THE JAM – THE
BITTEREST PILL (I EVER HAD TO SWALLOW) (POLYDOR)
Without trying to be
too controversial, I think The Jam actually had better songs than The
Clash. Certainly they were smoother and
less abrasive. This was very late period
Jam, to the point they were almost sounding like the Style Council and what was
next to come.
The addition of
strings and piano to guitar bands tends to have a wide and varied effect on
material. Often they can arrive at the
point when a rock band runs out of ideas and as the maturity from such grown up
sounds can sprinkle a fresh atmospheric and perspective to the outfit; often it
will also dull the power. That is not to
say it always takes from a band’s sound but often, especially in the case of
say Oasis, it is actually quite a risky move.
Here the decrease in
tempo and addition in texture works and serves to add an almost soap
opera/television theme tone to proceedings.
As Weller drops in sounding full of remorse, a new kind of drama
attaches itself to the band. With the
benefit of hindsight this was the product of a clock running out.
This is neither a punk
nor mod song. The mountain it climbs in
the build up actually reminds me of “What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted” by
Jimmy Ruffin. Weller was going
elsewhere.
In recent times a
whole new legacy has attached itself to this record after the classy
positioning of the track for the closing credits of Shane Meadows’ This Is
England ’86. Having come through a
horrific set of circumstances as an outro “The Bitterest Pill” serves as an
affirming moment of reflection with view to cleansing and moving on.
Shed a tear.
Thesaurus moment: sour.
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