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The Jam (not peanut butter related)

alieNDNalieNDN 2,181 Posts
edited March 2009 in Strut Central
So i just heard the track "town called malice" recently and can't stop listening to it, (probably because of the motown influence and all) and so i thought id read a bit about them off allmusic and was suprised that they started as a punk band and were around when the pistols and clash came up? the malice song sounds like something i probably heard on 80s retro night but probably didnt pay attention to, so i wouldnt picture them into punk or doing the mod thing. i read theynever really picked up in the US but had a huge following in the uk?so any recommendations? are they one of those bands where their various albums have a progressively different sound, or if you heard one album you've heard them all?thanksnadvance

  Comments

  • gravelheadwrapgravelheadwrap corn 948 Posts
    Only LP I own is "In the City" and strongly recommend it. Sounds exactly like the Clash on a lot of tracks which I really, really dig. There's another I used to have and it probably had that "Town Called Malice" track on it, not sure what happened to that one. I do remember thinking it was good though.

    So yeah, check "In the City"
  • SelinaKyle83SelinaKyle83 1,042 Posts
    I heart the jam!!
    Going Underground
    Modern World
    That's Entertainment
    Bitterest Pill
    In the City....
    and of course,
    A Town Called Malice
  • bassiebassie 11,710 Posts


    not enough shots of the drummer
  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
    suprised that they started as a punk band

    BAN
  • holmesholmes 3,532 Posts

    In all seriousness though, The Jam were a great band right through their albums, every one of the 6 LPs is worthwhile if you are going to get right into them, although later ones vastly smooth out the punk edge (this is true of most UK punk bands of the day that stayed together for a while though). If you want a good quick overview, cop the double compilation LP "Snap". Avoid the Style Council" & be picky with Paul Weller's solo stuff to if you are curious.
  • SupergoodSupergood 1,213 Posts
    To each their own, but the Style Council were vastly underrated, IMO. Def. check out TSC if you enjoy the smoother, more soul-based direction the Jam were going in towards their later albums.
  • holmesholmes 3,532 Posts
    To each their own, but the Style Council were vastly underrated, IMO. Def. check out TSC if you enjoy the smoother, more soul-based direction the Jam were going in towards their later albums.
    I can't handle the 80s production values of it. Sure there are some ok soul-like instrumentals, but they need to be comped together somewhere not spread over LPs & B-sides. My partner rides for the Style Council, we argue their validity regularly. Of course I am right & she is wrong...
  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
    Avoid the Style Council

    BAN
  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
    It is kind of funny though how Paul Weller went from being in one of
    the best rock bands of the late 70's to trying to sound like Astrud Gilberto
  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts





    SOCIALIST SPEECHIFYING BLUE-EYED SOUL
  • holmesholmes 3,532 Posts
    :shudder: can't handle it, 80s horns, ugh.....
  • skelskel You can't cheat karma 5,033 Posts
    Man, you guys wait til jimster and co see this thread

    Jam were/are gods here
  • JimsterJimster Cruffiton.etsy.com 6,960 Posts
    The Jam / Weller output was massive at my school. Kids were either into them and the "Mod" revival that was going on at that time (late 70s/early 80s), or were Metalists.

    Weller was definitely a mod at heart; he loved his motown and scooters and was a kind of style icon for a lot of kids. My brother thinks the sun shines out of his backside; he has just about every Weller product every made ("Butterfly Collector" flexidisc and the like).

    I ride for most of their stuff, they definitely matured as a band but still retained masses of youthful energy. I don't know if any other UK headz are old enough to remember the TV show "The Tube" but The Jam did the best gig ever to grace the show.

    I'll ride for a lot of the Style Council too; esp. "Cafe Bleu" which featured a then well-underground Tracy Thorn of Everything But The Girl and allowed the musicians to flex.

    Skel unearthed a pic of Weller's son (Weller was with Dee C Lee for while) last time this subject passed through.

    UNUSUAL is the kindest word I can think of.



    Money Go Round = TUFF.
  • skelskel You can't cheat karma 5,033 Posts
    Friend of mine trained his kids to shout "Dad, God's on telly" anytime Weller appeared on the box so he could run in the living room to watch.
  • SupergoodSupergood 1,213 Posts
    TSC Appreciation!

    Wanted - Moder Moves
  • BigSpliffBigSpliff 3,266 Posts
    Come on dudes, nostalgia aside, this stuff is not good music.

    Right, I'm off for a heavy Jamaican sesh with me Madness 45s.
  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts


    So i just heard the track "town called malice" recently and can't stop listening to it, (probably because of the motown influence and all) and so i thought id read a bit about them off allmusic and was suprised that they started as a punk band and were around when the pistols and clash came up? the malice song sounds like something i probably heard on 80s retro night but probably didnt pay attention to, so i wouldnt picture them into punk or doing the mod thing.

    The punk/mod thing is how a lot of us know the Jam, and they were an excellent band in that guise. I can't stand the Style Council, but then I hate that whole UK eurotrash sound of the 1980's anyway, whether it be Culture Club or Depeche Mode, and I toss the Style Council and their sorry-ass fake Northern soul in that category.
  • SoulOnIceSoulOnIce 13,027 Posts
    H8TRZ
  • DB_CooperDB_Cooper Manhatin' 7,823 Posts
    I think most of their stuff through Sound Affects is pretty good, but the only album I've kept is In The City.
  • alieNDNalieNDN 2,181 Posts
    cool thanks for the suggestions. im starting with their greatest hits.
  • HorseleechHorseleech 3,830 Posts
    One of my first concerts was seeing The Jam's first U.S. show at the Palladium in NYC. The Vibrators and The Inmates opened.

    Pretty f*ckin great, as I recall.
  • pickwick33pickwick33 8,946 Posts
    One of my first concerts was seeing The Jam's first U.S. show at the Palladium in NYC. The Vibrators and The Inmates opened.

    Pretty f*ckin great, as I recall.

    Three great bands across the board - that sounds like it was a hell of a show.
  • Rich45sRich45s 327 Posts

    UNUSUAL is the kindest word I can think of.

    Mini Pete Burns.

    That's how you rebel when your dad is considered as 'cool' as he is.

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