Pitchfork

Paul Weller, solo star and former frontman for the Jam and the Style Council, has returned to the spotlight with a lesson for the current crop of Brit-rock whippersnappers. That lesson takes the form of Weller's ninth studio album, the official follow-up to 2005's As Is Now. The new album is called 22 Dreams.

Yep Roc will release 22 Dreams in the U.S. on June 24, while Island will put it out in the UK on June 2. The U.S. version fits the entire double-album length extravaganza on one CD, while in the UK, it will be available as a single CD, a 2xLP vinyl set, and a deluxe 2xCD set.

The deluxe edition features sturdier packaging, a short story by poet Simon Armitage, and a bonus disc of demos, instrumental tracks, and other goodies. One such goodie is the instrumental version of the song "Big Brass Buttons", a collaboration with Bobby Gillespie and Andrew Innes of Primal Scream. (The non-instrumental version is slated for release as a B-side in the future.)

As for the music on 22 Dreams, some of it comes from Weller's whippersnappin' Brit-rock followers, including former Blur guitarist Graham Coxon and Oasis members Noel Gallagher and Gem Archer. In fact, the contribution from the Oasis mates, "Echoes Round the Sun", will be released in the UK May 26 as a double A-side single with "Have You Made up Your Mind".

Until then, Weller has his May full up with UK tour dates.

22 Dreams:

01 Light Nights
02 22 Dreams
03 All I Wanna Do (Is Be With You)
04 Have You Made up Your Mind
05 Empty Ring
06 Invisible
07 Song for Alice
08 Cold Moments
09 The Dark Pages of September Lead to the New Leaves of Spring
10 Black River
11 Why Walk When You Can Run
12 Push It Along
13 A Dream Reprise
14 Echoes Round the Sun
15 One Bright Star
16 Lullaby Fur Kinder
17 Where'er Ye Go
18 God
19 111
20 Sea Spray
21 Night Lights

Bonus disc:

01 22 Dreams [original demo]
02 Rip the Pages Up [previously known as "Better"]
03 Light Nights [original demo]
04 Cold Moments [original demo]
05 Love's Got Me Crazy
06 Invisible (Marco Version)
07 Big Brass Buttons [instrumental]
08 22 Dreams [instrumental]

Paul Weller:

05-05 Halifax, England - Victoria Theatre
05-06 Stoke, England - Victoria Hall
05-08 Blackpool, England - Empress Ballroom
05-09 Middlesbrough, England - Town Hall
05-11 Doncaster, England - Dome
05-12 Derby, England - Assembly Rooms
05-14 Motherwell, Scotland - Concert Hall
05-15 Dundee, Scotland - Caird Hall
05-17 Bournemouth, England - Opera House
05-18 Bristol, England - Colston Hall
05-19 Leicester, England - De Montfort Hall
05-21 London, England - Hammersmith Apollo
05-22 London, England - Hammersmith Apollo
05-23 London, England - Hammersmith Apollo
07-10-13 Novi Sad, Serbia - Exit Festival
09-07 Toronto, Ontario - Virgin Festival