Music
All-Time High (And Low) Scores
Best of 2009
Best of 2008
Best of 2007
Best of 2006
Best of 2005
Best of 2004
Best of 2003
Best of 2002
Best of 2001
Best of 2000
Best of the Decade
Upcoming &
Recent Releases
75
2562
54
30 Seconds to Mars
62
50 Cent
71
AC/DC
70
The Album Leaf
52
Kris Allen
68
Tori Amos
66
Animal Collective
84
Animal Collective
77
Annie
57
Apse
63
Asobi Seksu
59
Bad Lieutenant
83
Julianna Barwick
82
Beach House
72
Beak>
72
Bibio
65
Justin Bieber
76
Biffy Clyro
74
Blakroc
75
Mary J. Blige
78
Blockhead
52
Bon Jovi
54
Susan Boyle
57
The Bravery
39
Chris Brown
64
V.V. Brown
70
Basia Bulat
79
Chew Lips
74
Citay
65
Clipse
66
Cold War Kids
75
The Cribs
58
Dashboard Confessional
81
Dave Rawlings Machine
70
Delphic
78
The Doors
58
Echo & The Bunnymen
73
Edan
59
Editors
69
Eels
80
Felt
74
First Aid Kit
69
Flyleaf
83
Four Tet
82
Ben Frost
82
Fucked Up
83
Charlotte Gainsbourg
63
The Gilded Palace Of Sin
68
Githead
65
Joe Goddard
58
Good Shoes
72
Gucci Mane
75
Holopaw
82
Jesca Hoop
79
Hot Chip
72
The Hot Rats
88
Ray Wylie Hubbard
54
Hurricane Chris
66
Allison Iraheta
59
Jay Sean
82
Freedy Johnston
57
Nick Jonas And The Administration
73
Norah Jones
49
Juvenile
58
Ke$ha
62
R. Kelly
66
Alicia Keys
68
Kid Sister
81
King Midas Sound
63
Lady Antebellum
76
Lady GaGa
71
Adam Lambert
78
Lawrence Arabia
61
Leona Lewis
74
Lightspeed Champion
36
Lil Wayne
82
Lindstrom & Christabelle
77
Lissie
78
Los Campesinos!
70
Lostprophets
73
Magnetic Fields
72
Massive Attack
64
John Mayer
71
Paul McCartney
58
Katherine McPhee
86
Memory Tapes
72
Midlake
88
Motion City Soundtrack
63
Mr. Hudson
53
Mudvayne
75
Oh No Ono
70
OK Go
72
Ola Podrida
61
OneRepublic
80
Owen Pallett
80
Pantha du Prince
90
Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
80
Phantogram
60
Pit Er Pat
63
Priestess
70
Radian
79
Corinne Bailey Rae
54
Rakim
79
Real Estate
77
Retribution Gospel Choir
76
Rihanna
64
Rjd2
65
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
77
Sade
77
Gil Scott-Heron
72
Shakira
82
Shining
61
Snoop Dogg
62
Snow Patrol
71
The Soft Pack
80
Spoon
64
Ringo Starr
59
Stereophonics
76
Angie Stone
79
Surfer Blood
74
Switchfoot
75
Them Crooked Vultures
74
Robin Thicke
50
Timbaland
79
tUnE-YaRDs
80
Vampire Weekend
79
Laura Veirs
79
Tom Waits
78
Wale
65
The Watson Twins
66
Kanye West
76
The Whitefield Brothers
64
Robbie Williams
80
Yeasayer
62
Young Money
75
Neil Young
61
Rob Zombie
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
22 Dreams
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 18 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 10 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Yep Roc
Release Date: 22 July 2008
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Rock
Summary
The ninth album for Paul Weller features Blur's Graham Coxon, Little Barrie, Oasis' Noel Gallagher and Gem Archer, Ocean Colour Scene's Steve Cradock, and Stone Roses' Aziz Ibrahim.
Also By This Artist: As Is Now Illumination Studio 150
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Observer Music Monthly
Such an eclectic, ambitious record might be expected to sound disparate, desperate even, but instead it's a set of distinctive, strangely addictive songs.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
Although it shares superficial sonic similarities with his other records, 22 Dreams is really unlike any of Weller's other albums, as it's rich in sound and feeling, possessing a shimmering dreamy quality. It's an album to get lost in.
Read Full Review >Paste Magazine
His first album in three years, the likable 22 Dreams, offers a handy overview of Weller’s interests.
Read Full Review >Q Magazine
The gamble has paid off in a sometimes challenging but constantly rewarding musical odyssey. [July 2008, p.96]
Uncut
Subtract [a couple of stinkers] and you have something of a minor masterpiece--and easily Weller’s finest solo album to date.
Read Full Review >Dot Music
Ultimately, 22 Dreams is, simply put, Weller's best album since "Stanley Road", and one to be remembered for years to come.
Read Full Review >Mojo
There are great albums that are nose-to-tail singles, but 22 Dreams is not one of them. Settle in for the duration, however, and expect a genuine trip. [June 2008, p.104]
Billboard
Paul Weller's all over the place with his ninth solo album--he visits all his touchstones, but there's less nostalgia and more experimentation infused into the tracks than usual. And that's a good thing.
Read Full Review >PopMatters
Apart from being the most eclectic and resourcefully imaginative solo album of Weller’s career, 22 Dreams also turns out to be one of his most consistent efforts.
Read Full Review >Pitchfork
This stands pretty much alone in Weller's catalog in terms of sheer eclecticism and unpredictable, dream-like flow.
Read Full Review >Hartford Courant
There are plenty of worthwhile moments, such as the banging soul romp of the title track, but Weller surrounds them with exhausting filler cuts and showboating genre change-ups.
Read Full Review >Boston Globe
Weller can seem like a dilettante, selling himself as Roy Harper one minute and Marvin Gaye the next. But that's easily forgiven. At least the Mod-father isn't resting on his laurels.
Read Full Review >Spin
Craft can be a cage, and come the eleventeenth pleasant chord progression and workmanlike melody, the album's title may portend the listener's immediate future.
Read Full Review >The Onion (A.V. Club)
There's a sense of fun and wonder to 22 Dreams that keeps it from feeling pretentious--just not any less tedious.
Read Full Review >Filter
Weller unveils an indulgent 21-track, hit-or-miss collection that has a scope, ambition and jazzy undercurrent which suggests Pete Townshend slumming in Vegas. [Summer 2008, p.98]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 9.3 (out of 10) based on 10 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Ian R. gave it a10:
The best Weller ever for sure. Imaginative, elegant, timeless.
cj gave it an8:
Fun and disparate album from a legend who'd gotten a case of the sames--Never thought I'd say this about Weller but the album's high points are essentially folk songs.
Thomas V. gave it a10:
Unmitigated genius! Weller is a true gifted genius and 22 Dreams is proof of that genius!
Gary W. gave it a9:
A truly imaginative work of art, made all the more amazing seeing as it comes from a 50yr old, more than 30yrs on in his career!
David G. gave it a9:
My vote for the best album I've heard for 2008 so far. The sheer scope and ambition of this album is amazing. Its common knowledge that Paul Weller has always had talent as he can at times tread water with workman like albums however with 22 dreams he is pushing himself. The album has a dream like quality that takes you you on a rewarding trip that improves with repeated listens. Rock, Pop, Soul, Funk, Free Jazz it has it all with a sense of style. Great songwriting from Weller showing who the really talented one was from the class of 77.
