The Jam

The Jam were at the forefront of two musical movements at once in late-'70s England--punk and the mod revival. While the young trio possessed just as much brashness and raw energy as the Sex Pistols or the Clash, they also had the pop smarts and soul influences of '60s mods like the Creation, the Action, and the early Who. Over a series of sterling albums, the Jam's sound and singer/guitarist Paul Weller's songwriting grew increasingly sophisticated before the band's early-'80s breakup. Subsequently, Weller moved on to the cooler, pop/soul-oriented Style Council, and eventually struck out on his own, releasing a series of well-regarded solo albums.

• rock
• pop