ARTIST NEWS
Paul Weller Live: Two Classic Performances DVD reviewed in BILLBOARD
Say the name "Paul Weller" in the U.S., and most will meet you with a "Who?" Yet, over the past two decades, the former Jam/Style Council frontman has become a bona fide star in his native England. But, even for his fans in the U.S. (where he's not doing too shabby, by the way), fathoming just how beloved he is overseas can be a bit tough. Well, the intro to this disc paints that picture perfectly, featuring brief interviews with fans attending a recent Weller gig in London's Hyde Park. One fan calls him the "Modfather," another refers to him as "God." Yet another flashes a Weller tattoo. But what's truly notable about this disc--which includes a riveting full-band performance (the Hyde Park show) and an absolutley priceless solo acoustic gig (featuring most of the songs from last year's live acoustic disc, Days of Speed, and a guest appearance by Oasis' Noel Gallagher)--is that it seems to capture Weller in the midst of a career renaissance--at 44 years old, no less. Watching him flawlessly and passionately deliver newer solo material and classics--and considering the strength of his recent Illumination disc--one can't deny that the singer's future looks as bright as ever.
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