This Is The Modern World came hot on the heels of The Jam’s debut, In The City. Another slice of biting social comment set to frantic rhythms, this sophomore offering ploughs a similarly energetic furrow to its predecessor, with equally explosive results.
While This Is The Modern World may not have marked a radical departure in sound for The Jam, it did herald ongoing changes within the band, chiefly Paul Weller's prominence as main songwriter.
Although still in their teens, the band’s growing emotional maturity is also evident, with their willingness to tackle subjects like love, in the melodic ‘I Need You’, setting them apart from their punk contemporaries.
The accomplished musicality of 'Life From A Window' and 'Tonight At Noon' is a long way from the early, fiery singles while the single 'The Modern World' and live favourite, 'Standards' rightly number among The Jam's best-loved tunes.