Paul Weller
Weller's debut solo album could actually give blue-eyed soul a good name (yo, Michael Bolton!). Once one of England's preeminent punk new-wavers with the Jam, Weller edged into smooth R&B in the '80s with the equally excellent Style Council. His first solo disc mixes the Jam's tough attitude with Style Council's sophistication for a powerful multifaceted soul not unlike Steve Winwood's blink-of-the-eye '60s band, Traffic. Then there are some fine Temptations-style grooves. Linking it all is Weller's honey-drip voice, a nice change from Bolton's vein-popping brand of blue-eyed soul. (Go!/London)
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