album as you point out. I was fortunate to see them live shortly after this album was released and it remains the best concert I ever saw – absolutely amazing music. The boy responds with similar disdain, reflecting Lennon’s take on the insanity of modern existence: “Everybody seems to think I’m lazy/I don’t mind, I think they’re crazy/Running everywhere at such a speed/’Till they find there’s no need”: Jam frontman Paul Weller has opined Sound Affects to be the Jam's best album. [2] Influences [ edit ]

Another terrific review of another terrific Jam album. Sound Affects has always been my favorite because of its musical and lyrical consistency (with one glaring exception, which you note and dismiss as appropriate) and the brighter production is a good choice for an album referencing Revolver — which is my favorite album by anyone ever. The denser production of Setting Sons wouldn’t have worked as well here. I would give a bit more credit to Set the House Ablaze, probably the most propulsively angry anti-fascism song ever recorded, but you are right that Weller’s vocals do get a bit buried in the mayhem. He is much easier to understand in the equally fiery live version on Dig the New Breed.

A Beatles rip-off, a single which only contained two chords strummed on an acoustic guitar, and several technical problems when producing/pressing the album – this should actually be a bit of a disaster on record. Sound Affects sold over 100,000 copies and spent 19 weeks on the UK Albums Chart, rising to number two in late 1980. [6] [7] [8] In the United States, the album spent 11 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart and reached its peak position of number 72 in February 1981. [9] url=https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-jam/1980/manchester-apollo-manchester-england-39f117b.html][img]https://www.setlist.fm/widgets/setlist-image-v1?id=39f117b[/img][/url]

Sheridan, Tim (2006). "The Jam: Sound Affects". In Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Universe Publishing. p. 466. ISBN 978-0-7893-1371-3.

On The Go

The album features the group's second UK number one single, "Start!". Polydor pushed for "Pretty Green" to be the first single released, but Weller insisted on "Start!". This involved consulting a few of the band's friends as to what they thought the best release would be. Weller had Polydor A&R man Dennis Munday ask a small peer group of his friends who had been present throughout the recording sessions at the Town House and prior demo recordings at Polydor Studios. Given the choice, they selected "Start!" as the best single release and the decision was made to release it. The decision was vindicated when "Start!" topped the British singles charts in its third week after entering at number three. [7] Pretty Green” may come across as an astonishingly simple song, but the simplest messages often contain more truth than the longest speeches, poems or novels:

The cover art is a pastiche of the artwork used on various Sound Effects records produced by the BBC during the 1970s. Vote up content that is on-topic, within the rules/guidelines, and will likely stay relevant long-term. The Jam very easily could have been the premier British punk band - one only needs parse through one of their ‘greatest hits’ compilations to hear that talent. It’s not that they’re now deprived of respect, but rather that their work never quite measured up against Joy Division or The Clash or Wire’s in such a way as to deem them the clear number one. This record, probably their best, is a premier example; its ‘almost-but-not-quite’-ness sort of feels like self-sabotage.

Release Details

Top Selling Albums of 1981 — The Official New Zealand Music Chart". Recorded Music New Zealand . Retrieved 1 February 2022.