Snap (2006 Double CD)

The Jam started out as a punk band and ended up as a soul band, one of the more eclectic and rewarding journeys found in the rock pantheon this side of The Clash. However, because certain elements remained constant--Paul Weller's stunning lyrics, the energetic rhythm section, the healthy, try-anything attitude--the quality never diminished, it only transformed. COMPACT SNAP! travels the distance from the desperate punk of "In The City" to the equally desperate soul of "Beat Surrender", touching on most of the great moments along the way. more...

The physical violence depicted in early songs like "Down In The Tube Station At Midnight" eventually gave way to an emotional violence in late-period songs like "The Bitterest Pill (I Ever Had To Swallow)". Weller described the youth of his day almost as skilfully as his hero Pete Townshend had done for the mod generation ten years earlier.
The Jam never caught on in America, forcing Weller to break up the band and form The Style Council, his straight R&B project. It is a shame this strong unit was lost, especially considering that by the time they broke up, the three members had barely hit their mid-twenties and had so much left to say. But as with groups like The Police and The Pixies, perhaps it was for the best. This way, the music is trapped in time, a chunk of great tunes representing the greatest Motown band punk ever witnessed.

Rock Sound (04/06, p.102)
- 6 (out of 10)
- "Electrifying, erudite and relentless..."

Classic Rock (04/06, p.89)
- 10 (out of 10)
- "Everything The Jam had to say is represented on SNAP..."