WELLER WEDNESDAY :: “From the Floorboards Up” :: PAUL WELLER
It’s that day again, Weller Wednesday, the day we Listen to, Learn about, and Turn Up the Volume to the Quintessential Music of Paul Weller, in all of his many Musical incarnations. This Week’s Weller Wednesday we take a Look, and Listen to, a an early aughts Rockin’ and Britpopin’ Track called “From the Floorboards Up”. We hope you Press Play below, and Enjoy!
“FROM THE FLOORBOARDS UP” :: PAUL WELLER
FROM THE ALBUM, AS IS NOW (2005)
“I get a feeling from the walls and chairs,
they tell me all the things that’ll always be there .
All that is not,
will have to go back to dust.”
“From the Floorboards Up” is Track 8 on Paul Weller’s 2005 Solo Album, As Is Now. The Song, and the Album it appears on, was Recorded over a two-week period in March of 2005 at Wheeler End Studios, Buckinghamshire. It was then mixed at Studio 150, Amsterdam.
On Single, “From the Floorboards Up” was Released with the B-Side, “Oranges & Rosewater”. “From the Floorboards Up” is the “Green” side of the “Green/Orange” Color Vinyl Release.
The Single Charted at # 6 in the UK.
The Album, As Is Now, is Paul Weller’s 8th Studio Album. It reached # 4 in the UK Album Charts. On CD+DVD editions of the Album there is Studio footage (on the DVD) of “From the Floorboards Up”, along with “Here’s the Good News”, and Music Videos for “From the Floorboards Up”, along with “Come On/Let’s Go”, and the Film As Is Now.
A Limited Edition Double CD was Released around the time of the 2006 Brit Awards, for which Paul was Nominated. The Second Disc contained 4 Tracks, including “From the Floorboards Up”, that were all Recorded Live on December 5, 2005, at the Royal Albert hall, in London, England.
“From the Floorboards Up” is also available on a few Compilation Albums, such as The Bands 06, NME Presents the Essential Bands, Brit Awards 2006, Festival 06, The Kids are All Wild, Vol. 2, and Weller: Soul & Fire.
It also appears on multiple Weller Non-Studio Albums, like Paul Weller Catch Flame! Live at the Alexandra Palace, Paul Weller Hit Parade, Paul Weller at the BBC, and Paul Weller Find the Torch, Burn the Plans: Live at the Royal Albert Hall, Paul Weller More Modern Classics Vol. 2, and Paul Weller Come On Let’s Go.
“From the Floorboards Up” is another one of Weller’s Songs that is classified as “Britpop”. Though I hear the sensibilities of Britpop in the Song, I think there is more Power Pop going on here – Power Pop with a knife’s edge, that is. This Song seethes and cuts sharp, with clean edges and Rocking Guitar Licks. There is mad energy and feels Ready-Made to be a Single (and potentially fill a Dance Floor). The attitude in the Song (and yes, there is mad attitude, as well) is infectious. It has that “I can do anything” feel to it, especially with the Volume Turned Way Up.
On the Britpop end of things though, those opening Chords really bring that categorization to life. I hear a bit of Blur’s “Parklife” in them.
Check out “From the Floorboards Up” Live:
What do you think of “From the Floorboards Up”? What do you think of the Live Version?
We’d Love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
