200 MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS : #31. Continues tomorrow.

THE CAFFE` LATTE`

200

MOST RECOMMENDED ALBUMS

Some are the best selling, while others may be obscure, but the albums listed here are all worthy of a listen. No compilation/ best of sets. Only exceptional live albums included. This is a personal listing of the albums I enjoy the most to this day.

#31

OUR FAVOURITE SHOP:

 THE STYLE COUNCIL 

 

 [1985] 

After disbanding The Jam, Paul Weller assembled a new group called The Style Council. He delved further into the soul and Motown-flavoured direction he had incorporated into his previous band's "A Town Called Malice". The Style Council's songs still possessed the political commentary of Weller's lyrics in The Jam's material. 'Our Favourite Shop' was the 2nd studio album from his new outfit. The stinging lyrics were made more accessible by Weller cleverly wrapping them in soul and jazz elements. The album serves as a snapshot of Eighties Britain under the rule of Margaret Thatcher. Tracks such as "Homebreakers", "All Gone Away" and "The Lodgers" describe the plight of those that Thatcherism crushed. "Walls Come Tumbling Down" and (later addition) "Shout To The Top" offer empowering optimism. With material as strong as these tracks, Weller ought to be regarded as a British spokesman for the times such as Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen are in America. The album also serves the ballad "Down In The Seine", the upbeat "Come To Milton Keynes" and bouncy "A Man Of Great Promise". This LP evokes memories of The Iron Lady, The Miners' Strike and the Falklands War.

Highlight tracks: Come To Milton Keynes; A Man Of Great Promise; Down In The Seine & Walls Come Tumbling Down.