Heavy Soul

Because Paul Weller's veddy British former band the Jam never made much of an impact Stateside, his solo albums have been largely ignored here. More's the pity, because this fourth effort may be his best yet. Evoking everyone from Traffic to The Band to Crazy Horse, Weller's organically cohesive tunes stand tall, defiantly out of time. Laugh at his unfashionable sincerity if you must, but Heavy Soul is the real goods. A-