The Jam

[Marky Dread]

That's the way I feel about the album. The only tracks I like are :
Life from a Window
I Need You
Midnight Hour

I love all the other Jam albums, but Modern World I only listned to once or twice. In the 80's I put the songs I liked on cassette with the debut album to fill out the tape.

Here's a brief appraisal of my opinions on the songs. I'd go back and give it another try mate.

"The Modern World" Great
"London Traffic" Poor, even by Bruce's standards.
"Standards" Good
"Life from a Window" Great
"The Combine" Good track
"Don't Tell Them You're Sane" (Bruce Foxton) Okay
"In the Street Today" (Paul Weller, Dave Waller) Good
"London Girl" Okay
"I Need You (For Someone)" Excellent
"Here Comes the Weekend" Okay
"Tonight at Noon" Excellent
"In the Midnight Hour" Below-par cover

I only have the songs on the boxset in a different order and gave them a listen.
Along with the tracks I already mentioned, I'll add Tonight at Noon,The Combine and Standards as some pretty good songs.
If Standards had a faster tempo it could've been one of the best Jam songs back in the day.

The version of "Standards" on the Dig the New Breed! album is fucking brilliant. It was recorded at Reading University (I was there) and it trounces the album version.

I think Heston's list is just about spot on although I like "London Traffic" for the energy although the song isn't up to much.

[daredevil]

That's the way I feel about the album. The only tracks I like are :
Life from a Window
I Need You
Midnight Hour

I love all the other Jam albums, but Modern World I only listned to once or twice. In the 80's I put the songs I liked on cassette with the debut album to fill out the tape.

Here's a brief appraisal of my opinions on the songs. I'd go back and give it another try mate.

"The Modern World" Great
"London Traffic" Poor, even by Bruce's standards.
"Standards" Good
"Life from a Window" Great
"The Combine" Good track
"Don't Tell Them You're Sane" (Bruce Foxton) Okay
"In the Street Today" (Paul Weller, Dave Waller) Good
"London Girl" Okay
"I Need You (For Someone)" Excellent
"Here Comes the Weekend" Okay
"Tonight at Noon" Excellent
"In the Midnight Hour" Below-par cover

I only have the songs on the boxset in a different order and gave them a listen.
Along with the tracks I already mentioned, I'll add Tonight at Noon,The Combine and Standards as some pretty good songs.
If Standards had a faster tempo it could've been one of the best Jam songs back in the day.

The version of "Standards" on the Dig the New Breed! album is fucking brilliant. It was recorded at Reading University (I was there) and it trounces the album version.

I forgot about Dig the New Breed! One of the best official live albums ever released.

[Silent Majority]

Love the Jam.

[Rat Patrol]

I go very long stretches without listening to Jam albums...like a year or more. Then I decide that's a swath of my CD collection overdue for rotation and I'm always floored..."Damn, this is flawless." I don't know why it doesn't ever stick for more than those few weeks where I'm listening to all the albums nonstop. Might have something to do with the live sets sounding a little too carbon-copy of the albums. I seem to stick with the habit a lot longer with an artist when the boots offer a significantly different look.

[Wolter]

I go very long stretches without listening to Jam albums...like a year or more. Then I decide that's a swath of my CD collection overdue for rotation and I'm always floored..."Damn, this is flawless." I don't know why it doesn't ever stick for more than those few weeks where I'm listening to all the albums nonstop. Might have something to do with the live sets sounding a little too carbon-copy of the albums. I seem to stick with the habit a lot longer with an artist when the boots offer a significantly different look.

I'm kind of the same way, actually.

[Marky Dread]

I go very long stretches without listening to Jam albums...like a year or more. Then I decide that's a swath of my CD collection overdue for rotation and I'm always floored..."Damn, this is flawless." I don't know why it doesn't ever stick for more than those few weeks where I'm listening to all the albums nonstop. Might have something to do with the live sets sounding a little too carbon-copy of the albums. I seem to stick with the habit a lot longer with an artist when the boots offer a significantly different look.

I'm kind of the same way, actually.

I usually chuck on the Snap! comp and that does me nicely. Though I really love Sound Affects and would have it in my top 10.

[Chuck Mangione]

I go very long stretches without listening to Jam albums...like a year or more. Then I decide that's a swath of my CD collection overdue for rotation and I'm always floored..."Damn, this is flawless." I don't know why it doesn't ever stick for more than those few weeks where I'm listening to all the albums nonstop. Might have something to do with the live sets sounding a little too carbon-copy of the albums. I seem to stick with the habit a lot longer with an artist when the boots offer a significantly different look.

I'm kind of the same way, actually.

Same here. I'm like that with the Damned too. I'll have an off period for a while and then go on a huge kick all of a sudden.

[Chuck Mangione]

Though I really love Sound Affects and would have it in my top 10.

Marky Mangione.

[Marky Dread]

Though I really love Sound Affects and would have it in my top 10.

Marky Mangione.

Fame at last!

[Dr. Medulla]

Sad to say, but I find the Jam less interesting whenever I go back. By no means awful, but I don't see them as vital to discussions about cool music, '76-'82. I suspect Snap and Extras would be enough for me at this point.

[Marky Dread]

Sad to say, but I find the Jam less interesting whenever I go back. By no means awful, but I don't see them as vital to discussions about cool music, '76-'82. I suspect Snap and Extras would be enough for me at this point.

I would've thought Sound Affects would be more your thing as Weller took influence from Wire, Gang of Four, and Joy Division and stripped back The Jam sound.

[Heston]

I don't see them as vital to discussions about cool music, '76-'82.

They made some of the coolest music ever written in that period.

I expect back-up from the Limeys.

[Dr. Medulla]

Sad to say, but I find the Jam less interesting whenever I go back. By no means awful, but I don't see them as vital to discussions about cool music, '76-'82. I suspect Snap and Extras would be enough for me at this point.

I would've thought Sound Affects would be more your thing as Weller took influence from Wire, Gang of Four, and Joy Division and stripped back The Jam sound.

At one time, yes. But they haven't aged as well for my personal tastes. Nothing ideological or formal about my change of opinion, only that they don't generate much wow in me anymore.

[Heston]

Sad to say, but I find the Jam less interesting whenever I go back. By no means awful, but I don't see them as vital to discussions about cool music, '76-'82. I suspect Snap and Extras would be enough for me at this point.

I would've thought Sound Affects would be more your thing as Weller took influence from Wire, Gang of Four, and Joy Division and stripped back The Jam sound.

At one time, yes. But they haven't aged as well for my personal tastes. Nothing ideological or formal about my change of opinion, only that they don't generate much wow in me anymore.

Or in other words, you're Canadian.

[Heston]

Anyway, fuck all the the bollocks about their early stuff. Just listen to "Burning Sky" for an example of a 21 year old guy with an uncanny understanding of older people's relationships.

I'll never understand where it all went wrong with Weller.