Tuesday 28 September 2010

THE JAM – THE BITTEREST PILL (I EVER HAD TO SWALLOW) (POLYDOR)


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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