Novembre 1977 Paul Weller e Band ,cercano di battere il ferro finche' caldo ,dando alle stampe ,intervallato dal singolo di successo "All Around The World" ,il loro secondo LP.Proprio la fretta nella pubblicazione non consentira' a Paul di presentare tutti brani di uguale qualita' ,dara' troppo spazio a Bruce Foxton ,il quale sciorinera' un paio di brani , al piu' validi come eventuali B Sides di singoli.Il periodo successivo trovera' Paul immerso in una crisi creativa ,all'inizio del '78 publicheranno il modesto singolo "News of The World" scritto e cantato dal bassista.Si trattera' tuttavia solo di un periodo breve e passeggero dato che alla fine dell'anno con un ritrovato Weller pubblicheranno,quello che molti considerano la vetta del primo periodo,"All Mod Cons".Lo stesso Paul in quest'album cerca di ampiare il proprio raggio musicale ,l'album si distingue molto nonnostante siano passati solo 7 mesi da "In The City",ispirato a gruppi quali Who,Kinks o Small Faces.L'abum si apre con la title track ,che rappresenta uno dei pochi brani veramente punk rock della discografia del gruppo.Il pezzo e' un classico ,altri brani da ricordare sono gli energici power pop "Standards" ,"Here Comes The Weekend","The Combine" ,nonche' le quasi ballate "Life From a Window" e soprattutto "I Need You".Purtroppo gli altri brani fanno scadere in qualita' l'album, "London Traffic" e "Don't Tell Them You're Sane" di Bruce Foxton ,ma anche la stessa "In The Street Today" di Paul.Non un album cattivo ,ma non all'altezza della discografia del trio ,si rifaranno ampiamente,per completisti.
Elenco tracce e testi
03 Standards (02:30)
Oh we make the standards and we make the rules
And if you don't abide by them you must be a fool
We have the power to control the whole land
You never must question our motives or plans -
'Cause we'll outlaw your voices, do anything we want
We've nothing to fear from the nation
We'll throw you out of your houses if you get too much
If we have to we'll destroy your generation
'Cause we've built up a frontage and we've gained respect
There's no one to endanger our position -
Standards rule OK
Standards rule OK
Standards rule OK
Standards rule OK
And we don't like people who stand in our way
Awareness is gonna be redundant
And ignorance is strength, we have God on our side
Look, you know what happend to Winston
05 The Combine (02:22)
And life is very different, when you're in a crowd
When you're in a crowd, you see things as they really are
The smell the fear and hate, generated by all around -
I wanna breakaway, but the ties are too strong
I wanna go on holiday, but the crowd says I can't
See life is very difficult, when you're in a crowd
Sometimes in the night, I wish I was faraway
But then I realize, even escape will be in vain
I wanna close my eyes and be like the rest
I mean, nobody wants to die, although the crowd say they do
Look, life is very intricate, when you're in a crowd
Life becomes the movies
And everyone has a role
It's easy being the actors
When the combine's the only star -
Sunday papers
And the dailies
Ena Sharples
Page 3 girls
News at ten
War in Rhodesia
Far away
In a distant land
But we're alright
We're nice and warm here
No one to hurt us
Except ourselves
06 Don't Tell Them You're Sane (03:42)
A boy I know is sick in his head -
At least that's what the doctors say he is
Shut in his room for hours on end
Looks like he's forgotten, but is he
His mind it ticks, more than you know
One day something in his head will click
Warders fill him full of lies, he fights he knows
They'll never convince him that he's mad!
At breakfast he is strapped in a chair (won't go far)
Just a word out of place, he's sent to his room
Don't tell them you're sane
They'll laugh and put you to sleep
Don't tell them you're sane, but you are
Tell me what you did today, was it good
What was it like and who was it with
Don't think I'm prying I'd just like to know
Why it is you do things so slow
Take him to the doctor, see what he says
I don't know why he bothers, he's in for good
10 Here Comes The Weekend (03:31)
If we tell you that you've got two days to live
Then don't complain, 'cos that's one more than you'd get in Zaire -
So don't hang around and be foolish
Do something constructive with your weekend -
From Monday morning I work for Friday nights
Collect my wages, then try to paint on the smell of soap -
'Cause tonight I get ready early
Score what I need and go pick a girl up
It seems like ages since we had some fun -
Here comes the weekend - I get to see the girls
Long live the weekend, the weekend is here
(the weekend starts here)
Everything feels right now
I know why I'm alive now
Everything else is a lie now
Now I know why I'm here
Here comes the weekend - I'm gonna do my head
Long live the weekend, the weekend is dead
11 Tonight At Noon (03:02)
Tonight at noon, tonight at noon
When we meet in the midnight hour,
I will bring you night flowers (coloured)
Like your eyes
Tonight at noon, I'll touch your hand
Held for a moment amongst strangers
Amongst the dripping trees
Country girl
Walking in city squares in winter rain -
Walking down muddy lanes or empty streets -
Arranging a time and place to meet -
Tonight at noon, you'll feel my warmth
You'll feel my body inside you
We'll be together for hours
Time and tears -
Won't wait for evermore
For the time is now -
And now is the time to explore
Why waste the world outside
When you're sure
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