The Modfather has suffered something of a critical drubbing of late, his blokey dadrock solo period accused of betraying the agit-soul of Style Council and the raw punk of the Jam. This collection of covers makes a compelling counter-argument. The selection of tracks is a dedicated record collector’s hall of fame, illuminating Weller’s own eclectic roots; more impressive still are Weller’s loving, gently imaginative adaptations.

He’s not sounded as good as this for years, whether leading a charged funk take on Gil Scott-Heron’s The Bottle, garlanding Tim Hardin’s Don’t Make Promises with a lazy N’Awlins twang, or wringing something substantial from the saccharine familiarity of Close to You.

Weller’s in fine, focused voice, lending a Springsteenian warmth to Gordon Lightfoot’s Early Morning Rain, and recalling his idol Steve Marriott when harmonising with the Stands on a gospel-y take of Oasis’s One Way Road. His weathered vocal struggles to match Gwen Dickey’s holy croon for Wishing on a Star, but his Alice Coltrane-flavoured take wins Weller the song. The Modfather takes no prisoners.

(V2)

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