It's never too long between Paul "The Modfather" Weller albums. Yet the starlet's prolific solo output over the last decade or so hasn’t often reached the artistic heights of his work with The Jam or The Style Council. While consistent enough, recent projects have been marred by a certain complacency - a tendency to settle for the middle ground instead of the soaring, surprising heights of yesteryear. But on 22 Dreams, some of the old punk fire returns. Buoyed by a stellar Britpop cast including former Blur guitarist Graham Coxon and Oasis members Noel Gallagher and Gem Archer, 22 Dreams is the sound of Weller finally taking an unexpected artistic leap after a series of steady steps. Working across a wide range of genres--rock, funk, soul, free jazz, krautrock, classical music, electronica, even spoken word--Weller presents an hour-plus odyssey full of eccentric surprises and loveable chaos. From the blue-eyed soul of "Have You Made Up Your Mind?" and the eerily brilliant "Echoes Around the Sun" (a Weller/Gallagher collaboration), to experimental offerings such as "111" and acid-folk opener "Light Nights", Weller digs deep into his magician's hat, and pulls out rabbit after rabbit. Some of the more off-the-wall moments--"God" for example--won't be for everyone, but the way everything collides together in a haphazard, devil-may-care manner serves to remind us that we should never write off our beloved veterans – you never know when they’re going to take an unexpected artistic risk.--Danny McKenna
'22 Dreams' is the ninth studio album from "The Modfather" Paul Weller. Recorded at Weller's Black Barn Studios in Surrey and produced by Simon Dine and Weller himself, the album is a mix of classic British indie rock that takes inspiration from Weller's three decades of musical output. Guest appearances come from the likes of Oasis' Noel Gallagher and Gem Archer, Ocean Colour Scene's Steve Cradock and ex-Blur guitarist Graham Coxon. The double A side single 'Have You Made Your Mind Up/Echoes Around The Sun' is included.

Customer Rating:
Summary: TOO EXPERIMENTAL FOR ME - DIDN'T LIKE IT
Comment: This is a "marmite" album you either love it or hate it. For me it's very much the latter. In fact there are only about 3 tracks I like and they are the tracks which stick with the Weller genre of bluesy/rock which he has delivered consistently over the years.

This album simply crosses every genre you can think of so you never know what's coming next, the problem with that is that the artist is delving into areas perhaps he shouldn't be getting into. Why fix a winning formula? However, it appears many fans like this album but for me I want Weller music, not experimental classical music to feed Weller's creative ambitions.

Not for me this one.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Best Since Stanley Rd
Comment: As is typical for Paul Weller, you dont know what to expect but coming out of the other side of this musical masterpiece, you just hope we can expect more. Its not Wild wood but were all 15 years older now - its not illumination, thankfully as i could never get into that - in fact its difficult to compare this apart from saying Ive been waiting for him to produce something this good since Stanley Rd - ive not stopped listening to it and pick up something great each time. This is truly worth buying and giving the time it deserves to take it all in.

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Customer Rating:
Summary: LIKE A FINE WINE. IT GETS BETTER WITH AGE.
Comment: LIKE A FINE WINE, IT GETS BETTER WITH AGE, AS DOES MR WELLER.
YA, YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO "22 DREAMS" A FEW TIMES, BUT IT IS SIMPLY A MASTERPIECE. IF YOU LIKED "THE STYLE COUNCIL" YOU WILL LOVE THIS , I CAN FEEL THE VIBES OF "THE STYLE COUNCIL" IN A FEW OF THE TRACKS. BUY IT,LISTEN TO IT, AND LOVE IT. AND LIKE A FINE WINE "ENJOY IT".

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Visonary masterpiece
Comment: All PW stuff is totally immense... his lyrics should be sold in droves... his is a true visionary... spiritual age and insight has nothing to do with hold old we are... he is just a see-er.... All his works are poetic masterpieces, he has made many laugh and I've had friends who have cried! As a teenager, how did he write Private Hell, Burning Skies and so many others. This album is just sheer brilliance, waiting 6 weeks before I could review an album I listen to everyday.

PW is like a vintage wine, he just improves with age. roll on the tour.

Many compare him to the Beetles, his music and lyrics transcend any other poet....

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Thankyou Lord Weller
Comment: This CD has popped my proverbial cherry, I am no longer an amazon review virgin! If you don't love it, you're not listening properly! All the way through, on your own. Trust me, it's dreamily majestic. Raise a glass to the modfather and then another to yourself!

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