Music Evangelist

Anyone who has seen Paul Weller live knows that he plays many cover songs. He is a music scholar and evangelist. On Studio 150 he shows that he has the uncanny ability to make any song his own. All the sappiness and over-production of The Carpenters' "Close To You" has been excised leaving the real sentiment of the song behind. Rose Royce's "Wishing On A Star" now seems like a Paul Weller original. Even one of the most over-done songs, Bob Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower" sounds fresh. There is not a bad track on this disc (even the bonus 6 track CD is good).



For more great music (done by the original artists) check out Paul Weller - Under The Influence.



[DW]

Great arrangements and song choices

I could attempt to disect every song on this cd and relate their importance, but I'll skip all of that to say this: put it on and just let it play for days. Paul Weller has chosen some really great songs to cover and gives all of them the justice they're due. Probably his most consistent work in some time. The voice is there: clear, concise, and smooth. He surrounded himself with some really good backing musicians also. But the color layout of the insert makes it difficult to determine who are the contributing artists. A minor discrepancy that is tolerable.

Cover master

How many do better than the original? At least, one does. Believe it or not, Paul just does it. If you get a chance to listen to Fellin' Alright, you'll be even more convinced. I've seen the guy a dozen times on stage. He really overdoes them all.