With four top ten albums to his name, Paul Weller the solo artist was well overdue a greatest hits compilation and in Modern Classics it becomes apparent just how prolific and influential his output has been. Mining an illustrious back-catalogue, he also includes new single 'Brand New Start', which indicates plenty more modern classics are yet to come.
Collecting the best cuts from his five-year career as a solo artist, Modern Classics does what it says on the tin. Despite not running chronologically, the album serves to demonstrate how Paul's songs have developed since The Jam and The Style Council. From the rootsy organic essence of his earlier work to the soul-baring latter-day Modfather, each song flows into the next with a lacing of the R'n'B and soul he so clearly loves. Modern Classics is a testament to Weller's songwriting and showmanship - as Paul points out, "It's called Modern Classics, because that's truly what I believe they are."