Wake Up the Nation [10th Anniversary Remixed & Remastered Edition]

by Paul Weller

Overview

Prior to 2008's 22 Dreams, Paul Weller was shorthand for stalwart rock & roll, never disappointing but rarely challenging, either. With 22 Dreams, he reconnected with his spirit of adventure -- the thing that drove him to split up the Jam at their peak to form the Style Council -- and created a rich pastoral double album that thrived on risk. Buzzing with guitars and gurgling effects, and built upon a succession songs that barely crest the two-minute mark, Wake Up the Nation doesn't share much with 22 Dreams, apart from that sense of adventure with Weller cramming a suite's worth of twists into a song. As packed as these tunes are, they're drawn with crisp lines; for as busy as these are, nothing feels cluttered, they're all teeming with life. Many of the left turns arrive via the arrangements -- witness how everything careens out of control after the chorus of "Grasp & Still Connect," the elastic psychedelia of "Andromeda," the updated New Orleans shuffle of "Trees' -- or the unexpected collaborations, whether it's the tightly wound reunion with the Jam's Bruce Foxton on "Fast Car/Slow Traffic" or bringing in My Bloody Valentine's Kevin Shields to craft the dense dangerous heartbeat of "7&3 Is the Strikers Name," but this isn't window-dressing: the entire effect is 22 Dreams in reverse, contracting where its predecessor expanded, substituting introspection for action, swapping contemplation for excitement. Wake Up the Nation pulsates with an energy considerably different than the stomping rock & roll of As Is Now. That was all musical muscle, but this is music of the mind that remains fiercely visceral, music that feels of a piece of Weller's entire body of work, but is quite unique in its execution and impact. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	01/08/2021
Label:	Island / Umc / Universal
UPC:	0602508624667

Tracks

1. Moonshine
2. Wake Up the Nation
3. No Tears to Cry
4. Fast Car/Slow Traffic
5. Andromeda
6. In Amsterdam
7. She Speaks
8. Find the Torch, Burn the Plans
9. Aim High
10. Trees
11. Grasp & Still Connect
12. Whatever Next
13. 7 & 3 Is the Striker's Name
14. Up the Dosage
15. Pieces of a Dream
16. Two Fat Ladies

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Paul Weller   Primary Artist,Vocals
The Bees   Primary Artist
Daisy Martey   Vocals
Richard Hawley   Drums,Guitar
Barrie Cadogan   Guitar,Guitar (Bass)
Sally Jackson   Violin
Brian Dougans   Sampling,Keyboards
Steve Pilgrim   Drums,Vocals (Background)
Bruce Foxton   Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
The Amorphous Androgynous   Music Direction
Steve Cradock   Drums,Guitar,Percussion,Guitar (Bass),Guitar (12 String),Vocals (Background),12-String Bass Guitar
Gaz Cobain   Sampling,Keyboards
Antony Argiros   Guitar (Electric)
Hannah Andrews   Vocals (Background)
John Dalton   Harp
Laura Rees   Vocals (Background)
Mark Boxall   Guitar
Rainy Moor   Organ (Hammond)
Roger Nowell   Guitar
The Woking Gay Community Choir   Vocals (Background)
Andy Lewis   Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background),Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Kevin Shields   Guitar
Clem Cattini   Drums
Colin Elliot   Bass,Percussion
Emma Owens   Viola
Bev Bevan   Drums
Terry Edwards   Horn,Saxophone
The Wired Strings   Strings
Jonathan Mayer   Sitar,Zither
Andy Crofts   Bass,Guitar,Saxophone,Stylophone,Guitar (Bass),Vocals (Background)
Rosie Danvers   Cello
Kerenza Peacock   Violin
Edd Keene   Flute
Erland & the Carnival   Bass,Drums,Guitar,Keyboards
Jamie Johnson   Guitar (Bass)
Charles Rees   Harp,Drums,Guitar,Autoharp
Linda Lewis   Vocals

Technical Credits

Richard Hawley   Mixing,Additional Production
Brian Dougans   Mixing,Processing
Brian Holland   Composer
The Amorphous Androgynous   Collage
Gaz Cobain   Mixing,Processing
Little Vampire   Remixing
Roger Nowell   Management,Road Manager
Paul Weller   Composer,Sleeve Design,Musical Producer
Lamont Dozier   Composer
Colin Elliot   Mixing,Additional Production
The Bees   Mixing
Eddie Holland   Composer
Jamie Johnson   Mixing,Engineer,Recording
Simon Dine   Composer,Producer,Remixing,Cover Photo,Recording Producer
Tom Knott   Mixing
Simon Halfon   Sleeve Design
John Davis   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Jan "Stan" Kybert   Remix Engineer
Charles Rees   Mixing,Engineer,Recording