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FIVE DISCS THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE PROMISED LAND

C. Jannuzi | Fukui, Japan | 06/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is complete retrospective of TSC's studio career. It makes you realize what a prolific musician and composer Paul Weller is, though he also gets a lot of help from the various TSC personnel, most notably Mick Talbot, keyboardist extraordinaire.Weller is truly a pop-rock chameleon. He sheds his skin every so many years and starts a new phase, and given his influence on UK music, the phase often becomes a period. Have no doubts, outside of a few groups like New Order, the Smiths, and the Cure, TSC were the most important group of the 1980s, able to mix artistic ambitions with popular success.It's also easy to say, in retrospect, that TSC is not as important as Weller's Jam phase (late 70s, early 80s) or his solo career (90s til now); however, this is based more on middle class revulsion of Weller's politics (he went from a glib Thatcher supporter to total Thatcher-hating leftist). My estimation of this career path differs from current opinion: the Jam were too often callow and leaden (compared to TSC anyway), though entertaining with their singles and their last 3 studio albums (none of which had any impact in the US anyway). Weller's solo career seems so wonderful now because he is so much more talented than most current Brit rock. The help he gave Oasis seems to have made at least one of their songs brilliant. But musically, TSC is his peak, which doesn't mean there is not an awful lot to enjoy in the other periods.Disk One: 21 tracks, with at least 15 out and out classics. Very rarely does music come across as so cinematic as this. When I listen to these songs my memory evokes a time in the 1980s that never was and will never be again. Disk Two: 21 tracks, even more classics, with the production getting better and better. Disk Three: 20 tracks, the absolute peak of TSC, production wise, playing wise, everything. This disk just keeps getting played again and again. Disk Four: 16 tracks, a wonderful tapering off from the peak, with some out and out classics as well. TSC seems to be a complete group, with little left to prove.Disk Five: Not TSC I know, since so much of its content remained obscure to the fans of the 1980s. Weller doesn't seem to be his usual dominant force either. Not bad, but clearly ahead of its time. Perhaps TSC is incorporating so many influences here that it would have alienated their fan base anyway. One gets the feeling that Weller was just truly burned out from trying to make popular music that didn't destroy his artistic vision. My only complaint about this import: the highly informative and attractive booklet that came in the set immediately fell apart as soon as I opened it. There is a nice lyrics sheet as well."

Giants of the '80's: TSC

S. Butler | 11/02/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Saw one of those Time-Life ads for an '80's collection. Some good stuff; a lot of trivial songs intermixed with a few catchy ones. No TSC. Bummer. These folks bestrode the '80's like giants amongst pygmies. Who else but the Beatles managed to conquer so many pop idioms, yet do them all extremely well at the same time?
Most of this has to do with the pairing of Weller and Talbot. Much as Lennon/McCartney, each partner gave a missing element to the writing, to produce a product so much stronger as a result. The true strength in this pairing comes from the tremendous drive always inherent in Paul's writing and playing (The Jam) coupled with the lucious charts and strength of Mick's playing. The result was hard-driving acid_jazz/rock/lounge/house/big_band/every_pop_idiom_under_the_sun, but so much more. After TSC, Paul's work, while always good, lacked the finesse of TSC; Mick's subsequent work lacks the drive of TSC.
Memories of the pop culture of the '80's gain great depth when listening to their music. They reinvented lounge music; virtually invented house music (the last unreleased lp) and acid jazz. I hope this magnificent collection, which is the only true single showcase of all of this variety, will boost their reputation in the States and all over the world."

Perfect

S. Butler | 10/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For some very strange reason the years have not been kind to The Style Council. Music critics, fans and even Weller himself seem to have forgotten just how good they where. The Style Council were very simply pop music at it's very best. Intelligent, moving, witty, thought-provoking and melodic. Paul Weller created TSC almost as a reaction to The Jam which he felt had pigeon-holed him in terms of musical growth. By teaming up with Mick Talbot (Piano) he could explore his interest in soul, R&B and jazz. Something The Jam would never have been allowed to do. I was at the perfect age when they first appeared on the scene in the mid-eighties, to be swept away with their mix of clever, catchy pop songs. Before long they were joined by Steve White (Drums) and D.C. Lee (Vocals) and the rest, as they say, is history. This box set is fully comprehensive. I should know. I bought all of their records on vinyl. TSC were always one of those bands that never got the credit they so deserved. This box set puts the record straight once and for all. From start to finish this music collection is perfect. From its contents to it's packaging it's everything a real "Council" fan could want. All the hits are here plus some of Weller's less known musical experiments. If I sound like a sales man for the record company then so be it. Whoever was responsible for putting this box set together really did their homework. I can not rate it highly enough. Whether you remember TSC in their hay-day or whether you only know one or two hit songs, this box set is worth the money. Great pop tunes, written and crafted by really talented musicans. Like I said, perfect."