22 Dreams (Bonus Track Version)

iTunes Review

With his ninth solo album, The Jam and The Style Council's former frontman makes good on the album's title with 22 songs that span the gamut of musical influences Paul Weller has absorbed in over three decades of keeping the British mod flame burning. In its entirety, 22 Dreams ambitiously attempts to mirror the changing seasons with a flowing and moving metamorphosis of textures, moods, styles, and genres. Weller eschews his "trad-rock" pigeonhole by taking on jazz, Krautrock, spoken word, electronica, blues, pop, and modern psychedelia while managing to maintain a consistency throughout (via help from Ocean Colour Scene's Steve Cradock providing a foundation of classic guitar tones). "Light Nights" introduces the album with an intimate acoustic presence that blends gypsy fiddles, hypnotic drones, and sublime vocal harmonies. Noel Gallagher and Gem Archer from Oasis cameo on the swirling and kaleidoscopic powerhouse "Echoes Around The Sun," and Graham Coxon from Blur injects his gentleman's indie rock scuzz on the strolling "Black River".