Since his early-'80s stint as the frontman for The Jam, Paul Weller has maintained his position as one of the most forward-thinking figures in the English music scene. With The Jam, he combined punk energy and smartly observed character sketches ("The Dreams of Children"); he explored his love of northern soul in The Style Council ("Come To Milton Keynes"); and he's continued to push boundaries with his progressive solo work ("Starlite").