The Jam - Setting Sons > Reviews > Setting Sons

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	The great difference in they styles of each song
Disadvantages:	The fact that the band would split 3 years later .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I was only 8 when this album came out back in 1979 but due to my older brother being a Mod i was forced to listen to The Jam every time he put it on his stereo. Looking back I thank him for tuning my musical preferences over the years.
So what is it about Setting Sons that sets it above say, All Mod Cons, which people argue is thier best album?
Its the difference in the style of each song on the album that really got me listening back then, not just to this album but to other Jam material as well. From Burning Sky the opening track (which takes the form of a letter written to loved ones) right through to the final masterpiece Wasteland (a song of youth revisted) the whole album keeps sprits high throughout. You only need to look at the songs in between to see this, Eton Rifles with its fantasic open bass line and lyrics calling you to arms, through to Little Boy Soldiers a mini opera in 3 parts telling of a young boy joining up and fighting in the war to be ship home to him mum in a box with nothing to show except a letter and a medel. Thick as Thieves a story of childhood friendships with the great line 'Thick as Thieves us we'll be together for all time's' still takes me back to my school days and the friends i still keep today, and the great cover of Martha Reeves 'Heat Wave' as song i've never heard covered by anyone better.
So why should you by this album? Well it re-lives a period in which nothing was going right for the country. The Torys we in power, unemployment was on the up and the future looked bleak for the country. It raises my sprits even after all these years, Great sons from a band which at thier peak were unmatched in the world and to me no-one has ever come close to them.