Fat Pop (Volume 1)

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Fat Pop (Volume 1) is Paul Weller’s 16th solo studio album. It was released on May 14, 2021, by Polydor Records and Solid Bond, available in standard and deluxe editions. The album was recorded in 2020 at Black Barn Studios in Surrey and runs 38 minutes and 40 seconds.

Key facts
- Artist: Paul Weller
- Release: May 14, 2021
- Labels: Polydor; Solid Bond
- Formats: Standard and deluxe editions
- Length: 38:40
- Recording location: Black Barn Studios, Surrey

Singles
- Cosmic Fringes — released February 24, 2021
- Glad Times — released March 12, 2021
- Shades of Blue — released April 7, 2021
- Deluxe edition also includes Remix and bonus tracks

Reception
- Metacritic: 82/100 (universal acclaim) from 10 critics
- AllMusic: 4/5 stars
- American Songwriter: 3.5/5
- NME: around 3/5
- The Guardian: around 3/5
- Other positive reviews from Clash, Financial Times, The Line of Best Fit, RTÉ, and more

Commercial performance
- UK Albums Chart: No. 1 (week of May 21, 2021) with over 26,000 copies sold
- This marked Weller’s sixth solo UK number one album
- Charted in several countries with various peaks (e.g., Scotland No. 1; Ireland No. 2; Austria No. 21; Belgium No. 15; Germany No. 8)

Track listing (standard edition)
1) Cosmic Fringes
2) True (featuring Lia Metcalfe)
3) Fat Pop
4) Shades of Blue
5) Glad Times
6) Cobweb / Connections
7) Testify
8) That Pleasure
9) Failed
10) Moving Canvas
11) In Better Times
12) Still Glides the Stream

Deluxe edition
- Adds 13–28 as live bonus tracks (16 additional performances, including live versions of several album tracks)

Personnel (highlights)
- Paul Weller – vocals, multiple instruments across tracks
- Lia Metcalfe – vocals on track 2
- Steve Cradock – guitar on several tracks
- Hannah Peel – conducting and string arrangements on multiple tracks
- Paraorchestra – orchestra on select tracks
- Various musicians and engineers contributed to performance, arrangement, and production

Notes
- The album features a mix of rock, pop, and orchestral textures, with Weller’s signature songwriting and production.
- Deluxe edition offers a larger live track experience from the album’s material.