Miles Kane: Five Essential Paul Weller Songs

Liverpool's Miles Kane was signed to a record deal when he was only a teenager, just like his friend and mentor, Paul Weller. Kane, also like Weller, briskly swept through several rock 'n' roll chapters before ever turning 30: playing guitarist for the Little Flames, fronting the Rascals, joining the Last Shadow Puppets (with Alex Turner of Arctic Monkeys, Simian Mobile Disco's James Ford, and Mini Mansions' Zach Dawes), and embarking on his own solo career.

Now 32, Kane released his third album, Coup de Grace, this past summer. It's an introspective collection of songs driven by romantic grief — Kane split with his girlfriend in the winter of 2017 and found the aftermath of that heartbreak tough to navigate. While emotionally mending in Los Angeles, he connected with fellow Brit Jamie T. and the pair began writing together. Kane also found a kindred co-writing spirit in Lana Del Rey, for the single "Loaded."

For Kane's second release, 2013's Don't Forget Who You Are, he had the blissful chance to write with Weller for four songs, two of which made it onto the album, "Fire in My Heart" and "You're Gonna Get It," which the two friends performed together at the NME Awards. They also seemed to share the same shaggy barnet for a spell too. But it's Kane's deep admiration for Weller — and the elder musician's experience and advice — that's apparent in their conversations and interviews.

So it made sense, for the FUV Essentials celebration of all things Modfather, to ask Kane to choose his "Five Essential Paul Weller Songs." We know it was a tough task for Miles to pick just five, but he was up for the task:

Miles Kane: Five Essential Paul Weller Songs:

"Broken Stones," Stanley Road (1995)
The Fender Rhodes groove on this song shows the instrument at its best and the chords, together with Paul’s melody, makes a perfect couple. Listen during sundown somewhere hot, when you're slightly burnt, and your mind may drift away.

"The Soul Searchers," True Meanings (2018)
Paul’s latest offering, showing maximum creativity in coolness and pushing it forward, would sit well against a Quentin Tarantino film! The chords remind me of "A Girl from Ipanema," one of my favourite songs ever written! "The Soul Searchers" was co-written with Villagers' Conor O'Brien, another talented songwriter.

"Green," Sonik Kicks (2012)
This song makes me want to sing in the mirror and head-butt the wall! A modern day Krautrock classic.

"The Attic," Sonik Kicks (2012)
Taken from the same album as "Green." I love this song. It's two minutes long and reminds me of a early Beatles song. The feeling it gives me is one of warmth and it reminds me of Christmas for some reason. Two chords the whole way and a beautiful melody —what more do you need?

"The Changingman," Stanley Road (1995)
The ultimate personal song when you talk about yourself to yourself in the constant search to change, grow, and be better. I love songs with meanings like this: “The more I see, the more I know/The more I know, the less I understand.” In the world we are in right now, these lyrics couldn’t be more perfect.

- Miles Kane
November 2018

Miles Kane launches a headlining UK tour this fall on November 22 at Glasgow's Barrowland.

For all of FUV's "Five Essential" songs and albums, head here.