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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
It's a curious dichotomy: long one of rock's most literate songwriters, Paul Weller's always been at his best when it sounds like he's just knocked a song out. Whether with the Jam, the Style Council, or on his own, the Modfather's most pleasing tunes are his most natural. Think "In the City", think "You're The Best Thing", think "Wild Wood" or "Uh Huh Oh Yeh" or "Into Tomorrow"--and try not to think too much about the times when it sounds like he's been crafting a song for ages. That's the biggest problem with Heliocentric, a (don't say it!) ambitious album that features string arrangements by Robert Kirby (who has also worked with Nick Drake, the Strawbs and Elton John) and a drum solo (the horror!) on "Picking Up Sticks". That's not to say that there's not a lot to like on the album--there is, particularly the slow-burn tenderness of "Dust and Rocks" and the back-to-basics love song "Sweet Pea, My Sweet Pea". On Wild Wood, Weller asked "Has My Fire Really Gone Out"?; on Heliocentric, he shows that it still burns, just not as bright. --Randy Silver
Product Description
PAUL WELLER Heliocentric (2000 UK 10-track CD album the fifth studio outing from the Modfather. Features the singles Sweet Pea My Sweet Pea and Hes The Keeper. Includes a picture sleeve booklet with lyrics CID8093)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Paul has always had a solo obsession with the sun. Here it has illuminated him into a much needed change of direction after the raucous Heavy Soul. It's better produced, better thought out, and better played, as if to compensate the sometimes jarring aspects of it's rough and ready predecessor. More laid back and accoustic, but nevertheless essential, Heliocentric is a shining example of the man with his back against the wall, coming up with the goods.
Not that there isn't time for rocking out. There's No Drinking After You're Dead leaps out of the speakers like nothing heard from Paul in the last twenty years. He's The Keeper is a tad slower, but never fails to grab the attention, and is well worth checking out live.
TSC rear their head in the beligerent shanty A Whale's Tale, which while upbeat is probably the weakest song on the album. With some fans this competes with Sweet Pea, his ode to his daughter Leah. You either love or hate it. It's quite a nice jaunty little tune, and pleasant enough, but was a mistake as a single. Back in the fire almost goes back to Wild Wood, dreamy and surreal, with almost a touch of hip hop in the production technique. Picking Up Sticks is a great piece of psychadelia, addictive and interspersed with what is more a drum break, than a solo, it benefits from shifting up a gear into a funked up jam at the end.
The real strengths lie in the ballads though. Frightened shows the vulnerable Paul in a way he's not shown before, and it's charming. Dust and Rocks is a high spot, tender and warm, it also boasts what is perhaps the finest outro of Weller's career. With Time and Temperance shows the Nick Drake influence to the full, while exploring the marriage break up yet again. Then there's Loveless. Epic and beautiful, it gets to where TSC's Confessions album never quite managed, and makes you wish he had in the first place. All of these bolstered by the superb string arrangements of Robert Kirby show the man maybe mellowing, but when he's mellowing so nicely, and obviously better than appeared after the dispensable Brand New Start, you don't seem to mind.
A great summer album, and a great example of Paul's gentler side. Jam fans may be divided, but general Paul and music fans should find something worth the investment here.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Yet again Mr Weller has shown that he can 'move-on'and produce another excellent album. It took me a good couple of times to appreciate the album for what it is. Really quite mellow, I love it! He just seems to keep on writing excellent songs. He is way ahead of his audience and it is us die hard fans whose ears need to keep up with his ever-changing moods!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Aside from the opener ("He's The Keeper") which could come from "Heavy Soul", there is a warmth about much of this album lacking from its aforementioned predecessor.
The songwriting chops are still in evidence. "Dust & Rocks" is an un-hailed classic which even at some length does not out-stay its welcome.
Robert Kirby adds some charming string-touches that compliment the quality of Weller's songwriting. "With Time And Temperance" is a key example of this.
We know full well that Steve White is a virtuoso drummer. To give the man a drum solo on the decent-enough "Picking Up Sticks" sounds impressive but does not make for cohesion on what feels at times like quite a tentative album.
The closer - "Loveless" - is stunning and is a reminder of the talent of the man and his music.
However what undermines this album is the charming but inconsequential "Sweet Pea, My Sweet Pea" (nice to write songs for your kids but keep them to yourself, maestro) and the lumpen "He's The Keeper" which is chugging muso-rock by numbers unfortunately - given its aim as a tribute to the wonderful Ronnie Lane.
However, there's enough on this album to make it well worth a purchase.
The songwriting chops are still in evidence. "Dust & Rocks" is an un-hailed classic which even at some length does not out-stay its welcome.
Robert Kirby adds some charming string-touches that compliment the quality of Weller's songwriting. "With Time And Temperance" is a key example of this.
We know full well that Steve White is a virtuoso drummer. To give the man a drum solo on the decent-enough "Picking Up Sticks" sounds impressive but does not make for cohesion on what feels at times like quite a tentative album.
The closer - "Loveless" - is stunning and is a reminder of the talent of the man and his music.
However what undermines this album is the charming but inconsequential "Sweet Pea, My Sweet Pea" (nice to write songs for your kids but keep them to yourself, maestro) and the lumpen "He's The Keeper" which is chugging muso-rock by numbers unfortunately - given its aim as a tribute to the wonderful Ronnie Lane.
However, there's enough on this album to make it well worth a purchase.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
ONE OF HIS BEST
Forget any negative reviews - this is a FANTASTIC album! Listen to 'There Is No Drinking, After You're Dead' and I defy anyone to say that this guy isn't a true genius. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Big Al
Heliocentric - Paul Weller
Another great album from Paul Weller, particularly like the 60's feel of this one, every track a masterpiece. Highly recommended :)
Published 17 months ago by S. NAKONECZNYJ
Incredible - Every Home Should Have One
Despite having loved The Jam as a teenager, and admired (loved may be too strong a word) The Style Council as a twenty something finding my way in the world, I'm not really sure... Read more
Published on 26 May 2010 by C. J. Cunningham
Not his best but.....
If you're expecting Stanley Road all over again then you're in for some disappointment. This isn't Paul's best album by a long way, but there are still some fine songs on... Read more
Published on 4 Jun 2008 by ModdyBoy67
A very underrated album
I have to say that this album is criminally underrated. I have listened to all of Paul's albums through the many different guises he has used, and this is up there with them. Read more
Published on 6 Jun 2002
not wellers best
after all the classic paul weller ive listened to in the past this is a lazy uninspired album.maybe he has nothing left to say against the establishment now being rich and famous? Read more
Published on 18 Dec 2000 by andrew
WELL-ONFORM
Heliocentric is one of the best,if not the best album I've bought this year.It is certainly one from the top drawer by the Modfather(The one and only). Read more
Published on 3 July 2000
A cracker
This is a great album. Soulful, hard, grooving, moving, urgent and biting. Some people have suggested that it is too firmly rooted in the 60's viz. Read more
Published on 4 Jun 2000
Cream always rises to the top
Like many others who, on their first listen to this album, thought "Hmmmm... I'm not sure", this album takes a bit of listening to until the quality and class become... Read more
Published on 10 May 2000 by randallsmedley@ukonline.co.uk
The DB's for a sunny afternoon in the garden.
At first a lot of the songs sounded very similar, but one thing that did stand out was the fact that, although similar on first impression, the whole CD seemed to crescendo from... Read more
Published on 10 May 2000
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