Sonik Kicks by Paul Weller
Sonik Kicks is the eleventh studio album from English singer-songwriter and former member of The Jam Paul Weller and was released on 19 March 2012. The album reached number one on the UK Albums Chart beating David Guetta's Nothing But the Beat to the top spot by just 250 copies.
With 2008's <i>22 Dreams</i>, mod icon Paul Weller began a creative rebirth that's led to some of the most experimental material of his career. Always a top-shelf melody man and lyricist, Weller can now add sonic adventurer to his profile. The two-minute instrumental "Sleep of the Serene" is a mix of swooping tones and Mellotron activity that's pure modern psychedelia. That leads into a <i>Mad Men</i>–styled soul ballad ("By the Waters") that retains hints of The Style Council. The club beats and driving modern pop bass line give Weller a luxurious ride for "The Dangerous Age". It's been suggested that this is Weller's response to David Bowie's "Berlin Trilogy" (<i>Low</i>, <i>"Heroes"</i>, <i>Lodger</i>), and there's a clear interest here in krautrock motorik rhythms. However, there's also an eclecticism that's difficult to quantify. "Study in Blue" imagines Portishead as a band of extroverts. "Around the Lake" drives down the motorway with a vengeance. "Be Happy Children" caps things off with a space-age soul hymn. Weller sounds refreshingly alive here with ideas and pleasure.
