Consisting of 12 mostly upbeat tracks, Fat Pop (Volume 1) showcases Weller’s command of the current musical landscape, and his ability to effortlessly navigate his long and storied career, dating back to his days with The Jam And Style Council, and up to the present as a solo artist.
To keep that hunger alive, you need to feed it with new inspirations. What you can hear on Fat Pop is the reciprocation of that care.
Fat Pop (Volume 1), conceived and written mid-Covid clampdown, suggests Weller’s ability to write fizzing pop tunes, slinky soul anthems and weird dub-electronica hybridisations is inexhaustible.
Something for everyone then – and that “Volume 1” in the title suggests that we won’t have to wait long for yet more songs either. Even better.
When all is said and done, Weller remains a master of crafting sophisticated, dependable albums with the occasional flash of magic.
Each track sounds modern and distinct, with shape, space and edge, alighting on most of Weller’s modes ... Fat Pop (Volume 1) sparks with neural stimulation you can almost see, like swinging the doors wide at dawn.
Weller may often be adventurous, particularly during the third act inaugurated with 2008's 22 Dreams, yet he rarely seems as loose and playful as he does here, and that sense of mischief is an unexpected and welcome gift.
Laying ideas down on tape and moving immediately forwards, it’s an uneven but oddly gripping experience ... ‘Fat Pop (Volume 1)’ stands as further testimony to Paul Weller’s disregard for the expectations laid upon him.
Fat Pop (Volume 1) ... finds Weller once again reining in some of his unpredictability on an album that’s ultimately more earnest than exciting.
Everything is nice on its own, but they don’t all go together on one plate. The 12 tracks on Fat Pop simply don’t go together in one serving.
Cosmic Fringes - 3/5
True - 5/5 ❤
Fat Pop - 4/5
Shades of Blue - 4/5
Glad Times - 3/5
Cobweb/Connections - 3/5
Testify - 4/5
That Pleasure - 4/5
Failed - 3/5
Moving Canvas - 4/5
In Better Times - 5/5 ❤
Still Glides the Stream - 4/5
#6 | / | MOJO |
#24 | / | The Sunday Times |
#26 | / | Uncut |
#67 | / | Rough Trade (UK) |
#72 | / | RIFF |