Blogcritics Comments on The Jam: Bit Surrender, or Beat Defender, or whatever

Comment by Eric Olsen on The Jam: Bit Surrender, or Beat Defender, or whatever

Sun, 24 Aug 2003 20:31:46 EDT

The point I was trying to make with this was not to put the Jam down - I loved them at the time too - but to say that some music holds up better in the memory than in the ears, and for me this has happened to the Jam. ]]>

Comment by michele on The Jam: Bit Surrender, or Beat Defender, or whatever

Sun, 24 Aug 2003 19:00:06 EDT

I loved - still love - The Jam. I've been searching out garage sales for an old turntable just so I can listen to Snap! on vinyl once more. Bruce Foxton had some good solo stuff, but Weller and The Style Council (though they did have a few good songs) left me only aching for more Jam. ]]>

Comment by Jim Carruthers on The Jam: Bit Surrender, or Beat Defender, or whatever

Fri, 22 Aug 2003 16:30:54 EDT

The Jam were essentially a singles band, because in the UK the singles market ruled. Unlike in the US where singles and the charts were corrupt, in the UK, singles were a true market, hence bands responded with singles. I think The Jam were brilliant, and I still enjoy listening to them (though I can't buy anymore collections, because I've already bought enough). Essentially Universal (who bought Poldor) are flogging their catalogue as hard as they can. Interesting to note that Pete Weller has become the avatar of what in the UK is known as "dad rock". ]]>

Comment by Eric Olsen on The Jam: Bit Surrender, or Beat Defender, or whatever

Fri, 22 Aug 2003 15:39:19 EDT

I guess I see them as a singles band, and those last two were my favorites. I liked a few Style Council songs also, but Weller solo has been icky. ]]>

Comment by Bill Sherman on The Jam: Bit Surrender, or Beat Defender, or whatever

Fri, 22 Aug 2003 14:31:46 EDT

Beg to differ big time. I play and relisten to the first two Jam releases (In The City and This Is The Modern World) regularly - and find 'em both prime collections of Britpop punkery. Weller's understandable desire to expand his range diluted things over time - the later discs sound much spottier to these ears - but I still contend that the band's first two releases are both Just Plain Great. But, then, I still play the Kinks' first records for plesure, too. . . ]]>