i have sound affects and its quite good, but getting albums over here is tough, since as far as i know no ones distributing their albums in north america.

I think they're a great band to do sequentially...must've been great to be around for them during their run...

Which track did you hear?

The Jam evolved at a Beatles kinda rate through their few years together. Their first two albums {In The City and This Is The Modern World) sounded like a punk version of the Who, then with All Mod Cons they also started developing a Kinks influence.

After Setting Sons (which didn't quite have the songwriting of the previous album, but it still kicks pretty good) the Jam started introducing an overt fondness for R&B into their sound - and not just the Stax/Volt R&B of "In The Midnight Hour", but slick and polished ballads as well.

Sound Affects, then, is either the beginning of their downfall or their finest moment, depending on who you ask. I lean toward the former. Paul Weller was bored of rocking and you can hear it in every note. The album's best song is probably the stripped-down, just-Weller-and-his-guitar "That's Entertainment". From there, it was an easy step to The Gift, which had the funky "Town Called Malice" but very little else.

I think I'm missing out an album, but I'm too lazy to go and check.


Consumer tip: This Is The Modern World has been packaged on a single CD with All Mod Cons plus the non-album single "News of the World" plus "The Butterfly Collector".

I have a copy of "Compact Snap" ... very good compilation if you can find it.

I love 'em.

i absolutely love this album. this got me through my college years. there's a b sides called "extras" and i think you can get snap (or is it compact snap?) which has the best of the best.

A favorite of mine, my avatar is the back cover of "This is the Modern World". The first five albums; In The City, ...Modern World, All Mod Cons, Setting Sons and Sound Affects, are all must have's. Personally my favorite is All Mod Cons, and I would recommend it as the first purchase, from there, I'd recommend starting at the beginning and work your way chronologically to Sound Affects, I don't see much reason to worry about anything after that. If five albums is too daunting, Modern World is probably the weakest of the five. If Iwere to rank the five as best to least best ...

All Mod Cons
Setting Sons
In The City
Sound Affects
Thi is the Modern World

<=== has a complete discography.

<=== owns nothing by the Style Council.

<=== considers All Mod Cons their finest.

<---Waiting for those new reissues before I start buying the full albums.

Direction, Reaction, Creation.

End of story

seconded. best box set i own.

Get the BBC Sessions first, if only because it will give you a good sample of their entire career without having to buy a "greatest hits" package. Oh, and also because it rules.

Great festival idea #10045:

The Jam
Peanut Butter Wolf
Bread

1. I loved the Jam from the start.
2. All Mod Cons is their best.
3. Style Council was one of the most interesting experiments of the 80's. Don't listen to these detractors.
4. Wild Wood is one of the great albums of the 90's.

There's a great two on one disc thing with All Mod Cons and Sound Effects both on there. I think its out of print, but if you can snag one off Ebay or something, it'd be a great way to start.

I can take or leave Style Council. I mean, I like 'em when in the right mood, but they're nowhere near the greatness of The Jam. Some of their stuff is really good, but when they start trying to get funky, it just sounds really stiff and embarassing to my ears.

"This is the Modern World" is their weakest by far, IMO, and I agree with those that say "All Mod Cons" is probably their best.

I really need to get "Setting Sons" as it has my two favorite Jam songs, "The Eton Rifles" and "Thick as Thieves"...hopefully there's something else on that album that approaches the brilliance of those songs.

In truth, all of their albums are strong. The compilation "The Sound of the Jam" is a fantastic and inexpensive place to start, and virtually all of their best hits are on there.

Style Council has some moments, but there are some seriously dated R&B cheese moments in there that do some damage. Some great songs in the catalog, though.

I'd start at the beginning with the Jam. Gerat band to watch the development.

Agreed. I own all of the Jam and all of the Style Council. The Jam were more consistent than the Style Council but there really isn't any Style Council album that I don't like. I'm not surprised at all that people here like 'em more, but for my money I'd take the Style Council at their best over the Jam at their best. F the Style Council hate.

My original Candian vinyl pressing has one of my all-time favorite Jam songs...The Butterfly Collector", but allmusic.com does not list it on the release (CD?) that they feature. They do give the album 5-stars, which I agree with. Among the great songs that you mention and Butterfly there is also, Smithers-Jones, Private Hell and Stange Town, great songs all. Get the album, it won't dissapoint.